Senior Manager (AO8), Performance Audit

OnTalent; Brisbane; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Queensland Audit Office is seeking a Senior Manager in the Performance Audit division to lead multiple audits across diverse topics, guiding teams and shaping findings that influence Parliament.

You will work with evidence, stakeholders and data to identify opportunities for improvement and deliver high‑quality recommendations that strengthen accountability in Queensland’s public sector. This role requires strong leadership and strategic thinking.

Qualifications

• Relevant tertiary qualifications are required.

Responsibilities

• Lead multiple performance audits across Queensland's public sector.
• Guide teams through complex analytical work and shape findings.
• Engage with senior stakeholders and ensure findings are supported by robust evidence.
• Contribute to capability development and audit quality.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

Job description

The Queensland Audit Office examines some of the state's most significant programs, services and investments, providing independent insights that help improve public sector performance and strengthen accountability.

As a Senior Manager within the Performance Audit division, you'll lead complex audits across a diverse range of topics and sectors, working with evidence, stakeholders and data to identify opportunities for improvement and deliver findings that influence decision-making at the highest levels.

About Queensland Audit Office

At OnTalent, we are proud to represent the Queensland Audit Office (QAO), the independent auditor of Queensland's public sector.

The Queensland Audit Office examines some of the state's most significant programs, services and investments, providing independent insights that help improve public sector performance, strengthen accountability and deliver better outcomes for Queensland communities.

Working across more than 400 state and local government clients, QAO's Performance Audit division explores complex public sector issues, ranging from major infrastructure and procurement programs to frontline service delivery, digital transformation, governance and system-wide reform. The work goes beyond compliance, helping Parliament and the community understand whether programs are achieving their intended outcomes and where opportunities exist to improve efficiency, effectiveness and public value.

As a Senior Manager within the Performance Audit division, you will lead complex audits that examine real-world challenges facing government, working with evidence, stakeholders and data to deliver insights that influence decision-making at the highest levels.

About the Role

As a Senior Manager, you will lead the delivery of multiple performance audits, guiding teams through complex analytical work and helping shape findings and recommendations that are ultimately tabled in Parliament.

This role offers exposure to a wide range of public policy, service delivery and organisational performance issues across Queensland's public sector. You will work across diverse portfolios, quickly developing an understanding of different operating environments, assessing how programs and services are performing and identifying opportunities to improve outcomes for Queensland communities.

You will lead and mentor audit teams, oversee research and analysis, engage with senior stakeholders and ensure findings are supported by robust evidence and sound professional judgement. Working closely with Directors and Senior Directors, you will also contribute to capability development, audit quality and continuous improvement across the division.

Why Join QAO?

Few organisations offer the same combination of professional challenge, public impact and career development.

At QAO, you will have the opportunity to:

• Lead complex and high-profile performance audits across Queensland's public sector
• Work on issues that directly affect communities, services and government performance
• Engage with senior leaders across government and the broader public sector
• Build expertise across a wide range of sectors, programs and policy areas
• Develop leadership capability through coaching teams and managing complex projects
• Contribute to recommendations that help improve public sector performance and accountability
• Enjoy flexible working arrangements, strong professional support and genuine work-life balance

For professionals seeking engaging work with a clear sense of purpose, QAO offers a career experience unlike most consulting, advisory or assurance environments.

About You

You are a curious and analytical leader who enjoys understanding how organisations, programs and systems operate and identifying opportunities for improvement.

You may have developed your experience in:

• Management consulting, particularly in performance improvement, organisational effectiveness, operations advisory, public sector reform or program evaluatio\
• Internal audit and assurance environments, with experience conducting effectiveness reviews, operational audits, performance assessments or organisational reviews
• Program evaluation and review functions within government, consulting or research environments
• Governance, risk and assurance roles involving organisational performance, controls, compliance or strategic improvement initiatives
• Investigations, review or integrity functions requiring structured analysis and evidence-based conclusions
• Public sector policy, strategy or advisory roles involving research, evaluation and systems thinking
• Business improvement, transformation or organisational review environments
• Other complex analytical or advisory roles where evidence, judgement and stakeholder engagement are central to decision‑making

You bring strong critical thinking skills, sound professional judgement and the ability to work through ambiguity to form balanced, evidence-based conclusions. You are confident leading projects and people, building productive stakeholder relationships and communicating complex information in a clear and practical way.

Most importantly, you are motivated by meaningful work and the opportunity to contribute to better public services and outcomes for Queensland communities.

Relevant tertiary qualifications are required.

Applications close: 1 November 2026

Queensland Audit Office is committed to building a culture that respects and promotes human rights, inclusion and diversity. Applicants requiring reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process are encouraged to discuss their requirements with OnTalent.