Finance Business Partner - internal applications only

Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education; Batchelor; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 134,000; Full time

Job summary

Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education is seeking a Finance Business Partner in Batchelor to lead budgeting, financial performance reporting, cost centre governance, and project financial management. The role omits delays and ensures audits and compliance with AASB standards.

You will provide high-level financial leadership, advisory services, and mentoring to staff, ensuring sustainable finances and robust decision support for executives and stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated high-level capability in leading annual budget preparation, quarterly budget reviews, and financial forecasting with strategic, evidence-based advice.
• Demonstrated expertise in preparing monthly financial performance reports, quarterly budget review reports, and monthly cost centre reports with variance analysis.
• Demonstrated expertise in interpreting monthly financial reports and management dashboards for decision-makers.
• Experience overseeing project financial management, including budgeting, monitoring, reporting, and acquittals, plus supervising Project Accountants and audits.
• Ability to supervise finance staff ensuring compliance with policies and continuous improvement.
• Proven ability to work in culturally diverse Indigenous Australian communities.
• Strong written and oral communication and stakeholder relationship skills.
• Initiative and effective workload prioritization; knowledge of WHS policies.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-level financial leadership and advisory services across the Institute.
• Lead annual budgeting, forecasts, and cost centre governance.
• Prepare Monthly Financial Performance Reports and Quarterly Budget Review Reports.
• Oversee project budgeting, reporting, and acquittals; supervise Project Accountant.
• Ensure compliance with accounting standards, funding conditions, and internal policies.
• Mentor finance staff and strengthen financial governance and controls.
• Support audits and maintain robust financial information governance.

Skills

Budgeting

Financial reporting

Excel

Project accounting

Audits

Governance & compliance

Leadership & mentoring

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Commerce/Accounting degree

Significant relevant experience

Tools

GAS

Power BI

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Finance Business Partner - internal applications only

17th September, 2026

Position Number 34723

Position Classification Administration Officer 7BI, increment 1 ($121,888)

Location Batchelor

Reporting to Chief Financial Officer

Licences Applicants must have an Ochre Card and a current Police Check and/or the ability to obtain these prior to commencement.

Required Qualifications Tertiary qualifications in Commerce, Accounting, or related field and/or commensurate significant experience in lieu of formal qualifications.

Original certified copies of qualifications must be supplied.

Tenure Permanent Full Time

Applications close 24 September 2026

Purpose of the Position Provide high-level strategic financial leadership and business partnering support across the Institute, with primary responsibility for annual budgeting, financial performance reporting, cost centre governance, project financial management, and audit oversight. The role ensures financial sustainability, compliance, and informed decision-making through robust financial analysis, advisory services, and effective supervision of project accounting functions.

1. Strategic Financial Planning & Budgeting

• Lead the development, coordination, and consolidation of the Institute’s Annual Budget, including operational, capital, and project budgets, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and funding agreements.
• Provide high-level financial advice to the Executive and senior management on budget assumptions, risks, affordability, and sustainability.
• Oversee budget system setup, controls, and governance to ensure consistency across all cost centres and projects, including the review and update of management accounting policies, frameworks, and procedures supporting budgeting, forecasting, and cost centre management.

2. Financial Performance & Reporting

• Prepare and present Monthly Financial Performance Reports for Executive and governance committees, including analysis of variances, trends, and emerging financial risks.
• Lead the preparation of Quarterly Budget Review Reports, including revised forecasts, scenario analysis, and recommendations for corrective actions.
• Ensure the accuracy and integrity of monthly cost centre reports, including validation of allocations, journals, and accruals.

3. Cost Centre Oversight & Advisory

• Provide ongoing financial advisory support to Cost Centre Managers, including interpretation of financial reports, budget management, and decision-making support.
• Review and challenge cost centre financial performance, identify inefficiencies, and recommend improvement strategies, including identification, assessment, and mitigation of financial risks related to management accounting, forecasting accuracy, and cost centre performance.
• Build financial capability across the Institute by guiding managers on financial accountability, forecasting, and compliance requirements.

4. Project Financial Management & Supervision

• Supervise and provide technical oversight to the Project Accountant, ensuring accurate project budgeting, reporting, cashflow management, and acquittals.
• Oversee financial management of capital and grant-funded projects, including compliance with funding agreements and applicable accounting standards (AASB 1058 / AASB 15 where relevant).
• Review project financial reports and ensure timely identification and escalation of financial risks or variances.

5. Audit & Compliance

• Lead and coordinate project-related audits, including preparation of financial documentation, liaison with internal and external auditors, and resolution of audit findings.
• Ensure compliance with Australian Accounting Standards, funding conditions, and internal financial policies.
• Support the preparation of statutory and management reports as required for audit and governance purposes.

6. Leadership & Governance

• Contribute to continuous improvement of financial reporting frameworks, policies, and internal controls.
• Provide mentoring, coaching, and performance oversight to staff within scope of responsibility.
• Support a high-performance finance function that delivers timely, accurate, and value-adding financial services.

7. Other

• Undertake other reasonable duties as directed by your line manager.

Selection Criteria

• Demonstrated high-level capability in leading annual budget preparation, quarterly budget reviews, and financial forecasting, including the ability to analyse complex financial information, identify risks and trends, and provide strategic, evidence-based advice to senior management and executive stakeholders.
• Demonstrated expertise in preparing monthly financial performance reports, quarterly budget review reports, and monthly cost centre reports, including detailed variance analysis and forecasting, supported by excellent Microsoft Excel skills to ensure accurate, timely, and insightful financial reporting.
• Demonstrated expertise in preparing and interpreting monthly financial performance reports, cost centre reports, and management dashboards, including variance analysis, trend analysis, and the translation of financial data into clear, actionable insights for decision-makers.
• Demonstrated experience in overseeing project financial management, including project budgeting, monitoring, financial reporting, and acquittals, as well as supervision of Project Accountants and coordination of project and grant-related audits, including liaison with internal and external auditors.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise and provide professional and technical guidance to finance staff, ensuring high-quality outputs, compliance with financial policies and standards, and continuous improvement in financial management practices.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in culturally diverse teams within the social, political, and cultural environments of Indigenous Australian families, communities, and organisations.
• Highly effective interpersonal skills including proficient written and oral communication which can be adapted to meet the needs of people from all educational levels.
• Ability to build strong relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated initiative and managing workload priorities.
• Understanding of Work Health and Safety principles and practices, and ability to comply with Institute WHS Policies and Procedures.

Desirable

• Membership of a professional accounting body, such as CPA or Chartered Accountants in Australia or working towards one.
• Knowledge of the Institute’s governance policy and legislative framework and a high-level competency in the use of the Government Accounting System (GAS) or a similar accounting application and working experience in using Microsoft Power BI for report generation.