• Full-time, Ongoing, APS 6 position
• Attractive employee benefits including 15.4% superannuation
• Australia’s leading museum located waterside in beautiful Darling Harbour

The Australian National Maritime Museum is seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Senior Financial Accountant with a strong technical foundation to join our Finance team in this full-time, ongoing APS Level 6 position.

As one of Sydney’s most visited museums, the Australian National Maritime Museum shares our national maritime story across Australia and the world, online, onsite and through research, presentations and travelling exhibitions, and provides must-visit museum experiences that delight and inspire.

We connect our visitors with the oceans and waterways that are the heartbeat of who we are. From deep time to modern Australian and beyond, we explore our past, our present and future as an island nation shaped by sea, offering a sustainable and cohesive vision for the future.

The Museum welcomes over 2.5 million local, interstate and international visitors annually, and is supported by a thriving and passionate staff, membership, volunteer and education base. Find out more at sea.museum.

As the Senior Financial Accountant, you will play a critical role in ensuring the integrity and accuracy of the organisation’s financial reporting, overseeing the month-end close process, and managing external audits. This position is essential in maintaining compliance with accounting standards and tax regulations while providing valuable insights into financial performance. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver timely and accurate financial reports, support the annual audit, and drive improvements in financial processes.

You will also oversee the accounts payable and receivable functions, ensuring financial operations run smoothly and are aligned with organisational goals. This position is also responsible for the management and reporting of all Fixed asset and assisting in the procurement process for the Museum and the Foundation (if required). Success for this role means that all Fixed assets are correctly reflected within the system and being depreciated correctly, all associated balance sheet reconciliations are completed on time and procurement process is supported.

If you're a detail-oriented accounting professional with a strong technical foundation, this role offers the chance to make a significant impact while advancing your career within a dynamic organisation.
Why Join Us?
At the Museum, we value innovation, teamwork, and excellence. As part of our finance team, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to meaningful projects, work within a supportive and collaborative environment, and help drive the financial success of a leading cultural institution. If you’re ready to bring your expertise to a role where you can truly make a difference, we’d love to hear from you!

Key Accountabilities

Under limited direction, this position is responsible for delivering the following functions:

• Month-End Closing

Prepare and review all month-end journals, accruals, and adjustments, ensuring accuracy and compliance with accounting standards.

• Reconciliation of Accounts

Lead the monthly reconciliation process for all key balance sheet and profit and loss accounts, identifying and resolving discrepancies in a timely manner.

• Variance Analysis

Provide detailed financial variance analysis and commentary on actual vs. budgeted performance, assisting with management reporting and decision-making.

• Financial Reporting

Timely and accurately preparing the Museum's and Foundation's year-end Statutory Accounts, including the interpretation of accounting standards, fixed asset valuation/impairment testing and revenue recognition, and the implementation of Commonwealth Government accounting policies and practices.

• Oversee Annual Audit Process

Manage and coordinate the annual external audit, acting as the primary point of contact and liaising with the ANAO, ensuring all audit requirements and timelines are met.

• Tax Compliance & Reporting

Managing compliance obligations and the preparation of tax submissions as required for various Commonwealth government requirements and taxation with the ATO (inc. GST; FBT; PAYG).

• Oversee Accounts Payable & Receivable

Ensure the smooth operation of accounts payable (AP) and accounts receivable (AR) functions, providing guidance to staff, ensuring timely processing, and resolving any discrepancies or issues.

• Internal Controls

Maintain and continuously improve financial processes and internal controls to ensure data integrity and mitigate financial risks.

• Compliance & Risk Management

Ensure compliance with accounting standards, regulatory requirements, and internal policies while actively managing financial risks across the organisation.

• Stakeholder Engagement

Collaborate with cross-functional teams to provide financial insights and recommendations and support various ad hoc projects and inquiries from management.

• Process Improvement & Automation

Identify opportunities to streamline and automate financial processes, driving efficiency and accuracy across reporting, reconciliations, and audits.

• Mentoring & Development

Provide mentorship and guidance to junior finance team members, fostering their development and enhancing the overall capability of the finance function.

Selection Criteria

• Proven experience (5+ years) in preparing accurate and timely financial statements in accordance with accounting standards.
• Demonstrated experience overseeing month-end closing processes, including preparation of journals, accruals, and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills to clearly convey financial information to stakeholders, auditors, and regulators.
• Ability to present complex financial data in a clear, concise manner, especially to non-financial stakeholders.
• Excellent attention to detail, strong numeracy and literacy skills.
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to meet deadlines.

Qualifications and/or relevant experience required

Mandatory

• A relevant degree and CPA/CA or equivalent accounting qualification.

Desirable

• Prior experience working in an audit role or within an accounting firm, bringing a deep understanding of audit processes, financial controls, and high-level exposure to complex accounting environments.
• Previous experience managing the annual external audit process, acting as the primary point of contact with auditors.
• Experience in implementing or improving financial systems or processes is highly desirable.
• Experience with managing a team.
• Experience with Certinia (previously Financial Force) - Salesforce compatible system.
• Knowledge of Salesforce.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and the Microsoft Office Suite. Experience with Certinia (previously Financial Force) - Salesforce compatible system.
• Knowledge of Salesforce.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and the Microsoft Office Suite.

When applying via our online e-recruitment system, please provide a written application addressing each Selection Criteria. Your current resume is also to be included in your application.
In addition to an application and your resume, the assessment process for this position may also include an interview and referee reports.

Applications Close: 5pm AEDT, Wednesday, 6 November 2024. No Applications will be accepted by mail or email.

Selection for this position will be made on the basis of relative merit which will be assessed against each item of the selection criteria. Applications that do not address the selection criteria will not be considered for short listing by the Selection Committee. As part of the selection process the selection committee may invite candidates to undertake psychometric test, you should advise the selection committee if you have any special needs. Psychometric tests may be used as the initial short-listing test or later in the selection process. Some tests are very short while others may take one or more hours.

This position is open to all eligible members of the community, and we encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with a disability and people from every cultural and linguistic background. To be an eligible member of the community, you must be an Australian citizen. Applications may be accepted from Australian permanent residents who are in the process of acquiring Australian citizenship.