Branch Manager, Budget Management, Strategy and Support

Watermark Search International; Geelong; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

NDIA, through Watermark Search International, is seeking a Branch Manager for Budget Management, Strategy and Support (SES Band 1) in Geelong/various locations. You will lead a 55‑strong team delivering budget management, forecasting, planning and decision‑support to enable informed executive decisions.

The role focuses on financial stewardship for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, with influence over resources, performance insights and transformation programs across a complex public

Qualifications

• Experience leading budget management, financial strategy and forecasting in large organisations.
• Strong analytical capability to interpret financial and operational data for decision‑making.
• Experience providing high‑level advice to senior executives and stakeholders.
• Proven leadership of teams within government/public sector environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead budget management, forecasting and financial planning activities for the branch.
• Provide strategic financial advice and decision support to senior executives.
• Support resource allocation, investment prioritisation and financial governance.
• Deliver high‑quality analysis, modelling and performance insights for decisions.
• Build branch capability in financial management, strategy and BI.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders and central agencies.
• Drive continuous improvement in financial systems and reporting frameworks.

Skills

Budget management

Forecasting

Performance reporting

Business intelligence

Stakeholder engagement

Team leadership

Job description

Branch Manager, Budget Management, Strategy and Support

Watermark Search International – Geelong VIC

SES Band 1 | National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) | Full-time | Ongoing | Location: Various

Help shape the financial sustainability of one of Australia's most significant social reforms

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) is seeking an accomplished executive to join the Chief Financial Officer Division as Branch Manager, Budget Management, Strategy and Support (SES Band 1).

This is a unique opportunity to play a leadership role at the centre of the NDIA's financial stewardship and strategic decision-making functions, helping to support the long-term sustainability of the National Disability Insurance Scheme while improving outcomes for hundreds of thousands of Australians with disability.

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, you will lead a branch of approximately 55 staff responsible for providing strategic financial leadership, budget management, forecasting, performance insights and decision support across one of Australia's largest and most complex service delivery organisations.

As the NDIA continues to deliver significant reform and transformation initiatives, the Agency requires strong financial leadership and strategic capability to ensure resources are effectively allocated, risks are proactively managed and decisions are informed by robust analysis and evidence. This role sits at the heart of that agenda.

About the Role

Operating at the intersection of strategy, finance, governance and organisational performance, the Branch Manager is responsible for leading the development and delivery of budget management, financial strategy and decision-support functions that enable informed executive decision-making and support Scheme sustainability.

The role provides strategic leadership across financial planning, budget management, forecasting, performance reporting and business intelligence activities, ensuring the Agency has the information, insights and capability required to make sound operational and strategic decisions.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the Agency's budget management, forecasting and financial planning activities.


• Providing strategic financial advice and decision support to senior executives and key stakeholders.


• Supporting resource allocation, investment prioritisation and financial governance processes across the Agency.


• Delivering high-quality analysis, modelling and performance insights to inform strategic and operational decision-making.


• Building branch capability across financial management, strategy, performance reporting and business intelligence.


• Working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders, including central agencies and portfolio partners.


• Driving continuous improvement in financial systems, processes, reporting frameworks and analytical capability.


• Supporting organisational performance and outcomes through robust financial stewardship and evidence-based decision-making.

What We Are Looking For

The NDIA is seeking a strategic and commercially astute leader who can successfully operate in a complex and highly scrutinised environment, bringing a strong combination of financial leadership, analytical capability and stakeholder engagement expertise.

The successful candidate will bring:

• Demonstrated experience leading budget management, financial strategy, forecasting, performance reporting or related functions within large and complex organisations.


• Strong strategic and analytical capability, including experience interpreting complex financial and operational information to support decision-making.


• Experience providing high-quality advice to senior executives, boards or government stakeholders.


• Strong stakeholder engagement, influencing and relationship-building capability.


• Proven experience leading teams, building capability and driving organisational improvement.


• Sound judgement, resilience and the ability to navigate ambiguity and competing priorities.


• A commitment to respectful leadership and improving outcomes for people with disability.


• Experience leading a similar function within government (commonwealth or state), public sector finance, central agencies, or adjacent large-scale service delivery environment will be highly regarded.

About the NDIA

The NDIA is an independent statutory agency responsible for implementing the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), one of Australia's most significant social reforms.

The Agency supports more than 750,000 Australians with disability and is currently leading substantial reforms designed to improve participant outcomes while ensuring the long-term sustainability of the Scheme.

The Budget Management, Strategy and Support Branch plays a critical role in supporting these outcomes by providing financial stewardship, strategic insights and decision-support capabilities that help the Agency allocate resources effectively and deliver on its priorities

What You Should Know

To be eligible for employment with the NDIA, you must be an Australian citizen. Successful candidates will be required to undertake pre-employment screening, including a criminal history check and the ability to obtain and maintain an Australian Government security clearance at the Negative Vetting 1 (NV1) level.

The NDIA will provide reasonable adjustments to support candidates throughout the recruitment process and within the workplace.

We strongly encourage applications from people with disability, First Nations peoples, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and members of the LGBTIQA+ community.