Assistant Director – Financial Accounting
EL1
Townsville, QLD
Ongoing/Non-ongoing; Full-time
Applications close Sunday 5th July 2026, 11:59pm AEST
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (the Reef Authority) is a Commonwealth non-corporate entity, and a statutory agency established by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 (Marine Park Act), reporting to the Minister for the Environment and Water. Our objective is the long-term protection, ecologically sustainable use, understanding and enjoyment of the Great Barrier Reef for all Australians and the international community through the care and development of the Marine Park.
Managing a reef roughly the size of Italy demands many skills and talents, so you don't have to be a marine biologist to contribute to our mission. From finance to marketing roles, we have a team almost as diverse as the ecosystem we protect. Our commitment and dedication to the Great Barrier Reef and the Australian public have a long-lasting impact, and we are looking for individuals who can bring their unique skills, experience, and knowledge to our high-performing and inclusive organisation.
The Position
We are seeking an experienced Financial Accountant who will provide high level support, advice and technical expertise to the Director – Finance/Chief Finance Officer and partner with the Reef Authority’s executive and management teams in regard to financial accounting responsibilities and advice.
As the Assistant Director – Financial Accounting, you will be responsible for the preparation of financial statements, coordination of external audit and end-of-year processes, management of taxation obligations, cash management, financial asset management, system accounting, and the preparation of reconciliations and accurate and timely financial information for management and the Department of Finance.
You will provide leadership, direction and coaching to ensure staff have the skills and knowledge to effectively achieve business objectives and meet deliverables.
About You
- You have experience in the preparation of financial statements.
- You have systems accounting experience in large Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software.
- You have excellent time management, prioritisation and organisational skills.
- You have highly developed written and verbal communication skills with the proven ability to communicate with a broad spectrum of internal and external stakeholders.
- You have excellent analytical, numerical, problem solving and investigative skills.
- You have demonstrated presentation skills and report writing skills with the ability to clearly explain complex issues.
- You are a leader that is agile, accountable, and empowers others.
Duties
- Provide timely financial and system accounting expertise through the delivery of value adding services, advice and insight to managers.
- Maintenance and control of all financial and asset records, preparation of all requisite taxation and financial accounting requirements.
- Coordinate and prepare the Central Budget Management System requirements regarding cash management and actuals reporting.
- Coordinate and prepare the Annual Financial Statements, conforming to external audit requirements.
- Engage with internal and external stakeholders on complex and/or sensitive issues and negotiate and influence outcomes to achieve Reef Authority objectives.
- Provide expert advice on accounting and finance issues as required and contribute to the development of the Reef Authority’s financial management strategy and internal controls to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the organisation.
- Manage special projects as required and encourage adherence to prescribed policies and procedures.
- Provide leadership and coaching to support the small financial accounting team to achieve positive outcomes.
For more information about this opportunity, please contact Marni Taylor, Acting Chief Finance Officer, Ph. (07) 4750 0603
Essential Requirements
- Tertiary qualification in business, commerce or accounting, and a minimum of 5 years relevant post—graduate experience in the accounting environment.
- Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.
- Hold and maintain professional qualification with CPA or CA.
- Extensive knowledge of, or the ability to quickly acquire knowledge of, the following statutes and standards, as they relate to the position:
- Australian Accounting Standards
- Commonwealth Financial policies and procedures
- Financial Delegations.
- To be eligible for employment, candidates must be an Australian citizen at the time of application.
- The position requires a Negative Vetting Level 1 security clearance. Successful candidates will be required to obtain and maintain a clearance at this level.
- The successful candidate will be willing to provide identity documents and undergo an identity pre-employment check through a Document Verification Service.
Desirable qualifications or equivalent experience
- Previous experience utilising Technology One Finance System or similar ERPs.
How to apply
Please ensure you read the instructions below and on the Position Description carefully, noting failure to address identified requirements may lead to your application being deemed ineligible.
You will be required to prepare a response document (“pitch”) in MSWord or PDF format using standard margins and size 11 Arial font.
Please prepare a ‘pitch’, as outlined in the Position Description, in relation to the advertised role, outlining:
- how your experience, abilities, knowledge and personal qualities would enable you to perform the duties and meet the technical and behavioural capabilities of the role.
- any specific examples or achievements that demonstrate your ability to perform the role.
- how you meet the eligibility requirements and qualifications for the position.
When crafting your response, we encourage you to review ‘Cracking the Code’ and the relevant Australian Public Service Work Level Standards which can be found on the Australian Public Service Commission website: www.apsc.gov.au.
Please complete your application online and provide:
- your ‘pitch’ (as described above and in the position description).
- proof of Australian citizenship (an Australian Passport or Australian Birth Certificate)
- a current curriculum vitae (resume)
Applicants are advised to read further information provided on the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Careers website.
PLEASE NOTE: - The panel may not consider additional information such as a cover letter or content exceeding the page limit.
Notes
- The current position is ongoing however through this process may create a merit pool to fill similar ongoing and non-ongoing positions that become available within the next 18 months.
- We do not accept unsolicited résumés from recruitment agencies.
RecruitAbility applies to this vacancy. Under the RecruitAbility scheme, you will be invited to participate in further assessment activity for the vacancy if you choose to apply under the scheme; declare you have a disability; and meet the minimum requirements for the job. For more information visit: https://www.apsc.gov.au/recruitability
Eligibility
Employment with the Reef Authority is subject to:
- Conditions prescribed within the Public Service Act 1999.
- Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) granting a security clearance at the required level.
- Evidence of citizenship status.
- Evidence of qualifications required of the role.
- Evidence of a completed national police-check with no risks identified by the Reef Authority.
- The CEO of the Reef Authority, or their Delegate, approving a Notice of Engagement.
- The Australian Government Security Clearance Application Guide Book provides information on minimum eligibility requirements for holding a security clearance at the required level. Please ensure that you are able to provide the necessary documents if you apply for the position. More information on the security clearance vetting process is available on the AGSVA website.
