Senior Compliance & Investigations Officer – APS6

Vertical Scope Group; Canberra; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Vertical Scope Group is sourcing an APS6 Senior Compliance & Investigations Officer for Canberra or Melbourne to support the Australian Electoral Commission across Compliance or Investigations streams. The role delivers regulatory assessment, risk analysis and high-quality advisory outputs in a complex legislative environment.

Working with limited direction, you will lead investigations, review financial disclosures, and guide junior staff while engaging stakeholders to ensure defensible

Qualifications

• Experience supporting or leading financial audits, assurance activities, regulatory compliance or investigations.
• Strong analytical skills to interpret complex information, identify risks and provide well-informed advice.
• Experience managing work methodically and accurately within legislative, regulatory or procedural frameworks.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgement and deliver high-quality outcomes under pressure.
• Highly developed written communication skills, including preparing briefs, reports, assessments and recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Conduct risk-based investigations into potential non-compliance or anti-avoidance schemes.
• Use data and intelligence tools to identify high-risk behaviours and inform compliance strategies.
• Independently review financial disclosure returns for accuracy and compliance.
• Undertake complex assessments of election funding claims and related regulatory matters.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to deliver defensible, evidence-based regulatory outcomes.

Skills

Regulatory compliance

Investigations

Data analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Regulatory risk assessment

Leadership

Written communication

Education

Certificate IV in Government Investigations

Accounting/Commerce/Finance

Job description

Senior Compliance & Investigations Officer – APS6

• Classification: APS Level 6
• Employment: Non-ongoing, Full Time
• Location: Canberra or Melbourne
• Security Clearance: Baseline security clearance required
• Technical Focus: Regulatory compliance, complex investigations, financial disclosure, audit and assurance, risk analysis and electoral funding

About the Opportunity

Join the Australian Electoral Commission’s expanding Regulatory Division and play a senior role in protecting the integrity of Australia’s electoral funding and political donation system.

As an APS6 Senior Compliance & Investigations Officer, you will work across either the Compliance or Investigations stream, providing high-quality analysis, regulatory assessment and advice in a complex and evolving legislative environment.

Working under limited direction, you will have a high degree of autonomy and accountability while contributing to complex compliance or investigative activities and supporting the capability development of junior team members.

Your duties may include:

• Conduct risk-based investigations into potential anti-avoidance schemes and regulatory non-compliance.
• Use data and intelligence tools to identify high-risk behaviours, entities and schemes and inform targeted compliance strategies.
• Independently review financial disclosure returns for accuracy, completeness and legislative compliance.
• Undertake complex assessments of election funding claims and associated compliance matters.
• Analyse information from diverse sources to identify potential non-compliance, including risks associated with foreign influence through financial contributions.
• Oversee and coordinate the accurate processing and payment of election funding.
• Prepare high-quality technical briefs, reports, correspondence and recommendations for decision-makers.
• Contribute to the development and refinement of regulatory policies, procedures and approaches.
• Provide leadership, guidance and support to junior staff.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders while delivering defensible, evidence-based regulatory outcomes.

The APS6 level carries greater independent responsibility across both streams, including leadership and guidance of junior staff.

Skills and experience we are looking for:

• Demonstrated experience supporting or leading financial audits, assurance activities, regulatory compliance, investigations or similar complex work.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex information, identify risks and issues and provide well-informed advice.
• Experience managing work methodically and accurately within legislative, regulatory or procedural frameworks.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgement and deliver high-quality outcomes under pressure.
• Highly developed written communication skills, including preparing briefs, reports, assessments and recommendations.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build productive relationships across different business areas.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and competing demands in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to lead by example and provide guidance and support to junior staff.
• Flexibility and adaptability in an evolving regulatory and legislative environment.

For the Senior Investigations stream, a Certificate IV in Government Investigations (PSP40416), or willingness to undertake the qualification with AEC support, is highly desirable.

For the Senior Compliance stream, formal qualifications or relevant experience in accounting, commerce, finance or a related field are highly desirable. APS6 Senior Compliance and Inve…

Essential Requirements:

• Australian citizenship is required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Baseline security clearance.
• Ability to satisfy AEC pre-employment screening requirements, including police, identity and political neutrality checks.
• Employees must be, and be seen to be, politically impartial and neutral.

Vertical Scope Group values diversity and encourages applications from veterans, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.