Capability Costing Analyst

Defence Australia; Adelaide; Hybrid; AUD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work arrangements

Job summary

Defence Australia is seeking an APS 6 Capability Costing Officer to deliver accurate costing and advisory support on major capability submissions. You will engage stakeholders, validate inputs and craft written and verbal advice for senior leaders across Defence.

The role requires adapting to fast-paced, complex problems with flexibility and discretion, including working on a classified network while maintaining opportunities for negotiated work-from-home arrangements.

Qualifications

• Our ideal candidate has strong written and verbal communication with the ability to influence stakeholders.
• Demonstrated problem solving with a questioning mindset and lateral thinking.
• Ability to analyse complex information and provide clear advice.
• Experience building and maintaining networks with internal and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Provide accurate costing analyses and advice on capability submissions (helicopters, ships, satellites, ICT).
• Engage with stakeholders to gather inputs and validate costing assumptions.
• Prepare high-quality written and verbal advice for senior leaders and committees.
• Support process improvements within costing processes and systems.

Skills

Communication skills

Problem solving

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder management

Service mindset

Continuous improvement

Education

Accounting, Finance, Economics, Project Management or STEM background

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 in partnership 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 APS 6 Capability Costing Officer, you will employ a high degree of stakeholder engagement to achieve a range of tasks across capability proposals and support our Branch by undertaking analysis and shaping written and verbal advice for senior leaders and colleagues across Defence.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing accurate and timely costing analysis and advice on capability submissions (e.g. helicopters, ships, satellites and complex ICT systems), in compliance with relevant costing policies, manuals and regulations.
• 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: Monday 28 September 2026