The Organisation
The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) protects Australia and Australians from threats to their security. ASIO's people are ordinary Australians but they do extraordinary things – they are our most important asset. To be successful, we need talented people who are highly capable, dedicated, adaptable and resilient.
We seek to reflect the community we protect. ASIO is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment, where all staff are valued and respected. We welcome applications from all eligible candidates, irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious affiliation, age or disability. We are culturally and linguistically diverse, language skills enhance our collective ability to protect Australia. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are encouraged to apply. We are secretive about what we do, not what we value.
At a time when Australia's security environment is dynamic, diverse and degrading, our work is more important than ever. Join the mission and make a difference every day.
The opportunity
The newly established TOP SECRET-Privileged Access (TS-PA) Vetting Authority will centralise Australia's highest-level security clearance functions within ASIO over the coming years. Successful applicants will play an instrumental role in building this new capability, established to help protect Australia from the threat of espionage and foreign interference.
Business Administration and Financial Support Officers will be part of the new Business Administration Branch within the TS-PA Vetting Authority, and will contribute to the long-term success of this important function. Successful applicants will have the opportunity to influence the process design and the team's ways of working.
A merit pool may be created to fill future vacancies which have the same or similar requirements to this position. This merit pool will be valid for up to 18 months.
Responsibilities
As a Financial Support Officer at the AE4 level, you will:
- Ensure that contractor deliverables meet operational requirements and government standards.
- Support the monitoring of contractor quality and timeliness, assist in tracking compliance and alerting the Assistant Director to potential risks or issues.
- Coordinate and administer the nomination and acquisition of personnel to meet operational needs.
- Provide administrative support in the development and update of standard operating procedures and reporting frameworks for service delivery.
- Support the financial management of contracts, reconciling completed work, and preparing contract claims for authorisation.
- Provide administrative support for committees and assist in maintaining professional relationships with a range of government stakeholders.
- As a Financial Management Support Officer at the AE5 level, you will:
- Oversee the daily administration of accounts, and coordinating with the broader ASIO finance division lead the end-of-month general ledger reconciliation processes.
- Manage the end-to-end cost recovery and financial processes, including development of divisional budgets and analysis of financial statements.
- Prepare and deliver high-quality financial reports and supplementary advice to executives, providing relevant data for informed decision-making.
- Provide guidance and mentor junior staff to build their technical accounting knowledge and professional skills.
- Promote a collaborative and supportive team environment, encouraging a culture of teamwork and shared accountability.
- Apply accounting expertise to perform systematic financial analysis, drawing accurate, evidence-based conclusions to support business results.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of operational accounting policies and procedures to improve financial efficiency.
As a Financial Management Officer at the AE6 level, you will:
- Direct the end-to-end cost recovery and financial management framework, including the development of divisional budgets and the analysis of complex financial statements.
- Serve as a technical authority for the team, providing expert guidance and mentorship to junior staff to build a high-performing, technically proficient workforce.
- Act as a key advisor to executives, synthesising complex financial data into strategic reports and briefings that facilitate accurate, evidence-based decision-making.
- Apply accounting knowledge to conduct systematic financial analysis, identifying trends and anomalies to provide objective, evidence-based conclusions.
- Govern the full financial cycle, ensure accuracy of accounts and provide rigorous reconciliation of general ledger accounts to maintain audit-readiness.
- Lead the development and implementation of operational accounting policies and standard operating procedures to enhance financial governance.
- Drive a culture of collaboration and professional excellence, fostering a supportive environment while ensuring accountability and the meeting of strict operational timeframes.
- Lead and manage a specialist finance team, strategically allocating resources and setting priorities to ensure the delivery of high-quality financial outcomes.
As a Financial Management Senior Officer at the AEE1 level, you will:
- Lead and mentor a specialist team, managing resource allocation and workflow priorities while fostering a high-performance culture of technical excellence and shared accountability.
- Direct the delivery of critical service categories, ensuring all operational requirements and government standards are met through robust contractual frameworks.
- Lead all cost recovery and financial management activities, including budget development, financial statement analysis, and the rigorous reconciliation of contract claims.
- Implement comprehensive frameworks to monitor vendor quality, timeliness, and compliance, proactively managing risks to ensure seamless service continuity.
- Oversee the end-to-end lifecycle of specialised personnel, including complex onboarding, ICT provisioning, and facility access within a high-security environment.
- Apply expert accounting and analytical skills to provide evidence-based conclusions and high-quality reporting to support executive decision-making.
- Author and implement operational, accounting, and service-delivery policies and standard operating procedures to enhance organisational integrity and efficiency.
- Partner with internal finance divisions to optimize invoicing cycles, represent the organisation on committees and maintain strategic external partnerships.
What you will bring
We are seeking candidates with the following capabilities:
At an AE4 level, you will have:
- Experience in contract management or vendor support, with a basic understanding of procurement best practices and regulatory requirements.
- Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage time effectively to meet deadlines and handle competing priorities.
- A meticulous approach to financial tasks, data entry, and record-keeping, ensuring a high level of accuracy and compliance.
At an AE5 level, in addition to the above, you will have:
- Strong numerical skills and a meticulous approach to financial tasks, with the ability to conduct research and analyse data to support business results.
- Well-developed written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to facilitate collaboration and resolve conflicts among diverse stakeholders.
- Proficiency in using contract management software and a commitment to maintaining high standards of accuracy and compliance.
At an AE6/AEE1 level, in addition to the above, you will have:
- Advanced experience in contract and vendor management, with a deep understanding of procurement best practices and regulatory frameworks such as PGPA.
- A commitment to accuracy, compliance, and continuous professional development within the procurement and contract management field.
You are not required to address each capability separately in your application. Consider providing examples that illustrate multiple capabilities at once.
Refer to ASIO's Core Capability Framework to understand what is expected at each level for each capability.
What we offer you
ASIO provides a number of benefits to its staff including:
- A competitive salary, including a 7.5% allowance for maintaining a TOP SECRET-Privileged Access security clearance.
- Employer superannuation contributions of 15.4%.
- A variety of leave options in addition to the standard 4 weeks annual leave, including stand down between Christmas and New Year.
- Flexible working arrangements. Please note due to our unique working environment, work from home options are not available.
- Study assistance, including financial support and study leave for tertiary education.
- Access to 7 staff-led diversity and inclusion networks.
- Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Eligibility
To be eligible to work at ASIO, you must be:
- Assessed as suitable to hold and maintain a TOP SECRET-Privileged Access (TS-PA) security clearance.
Reasonable adjustments
Please let us know if you require any additional assistance or reasonable adjustments during any stage of the recruitment process in order to fully participate in the recruitment process or the workplace. This may include reasonable adjustments to assessment methodologies to enable full participation.
How to apply
ASIO officers' identities are protected by law. Under section 92 of the ASIO Act, the only declared ASIO officers are the Director-General and Deputy Directors-General. To protect our people's identities, ASIO holds all employment applications in the strictest of confidence. It is essential that you do the same. Please do not discuss your application with others as doing so may adversely affect your potential employment.
Apply online' to commence your application. Your application must be complete and include the following:
- A written pitch of up to 500 words that addresses the required capabilities for the role. Use examples to demonstrate how your skills and experience meet the capabilities.
- A current CV, no more than 2 pages in length, outlining your employment history, the dates and a brief description of your role, as well as any academic qualifications or relevant training you have undertaken.
- Details of 2 referees, which must include a current or former supervisor. ASIO will not contact your referees without advising you prior to doing so.
Before applying read the ASIO People Capability Framework and Core Capability Guide, both available on the ASIO website. To increase your chances of success, tailor your application responses to align with the relevant capabilities and levels outlined in these frameworks.
Use of AI in recruitment processes
ASIO does not use any form of artificial intelligence at any point in the recruitment process.
All applications are reviewed by a selection panel. We recognise some applicants may use AI technologies to draft applications or prepare for interviews. If you wish to use AI, we recommend doing this only for initial drafts and ensure that your application is personalised and accurately reflects your skills, experience and qualifications.
Additionally, be aware of the privacy policies of any AI tool you use. Be mindful of the information you are entering into AI tools (personal details, work history, etc) and how using it may link you to potential ASIO employment, noting that you are expected to be discreet and maintain confidentiality with your application.
If you are invited to attend interview, the use of AI tools and recording devices during interview is strictly prohibited. Should AI tools or recording services be detected, your application, and any future applications may be discontinued.
The recruitment selection process
Our selection process is rigorous and extensive. All employment decisions and selection processes at ASIO are based on merit principles and candidates must be prepared to undergo various selection stages. The stages may include application assessment, eligibility checks, online testing, skills-based assessment and interview.
We ask all applicants for their patience throughout the process.
Employment conditions
Employment is under the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979. Conditions of service are similar to those applying in the Australian Public Service. We recognise entitlements accrued under the Public Service Act 1999 and provide for continuation of superannuation under the Commonwealth schemes. Salary packaging arrangements are also available.
Australian Workplace Equality Index
ASIO has achieved the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Gold Standard in 2024, 2025 and 2026, recognising ASIO's inclusion work and positive culture. ASIO was the first Australian intelligence agency to achieve this status.
For more information about ASIO, please visit: www.asio.gov.au.
Enquiries
If you require further information after reading the selection documentation, please contact ASIO Recruitment at
[email protected] or phone 02 6263 7888.
More information
For more information about ASIO, please visit: www.asio.gov.au.
