Financial Modelling Consultant

Palisades Australia; Canberra; On-site; AUD 158,000 - 214,000; Full time

Job summary

Palisades Australia is seeking experienced Financial Modelling Consultants for a short-term Commonwealth Government contract in Canberra. The role involves analytical workstreams, model design, testing and documentation, with on-site delivery and Baseline security clearance.

The initial six-week engagement may extend, with remuneration of $115–$155 per hour plus superannuation, depending on experience and responsibilities.

Qualifications

• Relevant experience in financial modelling, costing, management accounting, economics, budgeting or demand analysis.
• Strong Microsoft Excel modelling skills.
• Sound understanding of cost behaviour, allocation methods and unit costing.
• Australian citizenship and ability to work primarily on-site in Canberra.

Responsibilities

• Review financial models, cost structures, activity volumes, business processes and assumptions.
• Analyse fixed and variable, direct and indirect costs.
• Identify and assess defensible operational cost drivers.
• Review data sources, data quality, methodologies and controls.
• Develop transparent, auditable and maintainable Excel-based models.
• Undertake unit-cost analysis, forecasting, scenario modelling and sensitivity testing.
• Facilitate stakeholder discussions and workshops.
• Prepare reports, executive presentations, working papers and procedural guidance.
• Document source data, assumptions, calculations and model limitations.
• Support practical knowledge transfer to client personnel.

Skills

Financial modelling

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder engagement

Costing

Education

Relevant tertiary qualifications

CA/CPA/CFA accreditation

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Canberra ACT | Primarily on-site | Baseline clearance required
$115–$155 per hour plus superannuation, depending on experience

Financial Modelling Consultant

The opportunity

Palisades is seeking experienced, Baseline-cleared Financial Modelling Consultants for a short-term Commonwealth Government contracting opportunity in Canberra.

We welcome applications from professionals at analyst, senior consultant and engagement-lead levels. Depending on your experience, you may lead an analytical workstream, design and assure complex models, facilitate senior stakeholder discussions, or provide hands‑on data analysis, model development, testing and documentation.

The work will involve reviewing complex financial and operational information, analysing contemporary cost drivers and supporting the development of robust, transparent and evidence‑based financial models.

The initial engagement is approximately six weeks, with two potential extensions of approximately eight weeks and three weeks respectively. Each extension will be subject to a separate client go/no-go decision. If all stages proceed, the engagement will comprise approximately 17 active weeks, with a possible two-to-three-week Christmas and New Year stand-down.

Indicative remuneration is $115–$155 per hour plus superannuation, depending on experience, capability and expected responsibilities.

Key responsibilities

• Review financial models, cost structures, activity volumes, business processes and assumptions.
• Analyse fixed and variable, direct and indirect costs.
• Identify and assess defensible operational cost drivers.
• Review data sources, data quality, methodologies and controls.
• Develop transparent, auditable and maintainable Excel-based models.
• Undertake unit-cost analysis, forecasting, scenario modelling and sensitivity testing.
• Facilitate stakeholder discussions and workshops.
• Prepare reports, executive presentations, working papers and procedural guidance.
• Document source data, assumptions, calculations and model limitations.
• Support practical knowledge transfer to client personnel.

What you will bring

• Relevant experience in financial modelling, costing, management accounting, economics, budgeting, pricing or demand analysis.
• Strong Microsoft Excel modelling skills.
• Sound understanding of cost behaviour, allocation methods and unit costing.
• Strong analytical, written communication and stakeholder‑engagement skills.
• Australian citizenship and ability to work primarily on‑site in Canberra.
• A current Australian Government Baseline security clearance.

Commonwealth budgeting, costing, activity‑based costing, cost recovery or central‑agency experience will be highly regarded. Relevant tertiary qualifications and CA, CPA, CFA or comparable accreditation are also desirable.

Engagement structure

The initial engagement is approximately six weeks. Two potential extension stages of approximately eight weeks and three weeks may follow, subject to separate client go/no-go decisions.

If all stages proceed, the engagement will comprise approximately 17 active weeks. A two-to-three-week Christmas and New Year stand-down may apply.