The primary outcome for this role is to aid managerial financial planning and decision-making ensuring sustainability of the Bureau and appropriate use of Commonwealth resources. This is achieved through assistance with creation of external budgets, internal budgets and monthly management reporting.
This role will support Business Partners on a range of finance related activity, including timely and accurate reporting and analysis, insight, and advice to assist with decision making, and will ensure the business partners act together on behalf of the Bureau, providing a professional and repeatable service that is consistent, accurate and reliable.
A critical part of the role is developing a rapport with relevant Bureau staff to communicate financial information in plain English, providing advice and ensuring compliance with relevant government policies and accounting standards.
Development and maintenance of mutually beneficial relationships across the Bureau are essential to building trust and confidence in the occupant of this role. The occupant will bring confident communications skills, expertise in Commonwealth government financial frameworks, deep understanding of budgets, forecasts, variance reporting, financial management as well as leadership to the business partnering team.
The key duties of the position include:
As an APS Level 6 employee, you will undertake work that is complex in nature, and work under limited direction. The responsibilities of the role include but are not limited to:
1. Working as part of a team, support the provision of expert financial advice and guidance to the Group Executive, General Managers and Managers in the development of their annual budget and forward year financial plans.
2. Fostering and maintaining internal and external relationships for finance related activity. This includes building a good rapport with relevant staff and supporting of key business priorities and financial policies and procedures and providing trusted strategic financial advice and information.
3. Prepare high quality, accurate and timely financial reports and information for decision making including but not limited to monthly financial reports and variances, acquittals and returns, and project reporting. This extends to operational and capital funding.
4. Maintain and validate the accuracy of financial data in the Financial Management Information System including but not limited to budgets, forecasts, actuals, phasing for both operational and capital purposes.
5. Support process improvements and activities, ensuring compliance with public sector legislative, policy and regulatory frameworks relating to financial management.
6. Support compliance with corporate financial control requirements to assist with the delivery of effective financial control, financial risks mitigation and budgeting.
7. Support continuous improvement within the Finance Business Partnering team.
8. Complying with all Bureau work, health and safety policies and procedures, and taking reasonable care for your own health and safety and that of employees, contractors and visitors who may be affected by your conduct.
Eligibility
• A degree or diploma (or working towards) of an Australian educational institution, which is appropriate to the duties (e.g. Bachelor of Accounting and Finance, CPA)
• Ability to work effectively in a team to support shared goals and support others to enhance their work.
• In-depth knowledge of Commonwealth Government financial frameworks, specifically appropriations, cost recovery, financial reporting and budgeting, and application of accounting principles and relevant standards
• Excellent attention to detail and experience in analysing complex data/information and providing timely and accurate advice.
• Experience in communicating financial information in a compelling way and appropriately to the needs of different audiences.
• Experience building and sustaining relationships with stakeholders and subject matter experts, both internal and external, to deliver financial outcomes.
• Ability to prioritise and manage multiple deadlines simultaneously.
• Experience in using Financial Management Information Systems (FMIS – SAP desirable), and Microsoft products (i.e. Power BI, Excel, Word etc)
Getting to know the Bureau of Meteorology
The Bureau of Meteorology is one of the few organisations that touches the lives of all Australians and all Australia, every day. The Bureau works across Australia and remote islands, providing services from the Antarctic to beyond the equator, and from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific. We are Australia's national weather, climate and water agency, in the Agriculture, Water and Environment portfolio of the Australian Government, operating under the authority of the Meteorology Act 1955 and the Water Act 2007. We provide data, information, knowledge, insight and wisdom to help Australians prepare and respond to the realities of their natural environment, including droughts, floods, fires, storms, tsunami and tropical cyclones. Our products and services include observations, forecasts, analysis and advice covering Australia's atmosphere, water, oceans and space environments. We undertake focused scientific research in support of our operations and services. Through regular forecasts, warnings, monitoring and advice, we provide one of Australia's most fundamental and widely used public services. We have strong relationships with our customers, partners and stakeholders in Australia, including the Australian Community and the emergency services sectors, all-levels of Government, and focus sectors including aviation, agriculture, energy and resources, national security and water.