Director, Budget Management and Partnerships (Deputy Chief Finance Officer)

About this role

Lead with purpose and precision—driving financial strategy, influencing policy, and shaping outcomes that matter for Victoria.

About the role

The Director, Budget Management and Partnerships, has deep, demonstrated experience in providing financial advice to large and complex Groups within a Victorian Government Department. The role will provide expert advice to the Department's senior leaders, ministers, portfolio agencies and the Department of Treasury and Finance on a broad range of sensitive and complex financial policy and strategic issues, including the development of new programs, funding submissions and relevant Parliamentary inquiries. The Director Budget Management and Partnerships will also lead the Group Partnership unit to provide services for Group's budget management and provide strategic financial advice and budget reporting and insights as the Deputy Chief Finance Officer.

The Director Budget Management and Partnerships is a direct report to the Executive Director, FIPS and is accountable for developing and leading a high performing team that provides excellent financial services to stakeholders, and builds organisational capability (people, process, technology and content). The Director Budget Management and Partnerships will work collaboratively with the Finance leadership team to develop and implement strategies that deliver integrated finance services that support DEECA's Groups' requirements and wider business objectives.

About you:

To be successful in the role, you will have:

• Relevant extensive senior-level experience in a position managing groups of similar functional and complexity in either the private or public sectors. This includes experience in leading and integrating teams to produce information in a fit-for-purpose, standardised manner, tailored to the audience.
• Demonstrated implementation, and extensive understanding, of government budgeting principles, processes and associated Victorian legislation and frameworks, including its impact on resourcing decisions.
• Broad range of commercial, financial and accounting skills and experience to provide strategic advice to stakeholders, particularly in a constrained fiscal environment.
• A relevant tertiary degree/qualification in accounting and/or finance including CPA/CA status is mandatory.

About the Branch

The Budget Management and Partnerships branch provides high quality services with a strong focus on business insights and financial analysis and budget strategy relating to the State budget, cabinet submissions and Parliamentary inquiries, portfolio budget and financial management of DEECA's budget and forward estimates.

The branch also provides core financial management expertise including budget management, analytical insights and foresights as partners to DEECA Groups. It is continually looking at better ways to work through standardisation of processes and reporting.  The branch delivers these services through its strong working partnerships to inform group executive leadership teams to consider strategic, operational, and financial decision making.

This is a fixed term position available for a period of up to 5 years. The work location for this position is flexible within Victoria with hybrid work arrangements available.

To be considered for this position, applicants are encouraged to submit a resume and cover letter (no longer than 2 pages) summarising their skills and relevant experience.

For further information, please refer to the attached position description or email Etienne Gouws, Executive Director, FIPS at etienne.gouws@deeca.vic.gov.au.

Applications close at midnight on Sunday, 9 November 2025.

Other relevant information:

Preferred candidates will be required to:

• undertake pre-employment screening, including completion of a Declaration and Consent form and a National Police Check
• have their misconduct declarations validated, irrespective of whether misconduct has been declared or not
• provide at least two appropriate referees, including their current direct line manager or where relevant (i.e. because they are not employed) most recent direct line manager in accordance with the requirements set out in executive reference checks.
• provide evidence of their right to work in Australia

For more information about the pre-screening requirements for this position, please refer to the position description.

To be eligible for appointment to this role, applicants will possess corresponding work rights for the advertised employment period. Appointment to an ongoing position is only available to an Australian/New Zealand citizen or an Australian Permanent Resident. 

A Diverse, Inclusive and Flexible Workplace

DEECA welcomes applicants from a diverse range of backgrounds and we focus on the essential requirements of the job and being consistent and fair in our treatment of all applicants. We also understand that a balanced life is important to our employees. Talk to us about our flexible options such as working some days from home, starting early or late, working part time, job sharing or accessing paid or unpaid leave.