Senior Finance Officer

Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW); West Arnhem Region; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) is seeking a Financial Leadership and Budget Management professional to oversee Kakadu National Park’s budgets, revenue streams and procurement, in partnership with the Business Manager and Park Management Team.

You will provide high-level financial guidance, build robust governance processes, and drive improvements across budgeting, reporting, and compliance while supporting joint management with Aboriginal Traditional

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, implementation and monitoring of budgets across Kakadu National Park with the Business Manager.
• Provide high-level financial advice to the Business Manager and Park Management Team.
• Analyze financial performance, identify risks and opportunities, and develop mitigation strategies.
• Prepare complex financial reports, forecasts, and budget submissions.
• Monitor expenditure and revenue to align with objectives.
• Support annual budget planning, monthly forecasting and year-end processes.
• Oversee revenue collection processes for park passes and other streams.
• Ensure compliance with financial controls and cash procedures.
• Review reconciliations and reporting for accuracy.
• Identify improvements to revenue management systems and processes.
• Lead procurement activities per Commonwealth rules and policies.
• Advise on procurement processes, contract administration and purchasing.
• Develop and review Deeds of Standing Offer and Period Contracts.
• Evaluate procurement proposals ensuring value-for-money.
• Monitor supplier performance and risk management.
• Interpret and review financial, procurement and admin policies.
• Provide advice on legislative and policy requirements.
• Prepare complex correspondence, ministerial briefs, reports and business cases.
• Drive continuous improvement to governance and performance.
• Coordinate internal and external audit activities and implement recommendations.
• Build relationships with Aboriginal Traditional Owners, staff, contractors, agencies.
• Support joint management principles of Kakadu National Park through engagement.
• Facilitate knowledge exchange between Indigenous and non-Indigenous employees.
• Represent the function in meetings and stakeholder forums.
• Supervise and develop a small team of finance and administration staff.
• Allocate work and provide constructive feedback.
• Promote capability through coaching and development opportunities.
• Foster a collaborative and high-performing team culture.
• Contribute as an active member of the Park Management Team.
• Promote safe work practices under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and departmental requirements.
• Ensure staff operate within safe work procedures and risk management frameworks.
• Contribute to a positive safety culture across the park.

Job description

Affirmative measure employment The filling of this vacancy is intended to constitute an affirmative measure under section 8(1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975. This vacancy is only available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. If you are found suitable and offered a position, you will need to provide evidence of your eligibility for affirmative measure employment when the formal written offer is made. For more information about affirmative measure employment, see Amateur measure for recruiting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians: A guide for applicants | Australian Public Service Commission. Who we are Australia’s natural and cultural heritage is unique. Our land and seascapes are distinctive, home to plants and animals found nowhere else in the world, and to some of the oldest living cultures on earth. These environments and cultures are an essential part of our national identity, and visitors travel from across the country and the world to experience them. The Director of National Parks (the Director) is responsible for six national parks, the Australian National Botanic Gardens, 58 Australian Marine Parks and the Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve established under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Parks Australia is the federal park agency that supports the Director, and they are a division of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (the Department). We work to showcase these natural and cultural wonders to the world, demonstrating to all why these places are so special, and inspiring communities to become more invested in their care and future. Kakadu National Park is a world-heritage listed site for its natural and cultural values, and one of three national parks, leased by their Aboriginal owners to the Director of National Parks, and jointly managed by Traditional Owners and Parks Australia. Parks Australia assists with ongoing management of the park’s natural and cultural heritage. In addition to ongoing management of the park’s natural and cultural heritage, this branch also manages strategic priorities for Parks Australia, managing a range of strategic planning and major capital projects across the three jointly managed parks. The Business Management Unit is responsible for overseeing the financial, administrative, and strategic operations within the jointly managed park. As part of this team, you will provide high-quality financial and revenue management services to support the effective operation of Kakadu National Park. The position contributes to financial integrity, compliance, budgeting processes, revenue collection, accounts administration, and financial reporting. For more information about us please visit our website. For more information about the job-specific capabilities for this role, please view the Job Description which can be downloaded from the relevant job posting on our website.

Financial Leadership and Budget Management

• Lead the development, implementation and monitoring of operational and project budgets across Kakadu National Park in partnership with the Business Manager, ensuring financial resources are effectively managed, risks are identified and mitigated, and budget outcomes align with organisational priorities and strategic objectives.
• Provide high-level financial advice and recommendations to the Business Manager and Park Management Team.
• Analyse financial performance, identify trends, risks and opportunities, and develop mitigation strategies.
• Prepare complex financial reports, forecasts, budget submissions and management briefings.
• Monitor expenditure and revenue to ensure resources are managed efficiently and aligned with business objectives.
• Support annual budget planning, monthly forecasting and end-of-financial-year processes.

Revenue and Cash Management

• Oversee revenue collection processes associated with park pass operations and other revenue streams.
• Ensure compliance with departmental financial controls and cash management procedures.
• Review reconciliations, financial transactions and reporting to ensure accuracy and accountability.
• Identify opportunities to improve revenue management systems and business processes.

Procurement and Contract Management

• Lead procurement activities in accordance with Commonwealth Procurement Rules and departmental policies.
• Provide specialist advice on procurement processes, contract administration and purchasing activities.
• Develop, manage and review Deeds of Standing Offer, Period Contracts and other contractual arrangements.
• Evaluate procurement proposals and ensure value-for-money outcomes.
• Monitor supplier and contractor performance, compliance and risk management requirements.

Governance, Policy and Business Improvement

• Interpret, develop and review financial, procurement and administrative policies and procedures.
• Provide authoritative advice on legislative and policy requirements within the role's area of responsibility.
• Prepare complex correspondence, ministerial briefs, reports and business cases.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to strengthen governance, compliance and financial performance.
• Coordinate internal and external audit activities and implement recommendations.

Stakeholder Engagement and Joint Management

• Build and maintain productive relationships with Aboriginal Traditional Owners, staff, contractors, government agencies and key stakeholders.
• Support the joint management principles of Kakadu National Park through respectful engagement and collaboration.
• Facilitate the exchange of knowledge, experience and skills between Indigenous and non-Indigenous employees.
• Represent the business function in meetings, working groups and stakeholder forums.

Leadership and Workforce Capability

• Supervise, mentor and develop a small team of finance and administration employees.
• Allocate work, monitor performance and provide constructive feedback.
• Promote workforce capability through coaching, training and development opportunities.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive and high-performing team culture.
• Contribute as an active member of the Park Management Team and broader leadership group.

Workplace Health and Safety

• Promote and model safe work practices in accordance with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and departmental requirements.
• Ensure staff operate within safe work procedures and risk management frameworks.
• Contribute to a positive safety culture across the park.