Here is an exciting opportunity for a Finance Officer to join our dynamic Finance, Risk and Performance team and an organisation dedicated to improving the wellbeing of Australian families.

We are looking for a highly motivated, experienced team player to deliver essential finance expertise and support to the team. The successful candidate will be an excellent team player who wants to work in a supportive, dynamic, challenging and fast-paced environment.

You will need to think logically, be well-organised, flexible, maintain confidences and show a high level of initiative and judgement.

About us

The Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS, or ‘the Institute’) is the Australian Government's key research body in the area of family wellbeing. It is an independent statutory authority established in 1980 under the Family Law Act 1975. The Institute is an agency within the portfolio of the Department of Social Services (DSS).

We conduct research, provide independent advice and communicate findings to policy makers, service providers and the community about factors affecting family wellbeing. Our work builds an evidence base about ‘what works for families’. Through our research, we contribute to developing policy and practice to promote the wellbeing of families in Australia.

Our team

The Finance, Risk and Performance Team is responsible for managing all strategic and operational financial and non-financial performance activities and functions for AIFS. It also has responsibility for managing Risk and Corporate Planning across the Institute.

The team supports the Institute’s leaders to develop budgets and forecasts, and to report against the strategic goals that determine the Institute’s future directions. As such, the Finance Team embodies our organisational values and behaviours.

Position Requirements

This purpose of the Finance Officer role is to facilitate and provide support in activities pertaining to financial operations. Duties include accounts payable and receivable, production of weekly payment run, reconciliations for bank accounts incorporating credit cards and cab-charge, requests that include contract variations, creating and maintaining contract records, month-end, and year-end activities, and supporting the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) with regard to ad-hoc requests.

Position duties

Under the direction of the Chief Financial Officer, the Finance Officer is required to:

• Provide accurate and timely end-to-end accounts payable processing.
• Complete supplier account applications and maintain accurate supplier details.
• Daily Bank reconciliations across all bank accounts including credit cards and cab-charge.
• Provide accurate and timely end-to-end accounts receivable processing including however not limited to debtors’ control.
• Assist with the preparation and posting of journals, depreciation, determination of accruals according to accounting standards, weekly and for month end
• Assist with and facilitate the implementation of innovation initiatives and contribute to business improvement strategies and change in the workplace.
• Assist with the preparation of tax compliance reporting including, but not limited to, BAS, WHT and FBT.
• Provide financial advice on the pricing and costing of projects for AIFS.
• Assist with the calculation of monthly revenue recognised.
• Assist with the weekly reporting of new business possibilities for AIFS.
• Provide sound technical advice on procurements and contracts for AIFS.
• Develop and maintain procurement processes, policies and practices that ensure compliance with the PGPA Act, Australian Government Procurement rules, procurement policies and internal procedures.
• As and when required, aid staff on regulatory and compliance matters and other issues in relation to procurement and contracting activities, including reporting on milestones and key contractual requirements.
• Undertake other ad hoc duties, e.g. Risk and Performance Reporting as requested by the CFO. 

Key Selection Criteria

• Professional expertise
• Understanding our organisation
• Delivering on objectives and achieving results
• Relationships and interpersonal skills
• Communication
• Leadership and management
• Values and integrity

For a comprehensive overview of the selection criteria, please see the attached Position Description for more information. 

Terms

The Finance Officer role will be offered as a full-time ongoing position at the APS 5 level. This will be with a salary range of between $85,039 to $91,809 depending on the skills and experience of the successful candidate, plus 15.4% superannuation.

Application information

For how to apply, please click Apply Now. 

Please complete the Application Form where you will need to attach your resume and cover letter (maximum 2 pages) addressing the selection criteria outlined in the attached Position Description.

Contact: Human Resources

Contact Phone: 03 9214 7888

Contact Email: [email protected] using the subject line: Finance Officer enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Position Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for engagement, applicants must be Australian citizens unless special approval is given. For example, applicants with permanent resident status who have applied or intend to apply for Australian citizenship may be considered for engagement.

Conditions of engagement including probation, health and character clearances (including police records check, Working with Children Check and security clearance) may apply to this position. 

Position notes

AIFS is committed to providing an inclusive and diverse workplace. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, mature age people, those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people who identify as LGBTQIA+, and people with parenting and/or caring responsibilities.

We provide a family-friendly and flexible workplace that supports the wellbeing and professional development of our diverse workforce. Benefits include workplace health and wellbeing activities, a good health promotion allowance and Christmas closedown period with no deduction from leave credits. Our salaries and conditions of employment are set out in our Enterprise Agreement.