Senior Accountant

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES

Within the parameters of our constitution, service philosophy and the policy framework established by the Board, and under the direction and supervision of the Head of Finance and IT, the Senior Accountant will:

• Provide a high degree of financial analysis and insight into Safe Steps’ operations;
• Support the development of financial budgets and forecasts; preparing regular and ad hoc reports as directed by the Head of Finance and IT for the Finance and Compliance Sub-Committee (FAC), and Board.

ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT

Safe Steps is the only 24/7, family violence response centre in Victoria, providing a “state-wide entry point” for victim-survivors of domestic and family violence. Services include information and referral, crisis response, specialist family violence risk assessment, safety planning, Webchat and access to supported crisis accommodation.

Our vision is safety, support and respect for all victim-survivors of domestic and family violence.

Our practice is trauma-informed and guided by evidence. We provide services to all victim-survivors and recognise that most of our work is dedicated to the needs of women and children which reflects the gendered nature of domestic and family violence.

Our research and advocacy is informed by our practice and promotes the voices and diverse experiences of victim-survivors. We advocate to create systemic change and effective pathways for victim survivors from crisis to safety and recovery. We are courageous, courageous, feminist, empowering, inclusive, respectful, and reflective in all that we do. Safe Steps employs more than one hundred full-time staff, part-time staff, volunteers, and students.

The Senior Accountant is based at the Safe Steps’ head office in North Melbourne.

The Senior Accountant is expected to uphold the organisation’s policies and procedures as well as the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing and Human Services Standards, which include the following obligations:

• To respect client confidentiality
• To obtain consent for the disclosure of information about a client
• To inform any client who wishes to make a complaint about the organisation of their right to do so, and to assist them to initiate a complaint

Safe Steps’ locations and unlisted telephone numbers may not be disclosed to any other person except in accordance with service procedures. The locations and unlisted telephone numbers of any high security refuges may not be disclosed to any other person other than in accordance with the instructions of each such service.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Daily Operations:

• Manage the month end process, including the preparation of monthly management financial reports; including profit and loss, balance sheet, cash flow and cost centre performance reports
• Maintenance of the chart of accounts structure and cost centre structure
• Produce regular and ad hoc financial reports, acquittals and analysis as required
• Review accounts payable and receivable, bank reconciliations, general ledger reconciliations and end of month journals
• Conduct in-depth analysis of the organisation’s financial performance; reporting of findings and recommendations
• Participate in the design, implementation, monitoring and improvement of effective internal controls within the Finance team and across Safe Steps
• Assist the Head of Finance and IT in preparation of year-end accounts and audit requirements
• Prepare reports, funding submissions and acquittals for State government, Australian Taxation Office and other non-government organisations
• Actively participate in external and internal systems reviews and audits
• Support the development in increasing financial capacity of non-Finance staff within the organisation
• Collaborate with the Finance team to identify and implement ongoing improvements to the Finance system and related processes
• Provide back-up and technical support to the Finance team as and when required

Other:

• Perform other duties consistent with the position where required and/or requested by management from time to time
• Complete mandatory and other training as required
• Adhere to all organisational policies and procedures, including all workplace health and safety measures

KEY SELECTION CRITERIA

Essential:

• Tertiary qualifications in Business, Finance, Accounting or equivalent
• CPA/CA Qualifications
• High level of technical accounting skills
• Financial and management accounting experience including cash flow, asset management, financial and management reporting
• Ability to take initiative in carrying out duties and the capacity to manage a range of tasks and organisational requirements with limited timeframes
• Demonstrated ability to be highly organised and efficient and work autonomously with confidence
• Exceptional interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills and the ability to liaise with a wide range of stakeholders
• High degree of confidentiality, integrity and reliability

• Willingness to commit to the living expression of Safe Steps values; courageous, feminist, empowering, ethical respectful, collaborative, reflective
• Advanced skills in Excel
• Current Working with Children Check (or willingness to undergo)
• Willingness to undergo a National Police Check
• Completed Covid 19 vaccinations

Desirable:

• Demonstrated analysis experience gained in an organisation(s) with multiple and complex income streams and cost allocations

• Demonstrated experience utilising report writing software including the development of reports and dashboards including data analysis
• Demonstrated ability process improvement focused projects, including process mapping, financial systems integration and data mining
• Ability to develop and review effective office systems and procedures

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

While Safe Steps reserve the right to exercise an Equal Opportunity Exemption in certain circumstances (H135/2022), Safe Steps values and encourages diversity, inclusion, and equity in all our services, programs, and practices.

Safe Steps is a child safe organisation and is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all children, at all times. All Safe Steps services, programs and practices are in compliance with Victoria’s Child Safe Standards.

Safe Steps recognises that risk management, and the sound and effective implementation of a risk management strategy with associated tools and plans, is a key process in a best practice framework at all levels of the organisation. We are committed to the implementation and maintenance of a formal risk management system in order to provide a sound quality and governance framework that aligns with the Australian Standard for Risk Management (AS/NZS ISO 31000:2018) and ensures there are linkages between risk management and decision making, there is clearly articulated accountability, and there is mandate and commitment from all key staff in the organisation.

Safe Steps is committed to the principles of continuous quality improvement (CQI) in all aspects of its operations, service delivery and governance. We place the highest priority on the safety and wellbeing of those we support and provide services to.

All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory background checks including a National Police Check (including an international police check if resided continuously in an overseas country for 12 months or more in the last ten years), Working with Children Check, disclosure of previous or current disciplinary action, referee checks, proof of eligibility to work in Australia and qualification checks.

Where background checks are not to the satisfaction of Safe Steps in its absolute discretion, the offer of employment may be retracted or terminated.

If you are offered employment with Safe Steps and are not currently an existing employee, you will be required to disclose full details of any pre-existing injuries or illness that may be affected by the work and/or undergo a health assessment. The disclosure/health assessment is conducted to ensure you have the health and mental capacity to meet the requirements of the position and to identify any adjustments that may need to be made in the workplace. Failing to notify or hiding a pre-existing injury or illness which might be affected by the nature of the proposed employment, could result in that injury or illness being ineligible for future compensation claims.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

We are committed to ensuring diversity, inclusion and equity are embedded throughout our organisation for the benefit of all our clients and our staff. We believe our people are our greatest asset and by supporting and incorporating their diverse talents, knowledge, perspectives and experiences, we can strengthen our relationships with the communities we work with.

Our focus is on eliminating discrimination in the services we deliver and the workplace we provide. Being a diverse and inclusive organisation that supports and enables equity, goes to the heart of our work and supports our strategic intent – “Building an organisation and culture that is supportive, responsive and sustainable”.

INTERESTED? APPLY TODAY!

If this sounds like the role for you then click on the ‘Apply Now’ button below.

Please ensure that you:

• Submit your resume and cover letter.
• Complete all application questions.