01st August, 2025
Lead Where Good Things Grow
We're seeking an experienced Financial Accountant to lead with integrity and drive financial excellence in our thriving regional community. This is an exceptional opportunity to make a meaningful impact while advancing your career in local government.
What Makes This Role Outstanding:
- Own the Process: Coordinate month-end and year-end close, manage audits, oversee treasury functions and ensure full statutory compliance.
- Strategic Impact: Oversee annual financial statements, budgets, long term financial plans and quarterly forecasts that shape our community's future.
- Lead with Confidence: Supervise and support the Finance Officer, fostering a high-performing and collaborative team culture.
- Professional Growth: Lead audit processes, treasury functions and statutory compliance with Australian Accounting Standards, the Local Government Act and other relevant legislation.
- Systems Innovation: Drive continuous improvement initiatives, coordinate financial system upgrades and deliver comprehensive user training.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with internal stakeholders including managers and budget officers to enhance financial management capabilities and present complex financial information to executive leadership and councillors to support strategic decision-making.
What You'll Be Doing: - Lead Your Team: Supervise and motivate the accounting team while driving continuous improvement initiatives including process documentation and multi-skilling.
- Command Financial Reporting: Oversee accurate and timely delivery of statutory, financial and management reporting including all annual statements and budgets.
- Master Audit Leadership: Coordinate annual external audits and preparation of statutory returns, ensuring finalisation within statutory timeframes.
- Drive Treasury Excellence: Oversee banking functions, monitor investments and loans, manage cash flow modelling and ensure timely bank reconciliations.
- Connect & Influence: Develop strong working relationships with managers and budget officers to improve financial management capabilities organisation-wide.
What We're Looking For: - Degree in accounting - with relevant experience in contemporary accounting/financial management.
- Large organisation experience - you understand complex reporting structures and diverse stakeholder needs.
- Local government experience preferred - you know the unique challenges and opportunities.
- Strong technical skills - proficiency with financial systems and Australian Accounting Standards.
- Communication excellence - ability to explain complex financial matters to various audiences.
- CPA or CA membership is essential – we’re looking for a qualified professional ready to lead with confidence.
Why Choose Rural City of Wangaratta? We believe in creating a workplace where talented professionals can thrive and make a genuine difference. Our success comes from the everyday demonstration of our values: Trust, Respect, Openness, Fairness, Excellence and Enjoyment. You'll be part of building the best sports, aquatics and events precinct in regional Victoria while enjoying:
- Competitive professional remuneration
- Leadership development opportunities
- Strategic influence of community financial planning
- Work-life balance in a beautiful regional setting
- Professional recognition in a senior finance role
- Opportunity to contribute to significant community projects
Ready to Grow With Us? If you're an accomplished finance professional with CA/CPA credentials who excels at team leadership, statutory reporting and stakeholder engagement from department managers to executive leadership and elected councillors, we want to hear from you!
This role offers the perfect combination of professional challenge, leadership responsibility and community impact in an organisation where your expertise will be valued and your career can flourish.
How to Apply Click on "Apply" to upload your resume and cover letter (video or written).
For a confidential conversation regarding this role, please contact Kim Murrells at
kim@totalhrm.com.au or on 1800 868 254.
Applications close Friday August 29th 2025, although we may appoint earlier.
Apply now and become part of Rural City of Wangaratta’s exciting future! The Rural City of Wangaratta is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive workplace for all.
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