Assistant Director

Defence Australia; Adelaide; Hybrid; AUD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Work-from-home arrangements

Flexible workplace

Job summary

Defence Australia is seeking an Assistant Director Capability Costing to lead a small team and deliver accurate costing analysis for major capability submissions (helicopters, ships, satellites and ICT systems).

You will influence senior leaders and stakeholders with timely, high-quality financial information and strategic advice, while managing a dynamic environment that values adaptability and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Strong written and verbal communication across a range of stakeholders.
• Problem-solving abilities based on a questioning mind and lateral thinking.
• Ability to analyse and interpret complex information and provide advice.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain a service mentality to assist our business colleagues.

Responsibilities

• Providing accurate and timely costing analysis and advice on capability submissions.
• Engaging with stakeholders to gather and validate costing inputs and assumptions.
• Preparing high-quality written and verbal advice for senior leaders and committees.
• Supporting continuous improvement initiatives within costing processes and systems

Skills

Strong communication

Problem solving

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder management

Influencing

Services mindset

Process improvement

Education

Accounting, Finance, Economics, Project Management or STEM

Job description

The Capability Costing Branch (CCB) within Defence Finance Group (DFG) provides independent and contestable financial analysis and assurance to Government on Capability Submissions. We work with the Defence community to drive better practice and transform costing. We need people who are curious, adaptable and motivated by complex, real world problems rather than predictable routines. Your analysis will help inform Government decisions on major capability investments such as helicopters, ships, satellites and complex ICT systems.

This is not a role defined by monthly reporting cycles or predictability; instead, it rewards flexible thinking, intellectual curiosity and comfort with ambiguity. The pace can be fast and the thinking stretch based, but you will be well supported by an experienced, collaborative team with genuine access to senior Branch staff.You will be a part of a team of professionals delivering accurate, timely and high quality analysis and advice to project teams and senior leaders on capability submissions.

As an Assistant Director Capability Costing, you will play a pivotal role in Defence effectively delivering on key reform deliverables. You will be an emerging leader who is committed to helping senior leaders and stakeholders deliver outcomes through your strategic advice and the provision of accurate, timely and high-quality financial information. You will have sound experience leading and developing a high-performing team, and have a naturally influential communication style.

You will be accountable to plan, lead and manage a team within a dynamic environment and be exposed to a range of Defence Capability projects, including key priority areas such as

conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarines, precision long-range munitions, hardening Australia’s northern bases, and asymmetric capability development.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing accurate and timely costing analysis and advice on capability submissions (e.g. helicopters, ships, satellites and complex ICT systems).
• Engaging with stakeholders to gather and validate costing related inputs and assumptions.
• Preparing high-quality written and verbal advice for senior leaders and committees.
• Supporting continuous improvement initiatives within costing processes and systems

Defence is committed to supporting workplace flexibility. Due to operational requirements, our Branch often works on a classified network, which means there will be times when full‑time presence in the office is necessary. Where it does not conflict with these requirements, some working‑from‑home arrangements can be negotiated.

About our Team

The Capability Costing Branch (CCB) provides end-to-end costing support across the Defence enterprise throughout the Government approvals process. The Branch’s primary responsibility is to conduct cost risk analysis of capability proposals and deliver informed advice to the Chief Finance Officer. CCB also plays a key role in connecting and supporting the professional costing community by:

• Developing policy and technical solutions.
• Providing strategic and technical costing support and advice.
• Building a sustainable and skilled costing workforce.

Our Ideal Candidate

Our ideal candidate will have the following skills and attributes:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with an ability to influence across a range of stakeholders.
• Problem‑solving abilities based on a questioning mind and an ability to think laterally.
• Ability to analyse and interpret complex information and provide advice.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with a network of internal and external stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain a service mentality to assist our business colleagues in their role, responding to queries and assisting them as required.
• Improvement focus, strong results orientation, and seeks to add value through improving processes and systems.
• A background in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Project Management or STEM is highly valued.

Application Closing Date: 11:30pm Monday 21 September 2026.

For further information please review the job information pack, reference DFG/05089/26 on https://defencecareers.nga.net.au/?jati=EEEB5F05-FC46-ED25-DAE9-ED4A3DF3B630