Fixed Term - Full Time until 30/1/2026

About the Department

The Department of Education (Department) provides policy leadership, plans for the future of education in Victoria and leads key cross-sector collaboration. The Department plays an important system steward role by providing support, guidance, oversight and assurance across early childhood and school education systems, as well as directly providing school education and 50 new early learning centres. 

About the Victorian School Building Authority

The Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA) is part of the Department and is responsible for upgrading and expanding existing schools and plan, design and build new schools to meet enrolment demand. We also support schools to maintain their buildings and grounds by offering expert advice and coordinating maintenance programs and grants.   

About the Division

The Corporate Division provides corporate support to all VSBA teams and fulfills an important assurance and oversight role. They guide VSBA to achieve strategic objectives and ensure decision-making is transparent and accountable. The division also coordinates communication and consultation with local communities about their school building projects. 

About the Role

The Project Accountant is responsible for providing high quality project accounting related services, preparing complex data analysis, supporting Budget and Finance team in their delivery of business partnering services and improving financial and business processes as outlined in the Position Description document.

The key responsibilities of the Project Accountant include:

• preparing practical completion and financial project reconciliations including budget reconciliations and portfolio asset management allocation ffees);
• processing project and asset capitalisation journals;
• analysing complex and high volume of project transactions from mulitple data sources and resolving idenified issues in consulation with relevant stakeholders;
• supporting the Budget and Finance team in their delivery of business partnering services including ad hoc financial analysis, internal reporting, external reporting and audit queries;
• improving financial and business processes in VSBA. 

All VSBA staff have a shared responsibility to meet the same service standards outlined in the VSBA Customer Service Charter.  Our goal is to make every interaction with the VSBA a positive one for our customers, colleagues and key partners regardless of our individual role or team. 

Attributes

The ideal candidate will have the following skills, capabilities and qualities:

Planning and Organisation

• ability to plan ahead, prioritise tasks and manage progress in a proactive manner
• ability to deal with complex and high volume of transactions, tight timeframes and various stakeholders
• ability to work both independently and in a team environment to achieve common goals 

Problem Solving

• ability to identify issues, analyse them from different perspectives based on evidence and provide recommendations to resolve them
• ability with work collaboratively with stakeholders to find effective solutions 

Service Excellence

• ability to deliver timely and high-quality project accounting related services in a complex and challenging environment 
• strive for innovation and continuous improvement opportunities to improve outcomes, systems and processes
• commitment to take responsibility and be accountable for actions, outputs and behaviours 

Customer Focus

• understanding of customers' needs and strive to deliver high quality outcomes for them
• proactive in seeking feedback and improving delivery of services 

Detail Focus

• strong attention to detail to ensure timely and accurate project reconciliations and data analysis
• ability to identify gaps in information, analyse data and ensure compliance with the Department's policies, procedures and legislative requirements
• solid understanding of the accounting principles and standards as applied in the public sector 

Desirable Qualifications and Experience

Essential:

• Relevant tertiary qualification in Finance - Accounting; OR
• Relevant experience in Finance / Accounting specialising in project accounting within a construction related setting

Desirable:

• Accreditation with Certified Practising Accountant Australia / Chartered Accountant Australia and New Zealand
• Demonstrated experience in using Oracle and Excel 

Further Information

For more details regarding this position please see attached position description for the capabilities to address in application.

The Department values diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information about our work, working for the Department, diversity and inclusion, and our employment conditions visit the Department website and our Diversity and Inclusion page

Applicants requiring adjustments can contact the nominated contact person.

Information about the Department of Education's operations and employment conditions can be located at www.education.vic.gov.au.

For further information pertaining to the role, please contact Jessie Ng - Manager Business Partnering via jessie.ng@education.vic.gov.au.

Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and may be subject to other pre-employment checks. Information provided to the Department of Education will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Please let us know via phone or email if you require any adjustments to ensure your full participation in the recruitment process or if you need the ad or any attachments in an accessible format (e.g large print) due to any viewing difficulties or other accessibility requirements.

Applications close 11:59pm on 24-APR-2025.