Chief Financial Officer, DGS

Work Initiatives; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 250,000 - 360,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Government Services (DGS) in Victoria, Australia, seeks a strategic Chief Financial Officer to lead financial management for the department. You will shape budget strategy, sign statutory accounts, and advise Ministers, the Secretary and the Executive Board on financial matters.

Reporting to the COO, the CFO will oversee finance shared services, ensure compliance with Financial Management Act 1994 and Standing Directions 2018, and drive performance through senior stakeholder

Qualifications

• Extensive finance and executive leadership experience in public/private sectors.
• Demonstrated expertise in public sector financial management and statutory reporting.
• Strong understanding of budgeting, resource allocation and financial sustainability.
• Ability to navigate complex multi-stakeholder environments with sound judgement.
• Excellent communication and engagement with Ministers, boards and senior stakeholders.
• Proven ability to model constructive behaviours and lead high-performing teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead financial management of the department and sign off statutory accounts.
• Set budget strategy and ensure alignment with policy priorities.
• Oversee finance shared services and service levels with risk and compliance.
• Provide principal financial advice to Ministers, the Secretary and the Executive Board.
• Ensure compliance with Financial Management Act 1994, Standing Directions 2018, and relevant standards.

Skills

Strategic finance leadership

Public sector budgeting

Regulatory compliance

Executive stakeholder engagement

Financial governance

Education

Accounting degree

CPA/CAANZ membership

Job description

The Department of Government Services (DGS) was established on 1 January 2023 to improve everyone's experience of doing business and interacting with the Victorian government.

We bring important day-to-day services together in one department to make things easy and seamless for Victorians and businesses.

We are doing this by connecting and digitising our systems and platforms across state and local government as well as streamlining our corporate and procurement services.

About Us

The Department of Government Services (DGS) was established on 1 January 2023 to improve everyone's experience of doing business and interacting with the Victorian government.

We bring important day-to-day services together in one department to make things easy and seamless for Victorians and businesses.

We are doing this by connecting and digitising our systems and platforms across state and local government as well as streamlining our corporate and procurement services.

About the Group

The Operations Group delivers frontline customer services to Victorians and the public service. It maintains the foundational digital infrastructure and platforms that support efficient, secure and reliable service delivery. The Group uses industry-leading delivery principles for shared services and supports the development of sustainable and efficient whole of Victorian Government (WoVG) shared services.

About the role

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is accountable for the financial management of the department. The CFO leads the budget strategy, signs off the statutory accounts and holds the responsibilities given to the role under the Financial Management Act 1994, the Standing Directions 2018 and the Resource Management Framework.

The role is responsible for ensuring that the department complies with all statutory, departmental and professional standards, including the Financial Management Act 1994, the Standing Directions 2018 and their Instructions, Australian Accounting Standards, Australian taxation legislation and the policies of the central agencies.

The CFO sets the department's requirements of finance shared services that service, agree its service levels with the Chief Risk Officer, and holds it to account for accurate, timely and controlled delivery. This role is the department's principal adviser on financial matters to Ministers, the Secretary and the Executive Board.

About you

• Extensive finance and executive leadership experience across the public and/or private sector, with demonstrated expertise in public sector financial management, budgeting and statutory reporting.
• Demonstrated experience leading budget strategy and advising on financial sustainability and resource allocation in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
• Detailed knowledge of the Financial Management Act 1994, the Standing Directions 2018, the Resource Management Framework and Australian Accounting Standards, with experience signing off statutory financial statements.
• Demonstrated sound judgement and decision-making capability, with the ability to effectively navigate ambiguity and complexity in dynamic environments.
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, with demonstrated experience engaging and influencing Ministers, boards and senior stakeholders in complex environments.
• Strong executive leadership, strategic thinking and analytical skills, with a proven ability to model constructive behaviours and motivate others to achieve their full potential and deliver organisational outcomes.
• Demonstrated experience working with shared service providers as a customer, including setting requirements and holding providers to account for service levels and controls.

Mandatory requirements

• A graduate or postgraduate qualification in accounting or a relevant discipline, consistent with Direction 2.4 of the Standing Directions 2018.
• Membership of CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, or an equivalent recognised professional accounting body.

For more information, please see the Position Description

Applications close at midnight on 15 November 2026.

Other relevant information

To be eligible for appointment to this role, applicants will possess corresponding work rights for the advertised employment period. Appointment to an ongoing role is only available to an Australian/New Zealand citizen or an Australian Permanent Resident. Preferred applicants will be required to undertake pre-employment screening. DGS actively promotes diversity, inclusion and an equal opportunity workplace. We welcome applicants from all diverse backgrounds, including people with disabilities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. All roles at DGS can be worked flexibly, however it may differ from role to role.