CFA is a community-based volunteer emergency service that places the community at the centre of everything we do. We work to protect lives and property across Victoria, every hour of the day.
More than 51,000 volunteers across 1,200 brigades provide services to the community, enabled by staff across headquarters and district-based locations. We value the different skills, experience and viewpoints that people bring, because they strengthen how we operate and support the services Victorians rely on.
We aim to be a workplace where people feel supported in doing meaningful work, developing professionally, and contributing to outcomes that matter to the people and places we serve.
To learn more about who we are and the work we do, visit our About Us page.
About the Role
Reporting to the Head of Finance (Deputy CFO), the Head of Budget (Budget Controller) is a key leadership role responsible for leading CFA's integrated budget, investment planning and financial management functions. The role also has a dotted-line reporting line to the Chief Financial Officer to drive strategic investment decision-making, oversee forward estimates and annual budget processes, and provide high-level financial analysis, reporting, and advice to support organisational priorities and long-term sustainability.
Working closely with the Group General Manager Strategic Services, Executive, Board, and government stakeholders, the position leads the development of robust business cases for internal and state budget purposes, as well as strategic financial planning initiatives, in a complex and evolving environment. The role also strengthens financial capability and governance across CFA through collaboration, continuous improvement and effective change leadership.
As part of a significant Finance and Procurement Department transformation program following the implementation of SAP S/4HANA, CFA is seeking a strategic finance leader with demonstrated experience in delivering business process transformation and embedding sustainable operational change in practice.
A detailed position description is attached.
About You
You are a strategic and influential finance leader with extensive senior-level experience leading complex financial functions within large, multi-disciplinary organisations. Tertiary qualifications in finance, business or a related discipline are essential, along with CPA or ACA accreditation (or equivalent). Postgraduate qualifications such as an MBA will be highly regarded.
You bring demonstrated expertise in strategic budgeting, financial governance and investment planning within complex operating environments, with the ability to provide trusted advice to executives and key stakeholders. Your collaborative leadership style, strong interpersonal skills and proven experience leading organisational and cultural change enable you to build productive relationships and influence at all levels, particularly in supporting CFA's financial sustainability outcomes
You are an exceptional communicator with experience preparing sophisticated business cases, financial modelling and executive-level documentation. Experience in public-sector financial management, including best-practice budget management and stewardship of public funds, is essential. Experience within the emergency management sector or a volunteer-based organisation will be highly regarded.
Your Application
Click the `Apply' button to access our online application portal. You will be prompted to provide your personal and contact details and respond to employment-related questions.
When applying for a position with CFA, please include a cover letter that directly addresses your experience against the key focus areas of the role and the specific questions below, and a resume that outlines your qualifications and experience relevant to the key attributes and skills of the role.
As part of your cover letter, please address the following questions:
- Describe a specific recent example where you led organisational change in relation to the ways of working for teams you were directly accountable for, and outline the approach you took and outcomes achieved against the change objectives.
- Describe your experience leading an organisation's interaction with the Victorian State Government budget process (or equivalent jurisdiction), including the outcomes achieved against budget funding objectives.
Pre-employment Checks
Offers of employment will only be made to candidates who are able to successfully complete a National Police History Check, Working Rights Check and hold a valid Working with Children Check. You will also be required to provide at least two professional references.
Applications close: 11:59pm 21 June 2026
CFA is committed to creating and maintaining a diverse, inclusive, and safe volunteer and work environment. Our aim is to have a volunteer and paid workforce that reflects the community it serves. First Nations people, women, people of all ages, with disabilities and culturally and linguistically diverse people are encouraged to apply.
If at any stage of the recruitment and selection process you require an alternative format to the application material or reasonable adjustment to the interview arrangements, please don't hesitate to contact the person listed on the ad or alternatively, email [email protected]
The Country Fire Authority (CFA) values your privacy. We will use the information you provide when you are applying for employment with us for the purpose of recruitment, selection, evaluation and appointment and to report on anonymised key metrics (e.g. diversity). The information we collect will be handled in accordance with privacy laws, including the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014. You can view our Privacy Statement here. For access and correction of the information we have collected, contact [email protected]
