The opportunity
The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) is seeking an exceptional, future-focused leader for the role of Deputy Auditor-General (SES Band 3). This role supports the Auditor-General to deliver independent assurance and reporting to the Parliament and to promote accountability and transparency across the Australian Government sector.
As Deputy Auditor-General, you will provide strategic, enterprise-wide leadership for the ANAO, working with key stakeholders externally and internally to ensure the ANAO's work has the right impact and value. You will act as a key advisor to the Auditor-General on organisational performance, audit quality, business performance, strategic priorities, emerging risks and stakeholder engagement. You will work with Group Executive Directors and other leaders of audit and corporate functions to ensure they operate cohesively, efficiently and to the highest professional standards and integrity.
The Deputy Auditor-General will have a clear focus on impact: ensuring the ANAO's work drives improved public administration, strengthens accountability and transparency, and supports better outcomes for the Australian community. An audit background is highly valued but not mandatory - candidates with strong public policy, finance, legislation, governance, assurance, regulatory or professional practice experience (including driving frameworks and standards) are encouraged to apply.
* Strategic relationships and parliamentary support: Build and sustain constructive relationships with Parliament, audited entities, the audit profession and key stakeholders to increase confidence in the ANAO's work, support effective scrutiny, and maximise the impact of audit insights and recommendations.
* Audit quality, professional practice and risk: Champion audit quality, integrity and independence, and shape the professional practice, policy settings and assurance frameworks that underpin ANAO work—strengthening risk management and continuous improvement so ANAO products are trusted, influential and drive tangible improvement across the public sector.
* Enterprise leadership and governance: Provide enterprise leadership across the ANAO's operating model, executive governance and decision-making so priorities are aligned, accountabilities are clear, and the organisation delivers high-quality audit outcomes that make a demonstrable contribution to accountability and transparency.
This role is central to delivering the ANAO's strategic objectives and maintaining the organisation's reputation for independence, professionalism and excellence. You will lead through influence to align priorities across Groups, strengthen executive decision-making, and build a high-performing culture that translates strategy into sustained impact. As a steward of the organisation, you will ensure the ANAO remains responsive to changes in parliamentary expectations and the public sector environment, while maintaining focus on outcomes that improve public administration and reinforce confidence in public institutions.
The key duties of the position include:
Key Responsibilities:
* Provide enterprise-wide strategic leadership as a key member of the ANAO executive, supporting the Auditor-General to set direction, drive performance and deliver outcomes that strengthen accountability and transparency, while upholding the ANAO's independence and reputation.
* Represent and support the Auditor-General in high-level engagements with Parliament, audited entities and other stakeholders, building trust and constructive relationships that enhance the reach and impact of ANAO findings and recommendations.
* Champion audit quality, integrity, independence and professional standards across the ANAO, including shaping and influencing the policies, methodologies and assurance frameworks that guide practice, so audit conclusions are robust, influential, trusted and lead to improvement.
* Lead executive governance, prioritisation and decision-making processes to ensure clear accountabilities, coordinated delivery and effective management of organisational risks, enabling timely, high-quality work with clear public value.
* Drive organisational capability, culture and leadership development across the ANAO, promoting collaboration, inclusion, wellbeing and a strong performance orientation that supports sustained delivery and measurable impact.
* Support stewardship of ANAO resources and organisational sustainability, including major investments, workforce planning and strategic change initiatives, ensuring capability and resources are directed to areas of greatest risk and potential impact.
* Provide leadership during significant issues and change, exercising sound judgement and decisive action in complex, sensitive and high-profile environments to protect ANAO credibility and sustain delivery of high-impact outcomes.
Please note:
A merit pool will be created from this activity that may be used to fill similar vacancies for a period of 18 months from the date of advertising.
Who we are looking for
The ideal candidate will perform at the SES Band 3 leadership level and demonstrate the APS-wide DRIVE Leadership behaviours, including the capacity to lead across organisational boundaries and shape outcomes at an enterprise and system level.
We are seeking a highly credible executive leader with a strong track record in leading complex professional organisations and delivering high-impact outcomes in environments where integrity, independence and public confidence are paramount. You will demonstrate the ability to work in close partnership with the Auditor-General and the Executive Board of Management, provide strategic and frank advice, and exercise sound judgement in high-profile and sensitive matters. You will be an influential leader who can shape and drive organisational policies, governance and professional frameworks (including in response to legislative and policy settings), align diverse perspectives, develop executive capability and drive continuous improvement in audit quality and organisational performance. An audit background is valued but not mandatory.
To be successful in these roles, you will have:
* Demonstrated experience leading at an enterprise level, including setting direction, driving performance and delivering sustained, measurable impact across multiple functions, programs or jurisdictions.
* Exceptional strategic judgement and the ability to provide clear, persuasive advice to the Auditor-General and other senior stakeholders on complex, ambiguous and high-impact issues, with a focus on maximising impact for Parliament and the public.
* Deep understanding of public sector assurance and audit quality or equivalent experience in public policy, legislation, governance, regulatory practice or professional standards, with a commitment to independence, evidence-based conclusions and continuous improvement.
* Proven ability to design, implement and influence policies, governance arrangements and professional frameworks (including interpreting and applying legislative requirements) to improve quality, consistency and impact of organisational outcomes.
* Proven ability to represent an organisation in high-level engagements and maintain effective relationships with Parliament, senior executives, central agencies and other key stakeholders.
* Demonstrated commitment to the highest standards of integrity and professionalism, including an ability to lead with transparency, fairness and accountability.
Integrity and Work Health and Safety
All APS employees are required to comply with the APS Code of Conduct, at all times behaving in a way that upholds the APS Values and Employment Principles, and the integrity and good reputation of their agency and the APS. This ensures public trust in the impartiality and reputation of the APS. Employees must also disclose any real or perceived conflicts of interest.
SES leaders in particular are required to demonstrate the highest levels of integrity, uphold and promote the APS Values and Employment Principles by personal example and other appropriate means. To learn more, refer to the APS Values and Code of Conduct in Practice.
SES leaders who make, or participate in making, decisions that affect the whole, or a substantial part, of ANAO (as the Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking, PCBU) are regarded as an Officer for the purposes of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act). To fulfil their duty under the WHS Act, Officers must exercise due diligence to ensure ANAO complies with its work health and safety duties and obligations. It is ANAO's expectation that all SES Leaders act in a way that is consistent with the obligations of an Officer under the WHS Act.
Desirable qualifications
There are no mandatory qualifications for this role, however, the following are highly desirable:
* Relevant tertiary qualifications in commerce, accounting, economics, law, public policy, IT, business management or a related discipline.
* Membership of relevant professional bodies or associations.
* Relevant experience in senior operational management, ideally within the public sector.
Eligibility
Eligibility
Citizenship – To be eligible for employment with the ANAO, applicants must be an Australian citizen.
Security Clearance – The Australian community requires the highest level of integrity from ANAO employees. The preferred applicant will be required to obtain and maintain a security clearance at the level of Negative Vetting 2. For more information about the AGSVA security clearance process, please refer to the AGSVA website.
Assessment process / Reasonable adjustment
As part of the assessment process, you may be asked to participate in one or more of the following assessment activities:
* Interview (in-person or virtual)
* Written assessment
If you believe you may require reasonable adjustments to participate in the assessment process, please ensure this is indicated on your application. A member of our recruitment team will contact you to discuss the adjustments prior to the assessment process.
Notes
How to apply
Applications must be submitted using the ANAO's online recruitment system. Applications sent via email cannot be accepted.
Applicants are required to submit a current CV/resume and a statement of claims (500 words maximum) outlining why you are interested in this position and why you believe that you have the skills, capabilities, knowledge and experience to be considered for this role. Please provide examples which demonstrate your ability to perform the duties of the position. We highly recommend that you refer to the SES Work Level Standards, and demonstrate the APS-wide DRIVE Leadership behaviours in the preparation of your application.
We look forward to receiving your application and exploring how your skills and experience can contribute to our leadership team.
Getting to know the Australian National Audit Office
The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) is a specialist public sector entity that provides a full range of audit services to the Australian Parliament, the Australian Government and public sector entities. The 'Auditor-General Act 1997' provides the legislative framework for the role of the Auditor-General and the ANAO. The purpose of the ANAO is to drive accountability and transparency in the Australian Government sector through quality evidence based audit services and independent reporting to Parliament, the Executive and the public, with the result of improving public sector performance. The Executive is accountable to Parliament for its use of public resources and the administration of legislation passed by the Parliament. The Auditor-General scrutinises and provides independent assurance as to whether the Executive is operating and accounting for its performance in accordance with Parliament's purpose.