APS5 Assistant Accountant

Join a small, supportive Finance team inside a large federal department, where you’ll work across financial reporting, budgeting and asset finance.

This is a large federal government department, centrally located in Canberra.

Its Finance area manages the department’s statutory reporting, budgets and financial controls, and gives the Executive the financial information it needs to make decisions.

This role sits in a small team focused on management accounting and asset management, so you get the feel of a close-knit team alongside the stability, structure and career pathways of a large APS department.

The Opportunity

The team is looking for an Assistant Accountant (APS5) to join on an ongoing basis via section 26 transfer.

It is a small team with a positive culture, led by a supportive EL1 and backed by a helpful APS6 who is generous with their knowledge.

The work doesn’t sit neatly in one box: it combines financial reporting and financial statements work with asset management, project finance and internal budgeting.

There is also room to grow, with the prospect of acting APS6 opportunities in the future for high performers.

You’ll have:

• A role that blends financial and management accounting, so you build broader skills than a single-function seat offers
• A small, friendly team inside a big department, made up of people who are genuinely good to work with
• Supportive EL1 and an approachable APS6 who make time to answer questions and share what they know
• Future acting APS6 opportunities, giving you a realistic way to build towards your next level
• Exposure to Executive reporting, parliamentary Questions on Notice and ANAO audit requests
• Hyrbid working arrangement to better support work life balance

The Role

You will coordinate day-to-day financial management for the department and help produce the information the Executive relies on.

You’ll be:

• Completing day-to-day and month-end processes to meet internal and external reporting deadlines, using SAP, TM1 and Excel
• Preparing journals and complete reconciliations
• Supporting financial management of departmental projects and assets, including internal budgeting and reporting
• Working with internal stakeholders to resolve issues arising from day-to-day finance operations
• Assisting with preparing the department’s annual financial statements
• Helping prepare responses to Questions on Notice, Australian National Audit Office requests and other regular and ad hoc reporting
• Producing accurate, timely financial information and reports for the Executive and business stakeholders.

The Ideal Person

You are an accountant who likes getting the numbers right and can explain them clearly to people outside finance.

You are comfortable balancing month-end deadlines with ad hoc requests, and you would rather understand why something doesn’t reconcile than force it to.

You will bring the following skills and experience:

• Substantive (ongoing) APS5 status as an accountant or financial auditor, as this role is filled by section 26 transfer. High performing APS4 accountants will also be considered
• Strong technical accounting skills, including journals and reconciliations
• Experience in one or more of financial reporting, asset accounting, internal budgeting or financial audit
• Experience using SAP and TM1 are highly desirable
• Clear communication and the ability to build productive working relationships with stakeholders outside finance
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to think critically to resolve complex issues

It’s also desirable if you have:

• A completed tertiary qualification in Commerce or Accounting, and working towards CA/CPA.

Salary / Rate

• $90k – $100k + 15.4% Super.
• Ongoing APS5 role, filled via section 26 transfer.
• Centrally located city office, with a hybrid arrangement of two days working from home each week.