EL1 - Assistant Director, Financial Management, Affirmative Measures, First Nations

The opportunity we have available

We have an ongoing position available as the EL1 Assistant Director of the Financial Operations team. The role is responsible for assisting with leading the Financial Operations Section. The Financial Operations Section within Financial Management Branch supports the Department to achieve its business goals by providing internal services, support and advice across accounts, credit cards, and travel functions. The Financial Management Branch within Finance, Budget and Governance Division also includes the SAP Services team, Financial Reporting, Financial Governance and a Procurement and Contract Management team.

The Financial Operations Section maintains departmental vendors, processes vendor invoices and associated payment runs, raises customer invoices and processes receipts, manages debt recovery, administers the Corporate Credit Card program, travel policy and advice. 

What you will do

You will assist with leading a team of staff across a diverse range of functions to support the day-to-day financial operations of the department. This includes accounts receivable and payable. You will work collaboratively with other corporate teams and stakeholders across the department to deliver high-quality services to support the department in delivering its outcomes. You will liaise with and build relationships with external stakeholders including suppliers and other government organisations.

The role is varied, but key responsibilities include (but aren’t limited to): 

• Supporting the Director, Financial Operations & Assurance in leading and directing the Financial Operations team to ensure optimum customer service delivery and promote continuous skill development of team members.
• Lead the Financial Operations team to deliver high-quality work while managing competing priorities and tight timeframes.
• Promote and manage relationships with key suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Identify and implement process improvement initiatives.
• Identify and manage system enhancements and liaise with the FMIS Services team in developing system changes. 
• Resolve complex accounts processing, credit card and travel issues and advise staff accordingly. 
• Ensure the integrity of financial data processing.
• Provide accurate monthly and reporting to management. 
• Undertake and/or manage projects of a more complex nature. 

Inherent requirements for the role

We are looking for an organised, adaptive and highly motivated person. To be successful in this role you will need to demonstrate the below abilities:

• Demonstrated capability consistent with the EL1 Work level standards, employee would be required to undertake work that is very complex or sensitive and operate under broad direction.
• Proven experience in effective staff management. 
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Provide strong customer service skills and mentor others to do the same.
• A growth mindset and willingness for continuous improvement.
• Be able to lead a team through uncertainty and change/implementation of a new FMIS system.
• Have a very strong understanding of the accounts payable and accounts receivable processes within a department and the financial management information systems.

Cultural capability requirement

The department believes every role contributes to cultural safety and that building staff cultural capability helps us deliver better policies, programs and services for First Nations people and the broader Australian community. Candidates will be required to demonstrate their willingness to develop their cultural capability as part of the assessment process. In making it a requirement across all roles in our department, we are taking a practical step in delivering our commitments under the Our Stories on Country Agreement and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategy 2025–28.

As an EL1 you will be expected to:

• Lead the integration of cultural considerations into work area outcomes.
• Build trusted relationships with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander stakeholders.
• Champion cultural capability within teams and challenges culturally unsafe practices.

Eligibility requirements

This is an Affirmative measure vacancy – This vacancy is open only to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

This is an Affirmative Measures – First Nations applicants only position. The filling of this vacancy is intended to constitute an Affirmative Measure under section 8(1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975. To be eligible to apply under the Affirmative Measures initiative, applicants must: 

• Be an Aboriginal person and/or a Torres Strait Islander person
• Identify as an Aboriginal person and/or a Torres Strait Islander person, and
• Be accepted by their community as being an Aboriginal person and/or a Torres Strait Islander person 

For more information please visit - Affirmative measure for recruiting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians: A guide for applicants.

Employment with the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts is subject to conditions prescribed within the Public Service Act 1999 including:

• Citizenship: candidates must be an Australian citizen at the time of submitting your application. 
• Health Assessment: The preferred candidate may be required to undergo a medical examination conducted by the department’s preferred medical provider.
• Security Clearance: The successful candidate must be able to obtain and/or maintain a security clearance at Baseline Clearance Level. You must be willing to disclose all relevant and required information. You must have lived in Australia, or have a checkable background, for at least the preceding five years for Baseline Vetting clearances. More information on the security clearance vetting process is available on the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) website.
• Police check: The successful candidate must complete an Australian Federal Police criminal history check.
• Integrity and Performance check: The successful candidate must satisfy the requirements in an Integrity and Performance check which is completed by your most recent employer.

For more information about this role, including the type of person we are looking for and how to apply, please refer to the position description available by clicking the 'Apply Now' button.