Assistant Director, Financial Advisory

Why work at TEQSA?

TEQSA welcomes people with diverse skills, experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds. TEQSA encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, people with disabilities, people that identify as LGBTQIA+, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. We offer our people a range of benefits that include flexible work arrangements, professional development opportunities and free access to an EAP which extends to immediate family members.

About the position

TEQSA currently has an opportunity for an experienced Assistant Director, Financial Advisory to work in our Financial Advisory and Risk Team, which sits within the Sector Risk and Compliance Group.

The Assistant Director will lead a team of Senior Financial Analysts, responsible for analysing the financial position and performance of registered higher education providers and new entrants to the market. The team is also responsible for analysing detailed financial statements and other reports, responding proactively and constructively to ad-hoc requests, and providing clear advice to colleagues and to TEQSA's Commission on complex financial information. They also prepare and contribute to a range of agency products including assessment reports, submissions and briefs for TEQSA's Commission, and support the work of the compliance and investigations team through provision of specialised advice on material changes and management of conditions.

Duties

The core duties of the role include:

• Leading the team to deliver high quality technical analysis of financial information, including modelling and projections, to assess higher education providers and potential providers' funding sources/revenue, financial viability and sustainability, and identify risks.
• Providing advice on mitigation strategies to help reduce financial risk.
• Building team capabilities by providing leadership to team members, including providing strategic direction in relation to priorities, monitoring workflows and resources, developing, coaching, and mentoring staff, resolving conflict, and managing performance.
• Acquiring, maintaining and applying comprehensive work knowledge to deliver outcomes, including knowledge of relevant legislation, policy, procedures and guidelines.
• Developing modelling and assessment templates and toolkits and provide training in financial literacy to colleagues across the agency.
• In the context of a complex and changing environment, making decisions and providing strategic advice, using professional judgement and evaluating risks.
• Building strong relationships and collaborating with key internal and external stakeholders to identify opportunities, achieve outcomes and facilitate cooperation through change, resolving conflict and managing sensitivities.
• Representing and explaining the views of the agency at cross-agency meetings and other forums.

Our ideal candidate

TEQSA is looking for someone who is passionate about contributing to the excellence of and Australian higher education. Our ideal candidate will have:

1. Strong leadership skills including the ability to set and meet performance targets, manage performance and deliver quality and timely outcomes.
2. Experience working in a financial advisory role, in areas such as insolvency, merger and acquisitions, financial advisory services and forensic accounting.
3. Demonstrated ability to lead and manage complex financial analysis and modelling, including the ability to interpret and analyse financial data and communicate key trends in information.
4. Strong analytical and organisational skills to develop effective and appropriate strategies and manage a range of functions with competing priorities or tight deadlines.
5. Excellent communication skills, including the ability to prepare well-structured persuasive reports, briefs and procedural guides that are clear and easy to understand (including for stakeholders with limited financial literacy)
6. Proven ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
7. Demonstrated ability to innovate and lead continual business improvement.

Qualifications and experience

• An accounting, finance, economics, or equivalent tertiary qualification is essential. Candidates who hold a CA or CPA will be highly regarded.
• Experience working in a regulatory environment and/or the Australian higher education sector will be highly valued.

Eligibility

The successful applicant must:

• be an Australian citizen.
• complete a National Police Check satisfactorily.
• be able to obtain and maintain an Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) clearance to Baseline status, supported by TEQSA.

Failure to satisfy any of the above conditions may result in the withdrawal of an offer of employment or termination of employment.

How to apply

Please refer to the Candidate Information Pack (CIP) for more details on the role and to assist you in applying for the role.

Your application must include the following items:

• A current resume (maximum two pages)
• A two-page cover letter (pitch) (maximum 1000 words) detailing how your skills and experience address the 'our ideal candidate' section (i.e., what makes you the best candidate for the position), and the value you can add to TEQSA.

Applications close at 11.45pm (AEST) on Tuesday, 26 August 2025.

Apply today We look forward to receiving your application.