Financial Reporting Officer

About this role

The Role An APS 6 Financial Reporting Officer within Defence’s Financial Accounting and Assets Directorate is accountable under broad direction for delivering complex asset management and financial reporting outcomes that support Defence and Whole of Australian Government decision-making. Working with a high degree of autonomy, the role requires the application of Commonwealth financial legislation, accounting standards, and Defence policies to ensure compliance and effective financial governance. The role supports the financial accounting of Defence’s asset base valued at approximately $158 billion, including specialised assets such as submarines, aircraft, naval vessels, simulators, and other military equipment. Responsibilities include managing asset accounting activities, maintaining the Fixed Asset Register and inventory holdings, reviewing asset additions and disposals, performing reconciliations, balance sheet management, and supporting monthly and annual financial reporting requirements. The APS 6 Financial Reporting Officer develops and documents asset valuation and pricing methodologies, analyses large and complex datasets to identify valuation and reporting risks, and provides expert technical accounting advice to military and civilian stakeholders. The role also contributes to policy development, process improvement, automation initiatives, and the enhancement of financial information systems. Strong stakeholder engagement is essential, requiring collaboration with internal and external stakeholders to resolve complex asset management issues, communicate financial information clearly, and deliver business outcomes. The position demands sound judgement, initiative, and problem-solving skills to identify compliance risks and implement effective solutions. In addition, the APS 6 will manage a team’s workflows and resources, establish work priorities, and contribute to workforce capability through coaching, mentoring, and performance feedback. The role requires building effective working relationships, fostering teamwork, and ensuring the timely delivery of quality outcomes. Overall, the position combines technical financial accounting expertise, asset management knowledge, leadership, and stakeholder engagement to support Defence’s financial reporting obligations, strengthen governance, and drive continuous improvement across financial accounting and asset management functions. About our Team There is no single employer in the Commonwealth that offers the breadth of technical challenges that Defence Finance Group (DFG) tackle. Working in the Financial Accounting and Asset Accounting team means you will be applying your professional judgement and knowledge to a huge range of complex accounting issues. The Asset Accounting and Project Finance Governance team is responsible for the full financial reporting and the financial accounting of Defence’s assets through their capability lifecycle. They are also accountable for policy advice, compliance assurance, conducting quality assurance checks on financial accounting activities and liaison with external auditors. The team’s practical judgement is relied upon to deliver professional advice and reporting around complex assets, business processes, procurements and multi-year billion-dollar projects. The teams are responsible for the financial accounting of the largest asset base in the Commonwealth valued in the hundreds of billions of dollars. Think big, physical tangible assets like aircraft, ships, submarines plus a huge property portfolio, specialist military equipment, complex intellectual property and bespoke technology. Career growth prospects are strong because if you understand assets underpinning Defence you will gain a knowledge of the business. Our Ideal Candidate Our ideal candidate will demonstrate: • Strong data analytical skills, critical thinking and attention to detail. • Strong initiative, sound practical judgement and resilience. • Thorough experience in asset accounting encompassing the full range of asset lifecycle activities. • Strong technical accounting skills. • Strong written and oral communication skills. • Ability to produce quality work within short timeframes. • Excellent interpersonal and stakeholder engagement skills. • A commitment to continuous improvement.