Financial Advisor

Azooa; Canberra; On-site; AUD 220,000 - 229,000; Full time

Job summary

Azooa seeks a Strategic Business & Financial Adviser – Defence Capability for the Department of Defence RFx30117. Based in Russell Offices, ACT, this senior contractor role supports capability development with strategic financial governance and budgeting expertise.

The engagement targets an NV1 clearance and offers a through-30 June 2027 term with extensions. The candidate will provide advisory services, funding strategies, and financial reporting to Defence executives.

Qualifications

• Senior Defence or Commonwealth financial-management experience required.
• Proven budgeting, forecasting and financial reporting capability.
• Experience in governance, assurance and compliance.
• Experience supporting senior executives and complex stakeholders.
• Strategic funding and costing experience.
• Knowledge of Commonwealth decision-making and financial frameworks.
• Strong audit and governance capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain sound financial and budget-management practices across the division.
• Develop financial controls and policy advice for senior Defence stakeholders.
• Prepare and manage operating budgets and forecasts.
• Deliver dashboards and management information for decision-making.
• Support external reporting including Senate Estimates and annual reports.
• Coordinate division-wide budget reviews and financial updates.
• Provide financial governance, audit and compliance activities.
• Support contract-management and transition activities.

Skills

Senior Defence finance experience

Budgeting & forecasting

Governance & compliance

Stakeholder management

Funding & costing

Commonwealth financial frameworks

Audit & reporting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in finance/commerce

Master’s degree in finance/commerce

FCPA or equivalent accreditation

4+ years using IBRS

Working knowledge of CapabilityOne

20 years Defence financial-management experience

Tools

CapabilityOne

IBRS

Job description

Strategic Business & Financial Adviser – Defence Capability | NV1 | Canberra

Azooa is preparing a response to Department of Defence RFx30117 – Financial and Business Support Services and is seeking a suitably qualified Strategic Business & Financial Adviser to support the Capability Development Division (CDD).

This is a senior Level 3 professional contracting engagement suited to an experienced Defence/Commonwealth finance professional with strong capability across strategic financial advice, budgeting, forecasting, governance, reporting and executive stakeholder engagement.

Opportunity Overview

• Client: Department of Defence
• RFQ: RFx30117
• Role: Strategic Business & Financial Adviser – Defence Capability
• Level: Professional Contractor – Level 3
• Location: Russell Offices, ACT
• Clearance: NV1 – mandatory
• Proposed commencement: 1 October 2026
• Initial term: Through 30 June 2027
• Extensions: 2 x 12 months, potentially through 30 June 2029
• Flexible working: May be available subject to Defence approval and operational/security requirements

About the Role

The Capability Development Division requires a senior financial advisory specialist to provide strategic financial and business advice across the Division.

The successful contractor will support executive decision-making, financial compliance, governance and effective management of Defence resources in accordance with Commonwealth and Defence financial frameworks.

The role will operate with a considerable degree of independence and will require strong judgement, stakeholder-management capability and the ability to provide authoritative advice on funding, expenditure, budgeting, forecasting and financial governance.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain sound financial and budget-management practices across CDD
• Develop and maintain appropriate financial controls
• Provide expert financial and policy advice to senior Defence stakeholders
• Prepare and manage operating budgets
• Deliver financial forecasts, reports, dashboards and management information
• Coordinate Division-wide budget reviews and financial updates
• Support Senate Estimates, Annual Reports and other external reporting requirements
• Provide strategic costing, funding and financial-assurance advice
• Support financial governance, audit and compliance activities
• Monitor expenditure and financial obligations
• Assist with invoice-payment and financial-management processes
• Develop and document financial and business processes and SOPs
• Support contract-management and governance meetings
• Undertake knowledge transfer and transition activities with Defence personnel
• Work collaboratively with stakeholders to achieve effective funding and project outcomes

Strong Candidate Profile

• Significant senior Defence or Commonwealth financial-management experience
• Strong budgeting, forecasting and financial-reporting capability
• Financial governance, assurance and compliance experience
• Experience supporting senior executives and complex stakeholder groups
• Strategic funding and costing experience
• Experience with Commonwealth decision-making and financial frameworks
• Strong audit, reporting and governance capability

Qualifications & Systems Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, commerce, business or a related discipline
• Master’s degree in finance, commerce, business or a related discipline
• FCPA or equivalent professional accounting accreditation
• More than 4 years’ experience using IBRS
• Working knowledge of CapabilityOne
• Ideally around 20 years’ experience delivering comparable financial-management or advisory services within Defence or other Commonwealth environments

Security Clearance

Candidates must hold and maintain an active NV1 security clearance for the duration of the engagement.

Rate Guidance

Maximum rate: $165.82/hour + GST

Recommended competitive rate: approximately $163.82/hour including super

Candidates with particularly strong Defence financial-management experience, FCPA-level credentials, specialist systems knowledge and exceptional domain alignment may still be considered at different rates.