Finance Officer-Accounts Receivable/Payable (Affirmative Measures)

September 11, 2024

AIATSIS

Canberra

Finance Officer – Accounts
Receivable/Payable
APS Level 4

This is an Affirmative Measures opportunity
This position will be filled using the Affirmative Measure provision, which allows for the
targeted recruitment of Indigenous Australians into the Australian Public Service. The vacancy
is only open to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. The filling of this employment
opportunity is intended to constitute an Affirmative Measure under section 8(1) of the Racial
Discrimination Act 1975.

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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.

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FINANCE OFFICER – ACCOUNTS
RECEIVABLE/PAYABLE

Vacancy Information
Job Reference 194_09/24
Classification APS level 4
No. of vacancies Multiple
Salary $71,560 - $78,001
Group Strategic Operations
Area Finance
Employment Status Ongoing
Hours 36.75
Close Date 11.30pm Wednesday 25 September 2024
Contact Person Kamalika Dasgupta
02 6246 1129
kamalika.dasgupta@aiatsis.gov.au

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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 and Property Services Unit sits within the Strategic Operations Group and report to
the Chief Financial Officer. The Finance 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.

Role Summary
The Finance Officer roles support AIATSIS by performing a number of financial functions
including but not limited to accounts payable and accounts receivable processing, purchase
order processing, processing travel requests and assisting with month end processing including
transaction testing and reconciliations. The selected candidates will work with the Finance team
to provide high quality, client focused services to our staff and customers.

Key Responsibilities
Key responsibilities will include:

managing receipt and disbursement of invoices.
data entry of finance documents into Technology One.
working with business areas to ensure accuracy of data entered in Technology One.
management of and reporting on outstanding accounts payable, receivables and

purchase orders.

assisting with month end variance reporting.
assisting business areas with general finance queries.

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Cultural capability - essential
Roles at AIATSIS require candidates to understand the issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander peoples and proven culturally appropriate engagement and communications
skills. The nature of this role requires the candidate to consistently demonstrate the following
specific cultural capabilities:

understanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business within the agency and the

outcomes the agency is responsible for delivering.

an ability to communicate respectfully with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

stakeholders, clients, and colleagues.

an understanding of the current issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

peoples and how this is framed by history.

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, and
understand financial processes in the Australian Public Service. You will come with the following
skills, experience and attributes:

strong communication skills with a willingness to actively engage with both internal and

external stakeholders.

ability to work under general direction to undertake moderately complex finance related

activities and tasks.

great attention to detail.
ability to work collaboratively within a small team.
commitment to innovation and service delivery.
proactive and uses initiative.
experience using Excel and Technology One.

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

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

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Who to contact
For enquiries about this job please contact Kamalika Dasgupta, 02 6246 1129,
kamalika.dasgupta@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 Wednesday 25 September 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

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Affirmative Measures positions
Jobs in the APS are open to all Australian citizens. There are some jobs, though, that are open
only to specific members of the Australian population. This practice is known as an Affirmative
measure and is a targeted strategy to ensure the diversity of the APS workforce reflects the
diversity of the Australian population.

Any job can be restricted to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people only, and it doesn't
necessarily have to involve working on Indigenous issues. If a position has been advertised as
an Affirmative measure, it will be clearly marked as such.

The use of the Indigenous Affirmative Measures provision at AIATSIS allows for targeted
recruitment of Indigenous Australians into the organisation. If you are applying for an
Affirmative Measures position, you will need to indicate your Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait
Islander heritage on our application form and provide confirmation if required.

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

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We regret to inform you that this job opportunity is no longer available