Finance Officer

Fixed Term (Until 30/06/2026) - Full Time 

About the Role:

An exciting opportunity has opened within the Finance and Business Support Unit (FBSU) of the International Education and Partnerships Division (IEPD). We are seeking a detail-oriented and proactive Finance Officer to join our finance team. Reporting to the Senior Finance Officer, this role is integral to the smooth operation of key financial processes that support our international education programs. The successful candidate will work collaboratively across multiple teams, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and service excellence in all financial transactions and reporting activities.

About the International Education and Partnerships Division:

The International Education and Partnerships Division (IEPD) is part of the School Education Programs and Support (SEPS) group and plays a pivotal role in ensuring that all Victorian learners are equipped with the skills to become interconnected, active, and informed global citizens. The IEPD supports this objective by:

• Leading the global expansion of education within Victorian government schools.
• Implementing programs that foster intercultural skills and global citizenship for students, educators, and school leaders.
• Facilitating educational partnerships and collaboration between Victoria and international governments.
• Offering high-quality services to international students in accordance with the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000.
• Providing strategic advice on policies and programs, managing funding distribution, and overseeing accountability for non-government schools and homeschooling through formal agreements.
• Supporting the Victorian Schools Animal Ethics Committee (VSAEC) in evaluating and approving applications from schools that wish to use animals in science education, ensuring adherence to scientific procedures under a scientific procedures premises licence (SPPL).

About the Finance and Business Support Unit:

The FBSU sets and collects fees and administers and reconciles the revenue generated by over 6,000 students in Australia's largest schools' sector International Student Program (ISP). The FBSU is responsible for the critical financial operations of the IEPD, including:

• Managing financial and accounting operations, including the collection and disbursement of overseas student fees.
• Supporting the delivery of financial governance, reporting activities and developing systems and processes to support financial integrity and efficiency.
• Implementing strategies to ensure the financial sustainability of the division.

Key Responsibilities:

This role reports to the Senior Finance Officer and is responsible for key operational functions in the unit, such as:

• Daily Banking Operations - Oversee and process daily banking activities, primarily focused on high-volume international student fee receipts. Reconcile transactions, manage suspense accounts for unidentified receipts, and respond to related queries in a timely and accurate manner.
• Accounts Payable Support - Assist with the processing and payment of domestic and international accounts payable, including general expense claims. Support other administrative teams in raising and reconciling invoices, purchase orders, contract payments, and order management.
• Education Agent Commissions - Lead the quality assurance and relationship management of education agent commissions, including timely and accurate processing of payments. Act as a key contact for agent payment queries.
• Internal Controls & Systems Support - Contribute to the improvement of financial management systems, monitoring mechanisms and data integrity, providing advice and support on financial and student management systems.
• Financial Reporting & Reconciliation - Support the Financial Services Division in preparing monthly accruals, revenue and expenditure journals. Assist with end-of-year financial reporting, balance sheet reconciliations, and compliance attestations, ensuring data accuracy and account completeness.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Relevant tertiary qualification Accounting, Finance.
• Experience in finance functions in a government department will be highly regarded

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 email Jude Perera - Finance Manager at jude.perera2 @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.

All International Education and Partnership Division staff must hold a Working with Children Check (WWCC) for employment.

Please let us know via 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.

How to apply

Applicants are required to submit their resume and no more than two pages detailing how their skills and experience address the Key Selection Criteria in the position description and this job advertisement.

Applications close 11.59pm, Sunday 15th June 2025