About the Group

The Office of the CEO (OCEO) is at the forefront of the Institute, liaising with external stakeholders including, but not limited to: Ministerial Offices, Commonwealth and state and Territory Departments; including the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA), the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFaT) and the Office of the Arts (OfTA) as well as other Indigenous Portfolio Bodies, the Australian Diplomatic Corp, relevant Embassies and Cultural and other Institutions both domestically and abroad.

About the Program Area

The Finance team is part of the OCEO and reports directly to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO). As a key enabler of operational efficiency and long-term financial sustainability, the Finance team plays a critical role in supporting AIATSIS' strategic and operational objectives. The team is responsible for the full spectrum of financial management, encompassing financial reporting, financial operations, and financial strategy. This includes maintaining internal financial controls, managing accounts payable and receivable, overseeing asset and cash flow management, and ensuring compliance with the Accountable Authority Instructions and financial delegations. The Finance team also leads the preparation of internal and external budgets, forecasts, and financial statements in accordance with relevant legislation and Australian Government requirements.

Role Summary

The Senior Finance Officer supervises the day-to-day finance activities of the Institute including accounts payable, receivable, travel, employee expenses, asset management, capital-spending program, and budgeting. The Senior Finance Officer also assists with financial reporting and prepares financial statements.

The key duties of the position include:

- prepare monthly internal and external reporting requirements.
- supervision of day-to-day finance activities including accounts payable, receivable, travel, employee expenses, asset management, capital-spending program, and budgeting.
- ensure financial and procurement activity is accurately recorded and is consistent with contracts, budgets, guidelines, and accounting standards.
- assist with system implementation changes and business improvement activities.
- produce structured and ad-hoc reports, memos, policies, procedures, and analysis on financial performance for internal and external stakeholders.
- preparing taxation returns (including Business Activity Statements, FBT) and providing advice on tax issues.
- assist in the preparation of financial statements and reports including content for the Annual Report, Audit Assurance Committee, Council and Portfolio Budget Statements.
- provide timely and accurate advice and support to staff, management, and clients.

Eligibility

Cultural capability - essential





Roles at AIATSIS require candidates to have an understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and proven culturally appropriate engagement and communications skills. The nature of this role requires the candidate to consistently demonstrate the following specific cultural capabilities:

- understand Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business within the agency and the outcomes the agency is responsible for delivering.
- makes careful observations to understand the underlying dynamics shaping an issue.
- manage and resolve conflict with respect for individuals and their culture.
- build and continue to strengthen relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

AIATSIS embodies Yindyamarra in everything we do.

Skills, knowledge and personal attributes

To be successful in this role, you will have strong coordination and technical accounting skills, and a minimum of 2 years accounting experience preferably within an APS workplace. You will come with the following skills, experience and attributes:

MANDATORY – Candidates will not be considered for the role without the below qualifications and experience.

- hold a Bachelor degree in
- Commerce
- Accounting
- Business
- Economics

- hold or working towards CA/CPA certification.
- minimum 2 years’ accounting experience.

Other

- demonstrate strong coordination and technical capability.
- high level liaison and relationship management skills.
- excellent judgement, strong attention to detail and an ability to manage multiple priorities and respond flexibly in a shifting work environment.
- excellent relationship management skills, with the ability to build and sustain strong networks and relationships within the agency and with external stakeholders.
- ability to improve and streamline business processes.

Notes

Applications close 11.30pm Wednesday 04 November 2026.

The successful candidate/s will need to undergo:

- Police check
- 6 month probation
- Medical clearance

This vacancy is being advertised concurrently under an affirmative measures and identified recruitment process. There is 1 position available.

Affirmative Measures positions

Jobs in the APS are open to all Australian citizens. There are some jobs, though, that are open only to specific members of the Australian population. This practice is known as an Affirmative measure and is a targeted strategy to ensure the diversity of the APS workforce reflects the diversity of the Australian population.





Any job can be restricted to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people only, and it doesn't necessarily have to involve working on Indigenous issues. If a position has been advertised as an Affirmative measure, it will be clearly marked as such.

The use of the Indigenous Affirmative Measures provision at AIATSIS allows for targeted recruitment of Indigenous Australians into the organisation. If you are applying for an Affirmative Measures position, you will need to indicate your Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander heritage on our application form and provide confirmation if required.

What is Cultural Capability?

As all positions at AIATSIS are ‘Identified’ each position will have various elements of involvement with the delivery of Indigenous specific services, programs, and policies as part of AIATSIS core functions. AIATSIS therefore needs to also identify the cultural knowledge; skills and personal attributes needed to deliver the required outcomes.

Every part of how we work, who we work with and for, requires varying levels of knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, protocols and an understanding of issues that enable effective communication and ultimately effective performance in the role. To assist you in determining the required cultural capabilities of this role, you can refer to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Capability – A Framework for Commonwealth Agencies

Getting to know the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies

We are Australia’s only national institution focused exclusively on the diverse history, cultures, and heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia. We house the world’s most important and extensive collection of cultural information and material and we provide leadership, publish and promote greater understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We create opportunities for people the world over to engage with and be transformed by the knowledge, the culture and the story of Australia’s Indigenous peoples. We are Australia’s national institution for leadership in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research. We care for a priceless collection, including films, photographs, video and audio recordings as well as the world’s largest collection of printed and other resource materials for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander studies. We undertake and encourage scholarly, ethical, community-based research in a variety of sectors, including health, native title, languages and education. Our publishing house, Aboriginal Studies Press, regularly publishes outstanding writing that promotes Australian Indigenous cultures. Our activities affirm and raise awareness of the richness and diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories.

📌 Senior Finance Officer (Affirmative Measures) (Canberra)
🏢 Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
📍 Canberra