Principal Finance Officer - [Archived Advertisement]

Principal Finance Officer

• Ongoing Full-Time 
• Hybrid working, office location Parramatta
• Salary $120,859 - $133,183 + super

About the Department of Education 

The Department of Education is the largest provider of public education in Australia with responsibility for delivering high-quality public education to two-thirds of the NSW student population.

For more information about the Department of Education, please visit NSW Department of Education

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Accountant/Auditor within the Financial Controlling Team, Policies and Procedures Oversight. This is a small team responsible for providing high quality financial assessment and advice to Senior Managers regarding impact of accounting standards, legislation, policies, and programs to the Department’s statutory financial statements, and ensure compliance by developing easy-to-follow and fit-for-purpose procedures and systems.

About the role

Key responsibilities:

• In consultation with NSW Treasury, provide guidance on the interpretation of and in developing controls, procedures, and processes to ensure compliance with new and existing Accounting Standards, NSW Treasury policies and pronouncements.
• Perform comprehensive research, analysis, and coordinate with relevant business units to provide valuable input into proposed changes to Accounting Standards and NSW Treasury finance policies. For example, provide advice on challenges and issues pertaining to climate related financial disclosures and provide overall departmental support to help uplift broader knowledge of sustainability reporting.
• Manage the annual end-to-end CFO certification of internal controls over financial information, be the main point of contact, identify and present control weaknesses and deficiencies, and help promote overall transparency and accountability.
• Provide expert advice and step-by-step guidance on the financial management of major programs or grants administered by Corporate Finance.
• Identify, review, and liaise with internal business areas, other government agencies and external consultants in developing and/or implementing improvements and enhancements to systems, structures, procedures, and processes. 

For further information please click here to view the role description 

Essential requirements of the role

• Full membership with CPA Australia or Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand or IIA Australia
• Experience in government sector reporting (preferred but not essential)

Key knowledge and experience

• Knowledge of and commitment to implementing the Department’s Aboriginal Education Policy and upholding the Department’s Partnership Agreement with the NSW AECG and to ensure quality outcomes for Aboriginal people.

About you

This role will suit someone with technical knowledge and skills (preferably from an audit or public sector background) in understanding, interpreting, communicating, and presenting complex accounting issues and challenges to Senior Management.

Benefits

• Opportunity to make a difference at Department of Education
• Flexible work-life balance
• Competitive salary
• 35 hour week

How to apply

When applying you will need to:

Attach a resume (maximum 5 pages) and a cover letter (maximum 3 pages) outlining how you meet the requirements and capabilities of this role as well as providing answers to the 2 pre-screening questions below:

Targeted Question 1

Provide an example of how you have developed an internal finance policy or led a project to put in place framework or controls to comply with new or existing accounting standards.

Targeted Question 2

Provide a description of your involvement with sustainability reporting, or your contribution in providing expert advice on emerging issues within the field of financial reporting.

Note: the selection process will include a range of assessment techniques to assist in determining your suitability for the role. Successful candidates will be required to undertake pre-employment screening for this role which includes a National Criminal History Check.

Closing date:  Sunday 10 March at 11:59pm.

For role enquiries please contact Annaly Espinosa details at annaly.espinosa@det.nsw.edu.au

We welcome applications from all ages and genders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse groups, the LGBTQIA+ community, veterans, refugees and people with disability. If we can make some adjustments to our recruitment/interview process to better enable you to shine, please contact the Diversity and Inclusion Team (dandi@det.nsw.edu.au) or visit NSW Department of Education Diversity and Inclusion.”

A talent pool may be created through this recruitment process. A talent pool is a group of applicants who have been assessed and identified as suitable for this role, and who may be considered for a range of similar roles, including temporary, term or ongoing roles, over the next 18 months.