Assurance and Compliance Officer 135 views

Assurance and Compliance Officer

Company Overview:

About Palladium – Palladium is a global leader in the design, development and delivery of Positive Impact – the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value.  We work with governments, businesses, and investors to solve the world’s most pressing challenges. With a team of more than 3,000 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of over 35,000 experts, we help improve economies, societies and, most importantly, people’s lives.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.  

Should you require any adjustments or accommodations to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or any other circumstance, please email our team at accessibility@thepalladiumgroup.com 

Safeguarding – We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse.  All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process. 

Project Overview and Role:

The Pacific Labour Facility (PLF) facilitates seasonal and longer-term work opportunities for Pacific workers in Australia. It connects Australian employers with Pacific workers, supports the administration of the Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS) and provides targeted support to the Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP).

On 14 September 2021,
the Australian Government introduced the PALM scheme, which is an integrated
approach to Pacific labour mobility. It streamlines the SWP and PLS by offering
a single application process, giving new employers the option to recruit
seasonal and/or longer-term workers and enabling existing employers that meet
the eligibility criteria the option to be mutually recognised under both
programs. The PALM scheme provides additional flexibilities in program and visa
settings, including expanded access to Pacific and Timorese workers for
employers in regional and rural areas facing workforce shortages.

The PLS
Assurance and Compliance Officer will provide advice and guidance to
stakeholders (internal and external) on workplace legislative requirements
(such as employment law, industrial relations and workplace health and safety) to
assist stakeholders in meeting their requirements under the PLS Deed of
Agreement.  The Assurance and Compliance
Officer will undertake a schedule of risk-based monitoring and assurance activities.
The primary focus of the Assurance and Compliance Officer will be to complete
pay and conditions auditing of PLS Approved Employers ensuring compliance with
relevant Awards / Agreements, contracts of employment and Fair Work Act
requirements.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities: 

Under the direction of the PLS Assurance Lead the PLS Assurance and Compliance Officer will
have responsibility for:

Pay and Conditions Auditing

• Desktop auditing of Approved Employers pay and conditions provided to PLS workers. This will involve reviewing payroll evidence against Modern Award or Agreement conditions, contracts of employment and Fair Work Act requirements. 
• Auditing Approved Employers pay and conditions records against program requirements (such as minimum hours, compliant payroll deductions, compliant record keeping). 
• Make referrals to other program stakeholders such as Fair Work Ombudsman and Department of Home Affairs.
• Develop a strong technical understanding of the Deed of Agreement (between program Approved Employers and DFAT).
• Develop a strong understanding of the PLS Approved Employer Guidelines to monitor compliance to, and provide education of, to stakeholders.
• Provide guidance and education to stakeholders (internal and external) on workplace legislative requirements (such as Fair Work Act and WHS legislation) to assist stakeholders in meeting their requirements under the PLS Deed of Agreement.
• Provide support to other team members by undertaking monitoring visits to Approved Employers and conduct investigations where necessary (responding to tip offs, complaints, or risk-based approaches).
• Undertake audits: internal – reviewing PLFs compliance to internal policies and process, external – reviewing Approved Employers compliance to Deed requirements.
• Provide initial management of first level complaints and grievances, escalating per policy where required.
• Establish and maintain strong working relationships with DFAT and other Whole of Government stakeholders.
• Assist Approved Employers and other stakeholders (internal and external) to build capacity to deliver on the requirements of the program.

Due
to the evolving nature of our program, it is possible that an Adviser may be expected
to undertake duties that fall outside the remit of their original Terms of
Reference to ensure the ongoing success of the program.

Where
this is required, the following will occur:

• The adviser has the skills and experience to fulfill the duties
• This arrangement will be short term in nature

Required Qualifications:

The PLS Assurance
and Compliance Officer will possess
the following qualifications and experience:

• Qualifications and / or minimum 5 years’ experience in a relevant discipline such as payroll or Human Resources / Industrial Relations.
• Demonstrated experience and ability conducting detailed payroll analysis against Award / Agreement conditions.
• Technical knowledge and application of Australian workplace legislative requirements such as health and safety legislation, Fair Work Act, and industrial relations matters such as performance management, compliance to Awards and EBAs and HR processes.
• Strong analytical skills with high level of attention to detail and accuracy.
• Highly developed communication skills.
• Highly developed written skills.
• High level IT literacy in Excel and database systems.
• Solutions focused approach with the ability to manage change in a fast and productive manner.
• Flexibility to undertake travel when required, including potentially after hours and weekends. 

The Assurance And Compliance Officer position is classified at B2 under the DFAT Aid Adviser Remuneration Framework (ARF).

The successful candidate will be offered an initial contract to 30 June 2023.

You must have valid Australian work rights to be considered for this position – visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

This is a Brisbane based role. Candidates who are willing to relocate for the position must do so at their own expense as no relocation package is available.

Applications close on 28 November 2021 – due to the urgent nature of this vacancy applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early as interviews will be coordinated once suitable applications are received.