School and Preschool Budgeting Officer

**Department for Education**

**Job reference**: 498608

**Location**: 5000 - ADELAIDE

**Job status**: Ongoing

**Eligibility**: Open to Everyone

**Why work with us**

We’re building a public education system which is genuinely recognised as world-class - where every preschool and school is great and where there is growth for every child and student.

We are one team, statewide. Everyone in public education works together, united behind our vision because what we're doing today will improve the futures of children in South Australia.

We’re making a difference so South Australia thrives.

**About this role**

The School and Preschool Budgeting Officer works as a member of a team to provide advice, training and support to school and preschool staff in order to assist sites in the efficient and accurate management of school and preschool budgets.

The role contributes to, and supports the achievement of, the Finance and Funding Division objectives and goals and the maintenance of efficient work practices within the School and Preschool Budgeting team.

**What you will do (key outcomes)**
- Provide differentiated levels of expert financial and budgetary support, consultation, comprehensive advice and training to school and preschool based staff, based on identified key performance indicators and risk factors to achieve improvement in financial and resource management, improved educational outcomes and reduced financial risk.
- Provide a range of expert advice, prepare reports, documents and training resources, and coordinate and guide workgroups, reference groups and forums that support the building of budget management capability for schools, preschools and key departmental stakeholders, including partnerships and other units within the Department for Education.
- Identify factors that impact on the effectiveness of financial management and directorate activities more broadly, consult with clients and key stakeholders on operational requirements, review processes, gather feedback and evaluate processes and functions to minimise duplication.
- Develop and maintain close and collaborative communication networks across the Department, in support of effective and appropriate financial service delivery outcomes and improvement of program and project performance and processes.
- Deliver, improve and maintain efficient and effective work practices within the workgroup, including supporting staff in relation to work quality and priorities.
- Support the ongoing performance and cost efficiency of projects and activities, and identify, monitor, coordinate and evaluate allocated resources.
- Maintain a safe and healthy working environment by proactively reporting incidents, hazards and injuries.

**The capabilities you will bring (key competencies)**
- **Task management**: Demonstrated ability to effectively work independently, as well as collaboratively in a team under limited direction, and exercises sound judgement in identifying and resolving problems, determining priorities, selecting suitable accounting methods and techniques and meeting deadlines.
- **Communication skills**: Demonstrate well-developed interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills to manage and maintain professional working relationships across the organisation in order to influence others, negotiate successful outcomes and liaise effectively with stakeholders.
- **Technical expertise**: Demonstrated experience in developing and providing reliable and accurate training and advice on financial management and budgetary issues to build staff capability and improve financial and resource management.
- **Solutions Focus**: Demonstrated experience in accrual accounting, financial management and budget strategies/processes to support corporate policy and strategy.
- **Continuous Improvement**: Experience contributing to the improvement of business practices and processes to reduce administrative burden on and deliver efficient and effective high quality consultative services and advice.
- **Equal Opportunity and WHS**: Demonstrated knowledge and commitment to promoting and creating a safe and inclusive work environment; and the legislative requirements of Equal Opportunity and Work Health and Safety legislation.

**Application Instructions**:
Applicants are required to submit a CV, the Application Cover Sheet, Employment Declaration and a written statement of no more than 1500 words addressing the selection criteria in the attached document.

Please note to be employed by the department, applicants must be vaccinated against COVID-19 or have an approved medical exemption endorsed by a duly qualified medical practitioner. Unvaccinated people must comply with conditions for unvaccinated people as outlined in the Department’s website. Proof of vaccination status must be provided for sighting on request.
The successful applicant is required to gain a Department for Human Services (DHS) working with children check (WWCC) prior to being employ