Director, Systems, Compliance and Reporting

(position available in Canberra, ACT)

The Wage Implementation Branch administers the Worker Retention Payment, a major grant program that supports higher wages for eligible early childhood education and care workers while helping maintain affordability for families. Successful delivery depends on accurate payments, reliable information, solid controls and effective compliance.

As Director, Systems, Compliance and Reporting, you will lead the functions that enable efficient, well-controlled and data-informed program delivery. You will provide strategic oversight of a multidisciplinary team of approximately 15 staff responsible for operational systems, data and business intelligence, reporting, compliance, assurance and automation.

Reporting to the Assistant Secretary, Wage Implementation Branch, you will shape how a significant national grant program uses technology, analysis and assurance to deliver reliable payments, strengthen program integrity and support timely executive decisions. You will work across policy, operations, finance and technology to improve systems and deliver better outcomes.

Previous experience with the SmartyGrants platform, or a comparable grants administration processes and systems, will be highly desirable.

Director, Data, Finance, Infrastructure and Development

(position available across various locations)

Reporting to the Assistant Secretary, Early Childhood Data and Preschool Branch, the Director, Data, Finance, Infrastructure and Development role leads the modelling of policy alternatives, budget estimates and reporting key analysis on childcare usage, services, fees and subsidies.

Working closely with internal and external stakeholders, this role is the central point of collection, management, modelling and analysis,



integrating childcare administrative data into Early Childhood Education and Care business.

Relevant qualifications in Finance, Economics, Statistical Modelling or Data Science and Data Analysis will be highly desirable.

Director, Systems, Compliance and Reporting In this role, you will:

- Provide strategic leadership across program systems, data governance, business intelligence, reporting, compliance, assurance and automation to support reliable program delivery.
- Lead, support and develop a multidisciplinary team, setting clear priorities and building capability across operational systems, data analysis, reporting, compliance and process improvement.
- Oversee the design, implementation and continuous improvement of systems supporting grant applications, assessment, payments, monitoring and reporting.
- Deliver accurate, timely and decision-ready reporting, performance insights and strategic advice to senior executives and stakeholders.
- Lead risk-based compliance monitoring and assurance activities, including identifying, investigating and treating potential grant non-compliance.
- Drive automation, process redesign and system improvements that reduce manual effort, improve service delivery and strengthen controls across the program lifecycle.

Director, Data, Finance, Infrastructure and Development In this role, you will:

- Lead the modelling of alternative policy scenarios identifying key demographic and subsidy impacts to support evidence-based policy decisions.
- Develop,



deliver and manage budget estimates to reflect the latest expectations of future fees, usage and subsidy levels including estimated profit and loss, balance sheet and cash flow over the forward years to optimise the allocation of funds and establish priorities.
- Lead, produce and deliver analysis on monthly and annual financials to identify emerging trends and variances to budget.
- Lead the ongoing enhancement of the childcare forward estimates model.
- Lead data infrastructure projects to improve access to ECEC data held in Services Australia systems.
- Lead the development of curated datasets on key subject areas to improve the Group’s capability to respond to data requests, including sharing and integrating childcare data
- Provide leadership in the delivery of strategic objectives for the Branch and broader Group and Department objectives.
- Lead and be actively involved in change processes, driving change and innovation in the team.
- Effectively manage people, financial and physical resources in compliance with relevant legislation, Accountable Authority Instructions, Delegations and Department of Education policies.

Employment at the Department of Education is subject to conditions prescribed within the Public Service Act 1999 including:

- Citizenship: Under section 22(8) of the Public Service Act 1999, employees must be Australian citizens to be employed in the APS unless the Agency delegate has agreed, in writing.
- Security Clearance: This is a designated security assessed position. The successful candidate will have the ability to obtain and maintain the required security clearance.

Contact Officers

Gemma Smith (Director, Systems, Compliance and Reporting role)

[email protected]

0427 939 746

Adi Smith (Director, Data, Finance, Infrastructure and Development role)

[email protected]

0459 933 897

📌 Director, Several Positions (Australia)
🏢 Department Of Education
📍 Australia