‘I had a lot of experience in financial management of project type operations and my experience in the audit fieldreally counts especially with good governance and monitoring of internal controls.
Ilaisa Rokotuisiga, Manager Finance and Administration Deutsche Gesselschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
Ilove figures, and I love to deal with money. Ilaisa Rokotuisiga words.
His passion for basic mathematics began when he was seven-years-old.
“My father was a cabinet-maker by trade, and my mother stayed home,” he said.
“To assist with our family expenses my father decided to set up a small canteen in the village.
“I was in Year Two at that time. I started learning how to calculate change when customers come to buy from the canteen.
“This lit a spark on fascination with performing basic mathematic then developed later to accounting and financial management.”
Mr Rokotuisiga hails from the village of Narukunibua, in the province of Namosi.
He is 36-year-old, married with two beautiful daughters.
Below are excerpts of an interview with Mr Rokotuisiga:
What are some of the challenges you faced while growing up and how you overcome that?
My parents did their very best to support all three of us, especially in our education.
By the time I got to high school, my father was running his own taxi business that helped the family a lot.
My parents concentrated financial support mainly on education, so any extra curriculum activities were out of the question.
For example, I wanted to play rugby for the school age group team, but my parents could not buy the sports gear because we did not have the budget for it.
I decided to save at least $2 a day from the daily spending that my parents gave me, for about 13 weeks in Term One.
In beginning of term two, I had saved enough money to buy my rugby gear.
I also did similar saving schemes during the high school days, if I wanted to enrol in a private tutoring class, or purchase supplementary text books.
Tell us about your education background and work experience?
I started primary school in 1991 at Saint Thomas Aquinas Primary School in Navesi, Lami.
I attended Marist Brothers’ High School from Year 9 to Year 13, then enrolled in the University of the South Pacific (USP).
In 2007, I graduated from USP with Bachelor of Arts Degree double major in Accounting and Financial Management (AF) and Economics (EC).
In 2014, Post Graduate Diploma in Professional Accounting and 2019 Masters in Professional Accounting
Work experience
didn’t mince his
■2007 to 2012, I started my career at KPMG Fiji Ltd in the Audit Division, commenced as a graduate auditor. I was an assistant audit manager when I left.
■2012 t0 2014, I joined Water Authority of Fiji as a Senior Accountant and worked for over two years.
■2014 to 2016, I joined the Ministry of Health and Medical Services in the grant management unit as the finance officer.
■2016 to 2017, I worked for GHD Group Pty Ltd (formerly known Gutteridge Haskins & Davey) as the National Financial Specialist in the project design advance for Fiji Urban Water Supply and Wastewater Management Project - Project Preparatory Work and Capacity Building funded through Asian Development Bank.
■2017 to 2018, I joined ANZ Pacific Operations as the manager reconciliations for a year.
Then I decided to take a break and completed my study in Masters in Professional Accounting at USP, and at the same time did part time work at Women in Fisheries Network – Fiji (WiFN-F).
■2019 while at WiFN-F, I was fortunate to be part of the ground breaking project Rapid Care Analysis as one of the facilitators.
This analysis was co-funded by the Oxfam and Australian aid.
The report was launched by Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation in 2020 called Rapid Care Analysis Report for Navolau and Nakorotubu Districts 2019.
■2019 to 2020, I joined Coffey International Ltd - Fiji Programme Support Facility as the finance officer.
Tell us a bit about your role at GIZ?
I am working for GIZ (Deutsche Gesselschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit - GmbH) in the SPC/GIZ Low Carbon Sea Transport in the Republic of Marshall Islands as the Manager finance and administration.
As the Manager Finance and Administration, my main role is contribute to the smooth operations of the project Transitioning to Low Carbon Sea Transport in the Marshall Islands.
This is through an effective and efficient execution of all assigned finance and administration tasks and responsibilities.
How were you appointed to that role?
I believe I had a lot of experience in financial management of project type operations.
My experience in the audit field really counts, especially with good governance and monitoring of internal controls.
What is your philosophy about business and what vision will you bring to that company?
My basic business philosophy is innovate by streamlining business procedures.
Looking at unnecessary business procedures, combining multiple steps and automating functions etc.
What are some of the challenges you’ve faced in your role, and how do you overcome those challenges?
At this point in time due to COVID-19 travel restrictions which hinder the implementation of some of the projects.
Meetings are held virtually at the moment, and teams are working hard to
gether with our partners to overcome challenges and perform our roles to best of our abilities through regular communication and task sharing.
How does your role help influence with the day to day function of the GIZ?
I try to efficiently deal with financial queries, execute administrative processes in the project in compliance with company’s processes and rules.
Also ensure compliance of policies with local legislations, and provide support with project’s financial planning, monitoring and accounting.
What have been some of the highlights of your career so far?
I am very grateful for all the job opportunities in my career thus far, but the ones I am proud of are the project related one, as I get to experience the impact of the role on the life of an ordinary person.
From writing up financial proposals that enable the procurement of equipment that will improve the detection and treatment of Tuberculosis in Fiji.
Also performing accounting and financial management training to assisting in improving Fiji’s urban water supply and wastewater management, facilitating training in the rural communities to identity and analysis the critical role that women play in the communities especially “care work”, and contributing to the Pacific’s fight in climate change through Low Carbon Sea Transport in the Marshall Islands.
Have you been inspired or influenced by anyone in particular?
My greatest roles models are my parents, who taught me the values of working hard and strong religious beliefs.
What do you like best about your work?
The impact the project will have in the lives of the people of Marshall Islands and the other Pacific countries.
What are some of the most difficult aspects of your role?
Due to remote location of Marshall Islands procurement of items and sending of official documents can take some time.
What are your ambitions for the future?
Carbon Finance is my future career aspirations.
What would be your message to young people who would like to join you in the future?
Be unique and don’t always follow the crowd as this can distract you from your passion and dream. Know what you really want and go for it.
It is vital for a successful career is getting the right balance on work and personal life.
What is the most rewarding thing about your job?
Not only the monthly gift I receive to support my family, is the impact of the project and its future implication on the next generation.