APS5 - Asset Accountant, Financial Management, Affirmative Measures, First Nations

Australian Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and; Canberra; On-site; AUD 89,000 - 97,000; Full time

Job summary

Australian Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts in Canberra is seeking an Asset Accountant (APS5) to manage asset accounting, maintain the asset register and support financial reporting.

The role offers exposure to property, infrastructure and non-financial assets, with opportunities to work with external valuation specialists, the Department of Finance and the Australian National Audit Office, contributing to process improvements.

Qualifications

• Experience in financial accounting and asset accounting.
• Knowledge of Australian government financial reporting standards is desirable.
• Strong analytical and communication skills required.

Responsibilities

• Maintain the department's asset register and manage asset movements.
• Contribute to month-end and year-end financial close with reconciliations.
• Assist in preparing the department's annual financial statements and audits.
• Coordinate asset stocktakes and valuations; support impairment assessments.
• Provide accounting position papers and technical documentation.

Skills

Financial accounting

Asset accounting

Financial reporting

Analytical skills

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Attention to detail

Job description

APS5 - Asset Accountant, Financial Management, Affir­mative Measures, First Nations

Australian Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts – Canberra ACT

$89,225 - $96,829 a year

The Finance, Strategy, Budget & Research Division is seeking to fill an Asset Accountant (APS 5) position in the Financial Accounting Team.

The Financial Accounting Team supports the department to meet its statutory financial reporting obligations, including monthly reporting to the Department of Finance and preparation of the department’s annual financial statements. The team is also responsible for the department’s asset accounting function, including maintaining the asset register, coordinating asset stocktakes, valuations and impairment assessments, and providing technical accounting advice on asset-related matters.

This is a varied role providing exposure to a diverse and complex asset portfolio, including property, infrastructure, plant and equipment, artwork, heritage and cultural assets, intangible assets and assets supporting the delivery of essential services in Australia’s non-self-governing territories.

The role provides an opportunity to develop strong technical financial accounting capability while working closely with business areas, external valuation specialists, the Department of Finance and the Australian National Audit Office. You will also have opportunities to contribute to improvements in asset accounting processes, controls, systems and reporting.

The Finance, Strategy, Budget & Research Division is seeking to fill an Asset Accountant (APS 5) position in the Financial Accounting Team.

The Financial Accounting Team supports the department to meet its statutory financial reporting obligations, including monthly reporting to the Department of Finance and preparation of the department’s annual financial statements. The team is also responsible for the department’s asset accounting function, including maintaining the asset register, coordinating asset stocktakes, valuations and impairment assessments, and providing technical accounting advice on asset-related matters.

This is a varied role providing exposure to a diverse and complex asset portfolio, including property, infrastructure, plant and equipment, artwork, heritage and cultural assets, intangible assets and assets supporting the delivery of essential services in Australia’s non-self-governing territories.

The role provides an opportunity to develop strong technical financial accounting capability while working closely with business areas, external valuation specialists, the Department of Finance and the Australian National Audit Office. You will also have opportunities to contribute to improvements in asset accounting processes, controls, systems and reporting.

The key duties of the position include:

What you will do

As the Asset Accountant, you will undertake a broad range of financial and asset accounting activities. The work is varied and includes both business-as-usual financial accounting activities and annual reporting deliverables.

Typical duties include:

• managing and maintaining the department’s asset register, including asset additions, disposals, transfers, adjustments, and other asset movements


• contributing to month-end and year-end financial close processes, including preparing reconciliations and high-quality workpapers


• contributing to the preparation of the department’s annual financial statements and associated audit requirements


• coordinating the department’s asset stocktake program and working with business areas to investigate and resolve stocktake outcomes


• coordinating independent asset valuations and supporting the assessment and accounting treatment of revaluation outcomes


• coordinating impairment reviews and working with stakeholders to identify and assess potential indicators of impairment


• supporting accounting assessments for complex asset matters, including asset recognition, capitalisation, useful lives, impairment, revaluation, write-downs and disposals


• preparing clear, evidence-based accounting position papers, file notes and other technical accounting documentation


• providing practical financial and accounting advice to business areas on the management and accounting treatment of non-financial assets


• maintaining effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including business areas, external valuation specialists, the Department of Finance and the Australian National Audit Office


• supporting continuous improvement of asset accounting processes, guidance, controls and reporting, including opportunities arising from changes to finance systems and business processes.

The role offers an opportunity to work across the full asset accounting lifecycle, from initial recognition and capitalisation through to depreciation, stocktake, valuation, impairment and eventual disposal. It also provides exposure to complex accounting matters and a broad range of stakeholders across the department.

Inherent requirements for the role

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate capability consistent with the APS5 Work Level Standards, including the ability to exercise sound judgement, work with a degree of independence and contribute effectively to a professional financial environment.

The core capabilities for this role are:

• Financial and asset accounting capability – experience in financial accounting and a sound understanding of accounting for non-financial assets


• Financial reporting knowledge – knowledge of, or the ability to quickly develop knowledge of, Australian Government financial reporting requirements and relevant accounting standards


• Analytical skills and judgement – ability to analyse complex accounting issues, identify relevant information and develop practical and well-supported solutions


• Communication skills – well-developed written and verbal communication skills


• Stakeholder engagement – ability to build productive working relationships and collaborate effectively with finance and non-finance stakeholders


• Delivery and attention to detail – ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines while maintaining the quality and accuracy expected in financial reporting.

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 APS5 you will be expected to:

• Consider the cultural context and implications of work area outcomes.


• Engage respectfully with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander stakeholders, building trusted relationships.


• Communicate respectfully and seeks appropriate cultural input to inform decisions.

Eligibility

Eligibility requirements

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

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 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.

Getting to know the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts

Our work connects and enriches every Australian community, underpins our economy and society, and empowers our regions. We provide policy advice and deliver programs, projects and services in the infrastructure, transport, communications, sport and arts sectors, supporting our regions, cities and territories.

Our staff have the opportunity to work on high profile and diverse national projects that have a meaningful impact on the lives of all Australians. We seek people with a wide range of skills and competencies. Whether you write policy, deliver programs, projects or corporate services, or have experience in research, data or technology, we look for employees who are innovative, respectful and professional. We are an inclusive employer and promote, value and support diversity among our employees with the aim of ensuring our workforce reflects, respects and benefits from diverse communities including Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with cultural and linguistic diversity, people with disability and LGBTQI+ people. We are committed to achieving gender equality and, in particular, supporting women’s progression into senior leadership.