Principal Financial Accountant

Department of Education, Western Australia; Perth; Hybrid; AUD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

12% employer superannuation

Flexible working arrangements

Generous leave entitlements

Professional development opportunities

Salary packaging

Job summary

The Department of Education, Western Australia, is seeking a Principal Financial Accountant to lead financial reporting. This permanent, full-time position requires excellent technical leadership and experience with statutory reporting obligations.

Located in East Perth, the role offers flexible working arrangements and a range of professional benefits, including generous leave entitlements and opportunities for professional development.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in coordinating statutory and external financial reporting.
• Strong understanding of applicable accounting standards and legislation.
• Ability to provide specialist advice on financial reporting issues.

Responsibilities

• Lead a high performing team in financial reporting obligations.
• Prepare and review complex financial reports and disclosures.
• Support annual financial statements process and quarterly reporting.

Skills

Technical leadership

Financial reporting

Mentoring

Accounting standards

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Relevant tertiary qualifications in accounting

Job description

This is a permanent full-time position commencing ASAP

The Financial Accounting and Reporting Branch coordinates the Department’s statutory financial reporting obligations, including quarterly whole-of-government reporting, annual financial statements and other external reporting requirements. The Branch supports accounting governance by advising on accounting treatment and improving processes and reporting quality.

The Role

We are seeking an enthusiastic and highly capable professional who is excited to lead a high performing team and is driven by continuous and improvement and thrives in a dynamic and forward thinking team environment. The Principal Financial Accountant provides senior technical leadership in the coordination and delivery of statutory and external financial reporting obligations. You will prepare and review complex financial reports and disclosures, support the annual financial statements process and quarterly reporting requirements, and ensure compliance with applicable accounting standards, legislation and whole-of-government reporting frameworks.

You will provide specialist advice on accounting treatment and financial reporting issues, contribute to the resolution of complex matters and support effective audit outcomes. The role works closely with internal stakeholders and external agencies to ensure reporting integrity and alignment of financial information across systems and outputs. You will also mentor staff, support capability development and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen reporting quality, governance and business processes.

Professional Benefits

We are conveniently located in East Perth and our employees enjoy a range of benefits which include:

• 12% employer contributed superannuation.
• Flexible working arrangements are genuinely considered to create healthy work life balance including; working from home or remote, flexible working hours and part-time arrangements
• Generous leave entitlements including annual, personal, long service and parental leave
• Professional development opportunities and study leave/assistance
• Access to salary packaging (in accordance with relevant industrial instruments)
• Enjoy easy access to public transport with the Claisebrook train station just a 5-minute walk away or, take advantage of the free Yellow Cat bus service that stops outside our building entrance. Additionally, various CPP parking locations are within walking distance.

Full details of the role, selection criteria and training requirements are listed in the attached Job Description Form (JDF).

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Jenny Lee, Manager - Financial Accounting and Reporting on [phone] or by emailing [e-mail]

We are committed to building the leadership capability of our people (Building Leadership Impact).

Equity and Diversity

We are committed to an inclusive and culturally responsive workforce reflecting the diversity in our workplaces and the Western Australian community. We welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, young people, people of diverse sexualities and genders, people with disability, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Explore our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Plan 2021-2025 for more details.

Eligibility

• be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, permanent resident or have a valid visa with relevant work rights for the term of the appointment.
• consent to a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check and obtain a current Screening Clearance Number issued by the Department of Education’s Screening Unit before you start.
• hold relevant tertiary qualifications in an accounting or related discipline and eligibility for membership of a professional accounting body

More information about employment eligibility can be found on our website and in the attached Job Description Form (JDF).

Advertised Vacancy Number: DOE1064705

Applications close: 4.30pm (AWST) on Monday, 28 September 2026