ABOUT THE GROUP

Budget Group provides policy and financial advice on government expenditure and non-taxation revenue matters to the Minister for Finance, other senior ministers, and a number of Cabinet committees, including the Expenditure Review Committee (ERC) of Cabinet. We also support the Government to prepare, deliver, and manage the Federal Budget and Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook.

Budget Policy Assistant Directors are at the forefront of the Budget process, leading work in Agency Advice Units (AAUs) to support consideration of policy and funding proposals for agencies and entities across Government. Each AAU provides policy advice and financial analysis on specific Government portfolios and this exciting and high-profile work contributes directly to Government decision-making.

Government and Defence Division within Budget Group is expanding its Defence functions to strengthen investment discipline, cost assurance and independent contestability across the Defence capability lifecycle as part of the Government’s Defence Reforms. Our Defence Capability Assistant Director roles in the Defence Integrated Investment Program (IIP) Branch present an opportunity to join an expanding team, design and shape new functions and business processes, and to deliver on Government priorities. This includes providing policy and financial advice on Defence’s IIP – the $425 billion the Government is investing across the decade to deliver Defence capability in support of the National Defence Strategy.

THE OPPORTUNITY

We have a range of current and anticipated Executive Level 1 vacancies across our AAUs and in Defence Integrated Investment Program (IIP) Branch. We will align successful candidates with the vacancy that best suits their experience, skills and policy area interest. We actively seek to develop the professional and technical capabilities of our people and expand their career pathways and networks.

AAU responsibilities include:

- Working closely with relevant portfolio stakeholders to support the development and Government consideration of portfolio proposals including analysing, costing and reviewing new policy proposals;
- Providing budget, financial management and policy advice in support of Government decision making processes and the delivery of the Budget and Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook;
- Supporting Government committees, including the Expenditure Review Committee of Cabinet and our senior executive on policy and financial issues relating to relevant portfolios;
- Drafting briefing and other correspondence for the Minister for Finance’s consideration on portfolio matters.

In addition to the above, Defence Capability team responsibilities include supporting the Minister for Finance’s and the senior executive’s participation in national security and defence committees.

All positions are based in Canberra, and candidates must be in or willing to relocate to Canberra.

OUR IDEAL CANDIDATES

We are seeking motivated and high performing people at the Executive Level 1 who are eager to strengthen their professional skills and influence the Australian Government’s decision-making through the provision of high-quality policy analysis and advice.

To deliver the Federal Budget for the Australian Government and support long-term investments in defence capabilities, Finance relies on professionals with diverse experience and skills in disciplines including political science, social science, economics, accounting, commerce, law, science, and many more.



You should be interested in public policy, value quality in your work, be looking to expand your skills set and experience and enjoy working in a fast-paced, high-profile environment.

Prior knowledge of budget processes is not essential for Budget Policy Assistant Director roles; however you should have a keen interest in public policy development, attention to detail and comfort working with numbers.

Successful candidates will demonstrate:

- Strong leadership skills, with experience in creating and managing high-performing and diverse teams;
- Experience in collaborating and leading the development of influential strategic policy and/or financial advice to the Government;
- Excellent communication skills, with experience leading discussions and engagement to test and refine policy issues with stakeholders and influence outcomes;
- Sound analytical capabilities and judgement on policy matters, with an ability to negotiate practical solutions to challenges while factoring in risks and the broader strategic context;
- Resilience, drive and initiative to apply yourself to complex tasks and successfully manage competing deadlines, including when managing teams.

We are looking for people who will champion our inclusive, curious and empowered culture, are able to align to our Departmental priorities, who seize opportunities presented by change and are able to identify and lead innovation and continuous improvement in the workplace.

We work in a unique environment, with periods of high demand and pressure. In the lead-up to delivery of the Federal Budget and Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook, there is likely to be a requirement for staff to perform additional hours, including evening and weekend work. While we have amazing opportunities to contribute to government decision making, we work to safeguard the wellbeing of our staff to thrive and perform at their best. Finance prioritises a healthy and safe work setting, supports flexible working arrangements to perform additional hours to the extent possible and offers generous TOIL arrangements for EL1 staff, and on call allowances in some circumstances.

Candidates found suitable, but do not secure an immediate vacancy, will be placed into a merit pool that will be valid for 18 months from the date of advertising and drawn upon to fill future vacancies as they arise.

The key duties of the position include:

FINANCE PEOPLE CAPABILITY FRAMEWORK AND JOB SPECIFIC CAPABILITIES

In addition to the broader capabilities outlined in the Finance People Capability Framework, Finance is seeking candidates who possess the following job specific skills and attributes aligned to our core capabilities:

Lead

- Demonstrate strong strategic awareness and sound judgement, including when identifying and managing risks.
- Show a strong, proactive and accountable service ethos.

Collaborate

- Negotiate with stakeholders constructively and collaboratively to achieve outcomes.
- Communicate clearly and precisely, with compelling use of structure, logic and plain English.

Achieve





- Demonstrated drive and proactive support of your senior executive and team to collectively achieve high-quality outcomes.
- Drive the preparation of timely and accurate policy and financial advice to Government.

Think

- Handle complex, ambiguous situations with skill and confidence.
- Understand big picture issues and translate these for the benefit of junior colleagues and stakeholders.

Learn

- Support your managers to deploy skills and resources flexibly to meet changing organisational needs.
- Adapt your communication and management style to people and circumstances.
- Maintain composure and embrace challenges. Stay positive, engaged and composed under pressure and support others to do the same.

Know

Demonstrated experience in all or most of the following:

- Leading policy development and advice;
- Maintaining and leveraging strong stakeholder engagement;
- Analysing economic, accounting and/or financial information; and
- Budget and government decision making processes.

Desirable Qualifications

Candidates with qualifications in economics, finance, public policy, accounting, commerce or law, political science, international relations, science, project management or similar work experience that demonstrates expertise in these areas.

Eligibility

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

- Under section 22(8) of the Public Service Act 1999, employees must be Australian citizens to be employed in the Australian Public Service (APS) unless the Agency Head has agreed otherwise, in writing.
- 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.
- Successful applicants will be required to undergo the process to obtain and maintain or continue to hold the required security clearance level for the role as indicated. All Finance staff are required to have a minimum baseline security clearance prior to commencement.
- RecruitAbility applies to this vacancy. Under the RecruitAbility scheme, you will be invited to participate in further assessment activities for the vacancy if you choose to opt-in to the scheme, declare you have disability and meet the minimum requirements for the vacancy. All requests for reasonable adjustments will be considered and managed in consultation with you. Further information can be found at https://www.apsc.gov.au/recruitability
- These roles are being advertised as both ongoing and non-ongoing. A position may be offered as ongoing or non-ongoing subject to operational requirements. Where a non-ongoing position is offered, the role will be filled for a specified term of up to 12 months. A specified term may be extended up to a maximum period of 18 months.

Getting to know the Department of Finance

As a central agency of the Australian Government, the Department of Finance (Finance) plays an important role in assisting government across a wide range of policy areas to ensure its outcomes are met. Finance supports the government's ongoing priorities through the Budget process and fosters leading practice through the public sector resource management, governance and accountability frameworks. Finance plays a leading role in advising the government on many of its strategic priorities. We do this through our professional and considered approach to providing advice, developing policy, delivering services and engaging with our clients and stakeholders. Finance's key areas of focus are: - Budget - Business Enabling Services - Commercial - Governance and Resource Management

📌 Budget Policy Assistant Directors and Defence Capability Assistant Directors - (Affirmative Measures - Indigenous) (Canberra)
🏢 Department of Finance
📍 Canberra