Job Opportunities in Australia

Assistant Director Audit and
Assurance
Executive level 1

This is an Identified position open to all Australian Citizens



AIATSIS Application Pack Assistant Director Audit and Assurance | 1

Our Journey
AIATSIS has a proud identity as Australia’s only Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led
national cultural institution that celebrates, educates, and inspires people from all walks of life
to connect with the rights, knowledge, cultures and stories of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander peoples. We play a vital role in developing deeper and shared understandings of
our Nation’s history and future on Australia’s truth-telling journey, working towards collective
healing.

In 2024, AIATSIS celebrates our 60th anniversary and reflects on our evolution as an
organisation during that time. Over the next five years, our operating environment will continue
to change, and we must position ourselves to respond to this change.
Our Vision
To create a world in which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights, knowledge,
cultures and stories are recognised, respected, celebrated and valued.
Our Purpose
We are the only national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural institution solely
dedicated to telling the story of Australia’s First Nations peoples.

We collect, steward and appropriately share Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’
knowledge through our collection, our leadership in research and our network of collaborations
and partnerships by:

• Creating opportunities for everyone to encounter, engage with and be transformed by

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights, knowledge, cultures and stories.

• Enhancing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural vitality; and
• Shaping our national narrative.

Our functions are established under the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Studies Act 1989.



AIATSIS is a statutory authority under the Public Service Act 1999 (Cth) and a Corporate
Commonwealth entity under the PGPA Act.

AIATSIS employees are employed under the Public Service Act 1999, with terms and conditions
of employment as set out in the AIATSIS Enterprise Agreement.


AIATSIS Application Pack Assistant Director Audit and Assurance | 2

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AUDIT AND ASSURANCE


Vacancy Information
Job Reference 220_10/24
Classification Executive level 1
No. of vacancies 1
Salary $110,115 - $120,025
Group Strategic Operations
Area Finance and Property Services
Employment Status Ongoing
Hours Full time
Close Date 11.30pm, Sunday 27 October 2024


Contact Person Katrina Bennett
02 6261 4233
katrina.bennett@aiatsis.gov.au



AIATSIS Application Pack Assistant Director Audit and Assurance | 3

About the Group
The Strategic Operations Group is an enabling services function providing strategic support to
the Institute. The group comprises 5 areas covering Governance, People Services, Finance,
Digital Services and the new Central Australia facility (Mparntwe).


About the Program Area
The Finance, Audit, Assurance and Property Services Unit sits within the Strategic Operations
Group and report to the Chief Financial Officer. The Finance, Audit, Assurance and Property
Services team contributes to the operational and long-term sustainability of the Institute.
The Finance Team is responsible for the financial management of AIATSIS including internal
financial control, Accountable Authority Instructions and financial delegations, administrative
procedures, accounts payable and receivable, asset management and external and internal
budgeting and reporting.
The Property and Security team is responsible for the control and coordination of the strategic,
operational and security management of AIATSIS buildings and facilities.
The Audit and Assurance team is responsible for risk and assurance activities, secretariat
support of the Audit and Risk Committee, business continuity planning, Freedom of Information,
Privacy and other Corporate Governance Policies.

Role Summary
The Assistant Director Audit and Assurance role will be required to undertake a range of
complex and sensitive work that spans all areas of AIATSIS and underpins the accountabilities
of the Audit & Risk Committee and the Senior Executive.
The Assistant Director, Audit and Assurance is expected to be highly professional and strategic
with strong co-ordination, project management, analytical, communication and people skills.
As part of the Executive Level Leadership Group, this officer will need to exercise a
considerable degree of independence and perform a leadership role within the team, across
AIATSIS and with other external stakeholders such as the Internal Auditor and the ANAO.
The work of the Audit and Assurance team is varied and dynamic and extends across the
whole agency. The small team works collaboratively to achieve its goals, and the successful
candidate will need to have strong analytical, problem solving and communication skills and be
prepared to contribute to the work of the whole team.
This position reports to the Chief Financial Officer.

management framework and its linkages to planning, governance processes and legislative
requirements.

• evaluating, developing or revising business processes and reporting mechanisms in relation

to the AIATSIS’s risk management framework including, Fraud and Corruption, Risk,
Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery, Audit, Comcover queries and reporting,
Freedom of Information, Privacy, and other ad-hoc tasks as they arise.

• working with the CFO to support the Audit and Assurance Committee.
• ensuring Business and Continuity Plans (including disaster recovery) are in place, tested

risk management.


AIATSIS Application Pack Assistant Director Audit and Assurance | 4

• management of the internal audit program in conjunction with the AIATSIS internal Audit

Service provider including coordination, development and management of the Strategic
Audit Plan, projects and papers.

• in collaboration with the Chief People Officer, support Public Interest Disclosure activities

including education, policy development, revision and updating.

• oversee the AIATSIS Internal Policy Framework, management and development and

facilitation of any external Audit Program.

• championing organisation wide knowledge of risk ensuring risk mitigation practices at

AIATSIS are based on governance models of the PGPA Act 2013 and the Commonwealth
Risk Management Framework.

AIATSIS embodies Yindyamarra1 in everything we do

Skills, knowledge and personal attributes
To be successful in this role, you will have well developed stakeholder engagement skills with a
strong understanding of risk management frameworks and how this applies to the Australian
Public Service. You will come with the following skills, experience and attributes:

• demonstrated respect for diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. In particular,

the ideal candidate should possess a high level of cultural capability in order to lead and
champion an authentic and respectful interest and engagement with Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander culture, policy, and peoples.

• excellent communication skills and be able to raise critical issues and respond to significant

and complex challenges with a high level of resilience and persistence

• impeccable interpersonal skills and ability to articulate concepts and influence outcomes

through compelling arguments and rationale to all levels and types of audiences

• the ability to listen and identify ways to ensure all have an opportunity to contribute

• a collaborative approach with a track record of building positive working relationships
• high attention to detail. Relevant tertiary qualifications and experience in the public sector are desirable.


1 Yindyamarra is a shared Wiradjuri and Ngunnawal word meaning honour and respect. More broadly it implies
thoughtfulness, graciousness and kindness.


AIATSIS Application Pack Assistant Director Audit and Assurance | 5

What we offer
We understand that you will work best when you have a healthy work-life balance and can
attend to your family commitments. That is why we offer,

• Great salary conditions
• 15.4% Superannuation
• Competitive leave entitlements, including 20 days annual leave, 18 days personal leave,

Cultural, ceremonial and NAIDOC leave, up to 18 weeks parental leave, and the ability to
purchase extra leave.

• Health benefits including, reimbursements for health promotion activities, eye health and

flu vaccinations.

• For eligible employees, generous study leave, course fee and materials assistance, to

undertake relevant accredited study.

• Paid leave during end of year shutdown
• Flexible working conditions

Who to contact
For enquiries about this job please contact Katrina Bennett, 02 6261 4233,
Katrina.bennett@aiatsis.gov.au
If you are experiencing any difficulties accessing or submitting your online application, please
contact the AIATSIS Recruitment Team recruitment@aiatsis.gov.au


How to apply
If this sounds like the opportunity you are looking for, we want to hear from you! Apply
through our online recruitment system (e Recruit)
Closing Date 11.30pm (AEDST) on Sunday 27 October 2024


You will need to address both the Cultural Capability (no more than 500 words) and skills,
knowledge and personal attributes (no more than 750 words) sections, in your response.
Provide a succinct summary outlining why you are interested in this position and why you
believe that you have the cultural capability, skills, knowledge, and experience to be
considered for this role. Please provide examples which demonstrate your ability to perform
the duties of the position.
Your cultural competency will carry more weight than other factors in the assessment. These
requirements are based on the information provided to you as part of the job opportunity.
Do not simply state that you meet the requirements - it is essential that you provide
examples from your current or past role(s) which demonstrate how you meet each of the key
areas or points. You should focus on how your experience, achievements and capabilities
will enable you to successfully undertake the responsibilities of the role(s).
Applicants are also required to submit a current CV/resume.
If you need assistance developing your response, you may want to refer to the applying
for jobs on the Australian Public Service Commission website:
http://www.apsc.gov.au/working-in-the-aps/applying-for-jobs-in-the-aps


AIATSIS Application Pack Assistant Director Audit and Assurance | 6

Identified positions
Identified positions are roles that require people to understand the issues affecting Indigenous
Australians and a proven ability to communicate sensitively with them. These requirements are
generally for jobs that involve providing services or developing policies for Indigenous
Australians, and/or direct interaction with Indigenous communities.

Identified positions are crucial in ensuring that the APS has the right people working on
initiatives to improve the delivery of services and close the gap between Indigenous and non-
Indigenous Australians and are open to all Australian citizens.

At AIATSIS all positions are Identified positions where candidates are required to demonstrate
an understanding of the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, their cultures,
and their issues and to be able to communicate respectfully with them.

You must provide the name and contact details of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
referee. This referee will be contacted to determine your cultural capability.

What is Cultural Capability?
As all positions at AIATSIS are ‘Identified’ each position will have various elements of
involvement with the delivery of Indigenous specific services, programs, and policies as part of
AIATSIS core functions. AIATSIS therefore needs to also identify the cultural knowledge; skills
and personal attributes needed to deliver the required outcomes.

Every part of how we work, who we work with and for, requires varying levels of knowledge of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, protocols and an understanding of issues that
enable effective communication and ultimately effective performance in the role. To assist you in
determining the required cultural capabilities of this role, you can refer to the Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander Cultural Capability – A Framework for Commonwealth Agencies



AIATSIS Application Pack Assistant Director Audit and Assurance | 7