General Manager

ACCC; Canberra; Hybrid; AUD 249,899 - 305,432; Full time

Job summary

An Australian regulatory agency is looking for a General Manager - Corporate to provide strategic oversight of corporate functions. The successful candidate will manage governance, financial management, and compliance while fostering relationships across various stakeholders. The role values diversity and encourages applicants from various backgrounds. The salary starts from $277,666 and offers flexibility with work arrangements.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in corporate services, especially financial management.
• Experience with compliance across governance and corporate projects.
• Ability to navigate complex organizational landscapes.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic oversight, governance and leadership of corporate functions.
• Ensure compliance with Commonwealth corporate accountability requirements.
• Establish effective relationships with stakeholders.

Skills

Strategic oversight

Financial management

Governance

Emotional intelligence

Change management

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

• Do you want to work at an agency where each day reveals new opportunities to work on some of the biggest issues facing consumers and businesses and have opportunities to pursue new and exciting pathways?
• Do you want to work at a place where smart and dedicated people from all walks of life collaborate to work on meaningful matters?
• Are you interested in providing strategic oversight and leadership of the AER’s corporate functions including People & Culture, Finance, Procurement, Governance, Reporting and Executive Office support?

Then this is the place for you! At the AER, we work to make energy consumers better off, now and in the future. We focus on ensuring a secure, reliable and affordable energy future for Australia as it transitions to net zero emissions. Our high performing culture is built on a foundation of care, support and inclusion. It’s why we’re driven by connection and collaboration, sharing our skills, knowledge and support with each other freely and frequently. It’s why we prioritise the wellbeing of our people and empower them to work autonomously, flexibly and courageously. We believe the best version of you is the one that’s true to who you are – and that’s the you we want working alongside us.

We value flexibility, this role can be performed at any of the AER offices located in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, or Sydney and are available on a full-time, part-time or job-share basis.

Applicants from diverse backgrounds including First Nations peoples, people with disability and those from different cultural backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

What you will do as the General Manager - Corporate

• Provide strategic oversight, governance and leadership of the AER’s People & Culture, Finance and Procurement, and corporate reporting functions.
• Ensure compliance with Commonwealth corporate accountability requirements and coordinate corporate reporting.
• Provide strategic advice and assurance to the AER Board, Senior Leadership Team and other governance committees and ensure representation on employment matters.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with key stakeholders, including the AER Board, Senior Leadership Team, the ACCC, Department of Finance, AER management, staff and staff representatives. Key Divisional colleagues will be the Executive General Manager, the Chief Information Officer and the General Counsel.

About you

In addition to meeting the Secretaries Charter of Leadership Behaviours and the APS Integrated Leadership Profile (ILS) for the SES Band 1 level, the successful applicant will have:

• Establish, purchase and manage shared services arrangements, with significant experience in corporate services, especially financial management, governance, and compliance.
• Ensure governance and compliance across various domains, complex corporate projects (i.e., finance, purchasing, corporate reporting) and demonstrated capability to operate within the requirements of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA).
• Think strategically, including navigating through rules and complexity to achieve desired outcomes, developing strategies, building organisational capabilities, and successfully manage complex and changing landscapes.
• Lead and manage significant changes, engage stakeholders productively, and demonstrate resilience and adaptability during crisis situations.
• Innovative and enhance the performance of a small, standalone organisation, with a high degree of emotional intelligence, and the ability to work effectively in dynamic environments.

To find out more about us and the role, please read the Candidate Kit.

How to apply

You will be asked to respond to the statement of claims of no more than 400 words and submit your resume with key outcomes or what you are most proud of in each role you have held (2 pages maximum).

Salary: Total reward (including superannuation) from $277,666

Contact Officer: Geoff Purvis-Smith, [e-mail]

Applications Close: 11:00pm (AEDT) Monday 9 March 2026

Please note that due to a system upgrade the ACCC Recruitment Platform (BigRedSky) will be unavailable from 10:00pm (AEDT), Friday 6 March 2026 until 10:00pm (AEDT), Sunday 8 March 2026.