Senior Finance Business Partner

Department of Education; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Education in Victoria is seeking an experienced Senior Business Partner to deliver strategic financial guidance to executive clients within the Financial Services Division. You will support decision-making, monitor budgets, and contribute to the Department's financial management reporting and forecasting.

The role covers costings, modelling for new funding initiatives, budget reporting, and development of tools to support policy implementation and compliance.

Qualifications

• A tertiary qualification in Accounting, Finance or Economics (mandatory).

Responsibilities

• Provide expert financial advice and support to internal customers.
• Coordinate budget development, management reporting & analysis.
• Prepare budgets, complete costings and financial reporting.
• Develop tools and guidelines to support adherence to new policies, processes and systems.
• Support stakeholder understanding of budget reports, financial policies, processes and systems.
• Build strong client relationships and provide sound financial options and strategies.

Skills

Financial analysis

Budget management

Stakeholder management

Financial reporting

Costing & modelling

Data analysis

Policy implementation

Communication

Education

Tertiary qualification in Accounting, Finance or Economics

Job description

An exciting opportunity exists for an ongoing role as a Senior Business Partner in the Financial Services Division. The purpose of the role is to provide support and advice to a portfolio of internal executive clients in the Department in their strategic and operational decision-making, and in the effective management of their budgets.

About the Department

The department provides a wide range of learning and development support and services. The department provides policy leadership, plans for the future of education in Victoria and leads key cross-sector collaboration. The department plays an important system steward role by providing support, guidance, oversight and assurance across early childhood and school education systems, as well as directly providing school education and 50 new early learning centres.

About the Division

Financial Services Division is responsible for designing and implementing financial management principles, processes, and systems to ensure that managers have the necessary support to execute their financial management responsibilities. The Division is responsible for establishing the appropriate financial management and assurance environment within the Departments corporate, schools, groups, regions, and the statutory authorities. The Division has a key role in supporting the second line of defence through its oversight and monitoring functions.

Division operates on three levels to fulfil its responsibilities including:

• strategic to support decision making.
• control, assurance and governance to ensure compliance with legislation and standards.
• operational to provide functional support and service delivery.

The role is within the Business Partnering Unit [BPU]. The BPU provides strategic budget management advisory and facilitation services to Groups and Statutory Authorities within the departments portfolio's, resolving broad financial management issues. This includes, but is not limited to; monitoring budget performance and forecasts, preparing and presenting executive budget and financial management reporting, providing budget analysis and reporting tools and training, and providing quality assurance and compliance review services on financial submissions. The unit promotes a strong finance culture through co-ordinating and supporting financial and resource management in partnership with business areas across the department.

About the Role

An exciting opportunity exists for an ongoing role as a Senior Business Partner in the Financial Services Division. The purpose of the role is to provide support and advice to a portfolio of internal executive clients in the Department in their strategic and operational decision-making, and in the effective management of their budgets. Including undertaking financial performance analysis, evaluation of costings and modelling for new funding initiatives, the provision of budget management reporting, and input into the Department's Budget Management Report. The role is also required to perform analysis of funding issues, and assist with the review of briefings and funding proposals within strict timelines. The capacity to develop strong client relationships as well as strong analytical and training capabilities is essential. The role has primary responsibility for one or more designated offices of the Department and/or statutory entities and is supported by/supervises one or more Finance Officers at the VPS4 levels.

Attributes

• Expert financial advice and support to internal customers
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with internal stakeholders
• Coordinate the provision of support for budget development, management reporting & analysis
• Highlight issues and risks, and provide advice on financial options & strategies
• Provide accurate information and sound financial advice to all levels of management
• Identify and resolve financial application performance problems through investigation, troubleshooting, testing and error resolution
• Financial policy and procedure implementation
• Develop tools & guidelines to support adherence to new policies, processes and systems
• Work with finance colleagues and other internal stakeholders to implement changes to financial policies, processes and systems
• Financial administration
• Maintenance of accurate data, records, databases and information management systems
• Preparation of budgets
• Complete costings
• Financial reporting
• Undertake financial research & data analysis
• Provide or assist with the development of:
  • financial statements
  • submissions
  • briefings
  • reports
• Stakeholder management
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with external stakeholders such as representatives from other government entities
• Strong communication skills
• Support stakeholders to understand budget reports, financial policies, processes and systems

Desirable Qualifications and Experience

A tertiary qualification in Accounting, Finance or Economics (mandatory)

The department values diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information about our work, working for the Department, diversity and inclusion, and our employment conditions visit the Department website and our Diversity and Inclusion page. Applicants requiring adjustments can contact the nominated contact person. Information about the Department of Education's operations and employment conditions can be located at www.education.vic.gov.au . Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and may be subject to other pre-employment checks. Information provided to the Department of Education will be treated in the strictest confidence. Please let us know via phone or email if you require adjustments to ensure your full participation in the recruitment process or if you need the ad or any attachments in an accessible format (e.g large print) due to any viewing difficulties or other accessibility requirements. Applications close 11:59pm on Thursday 5th November 2026.