Senior Finance Officer

About the role

This is a senior operational finance position requiring strong practical finance experience, excellent attention to detail and the capability to provide higher-level financial oversight. The successful applicant will be expected to confidently manage day-to-day finance matters and provide backfill for the Finance Manager when required, including during periods of leave. A significant component of the role involves the financial administration and reconciliation of government-funded programs and contracts. This includes maintaining accurate live-to-date financial information, ensuring expenditure is correctly allocated against funding and eligibility requirements, reconciling expenditure and preparing reimbursement claims under relevant government-funded contracts. The position is administratively detailed and requires someone who is highly organised, accurate and confident working with complex financial information, funding requirements and financial systems.

Key responsibilities

• Undertake financial reconciliations and maintain accurate live-to-date financial information.
• Administer and reconcile expenditure relating to government-funded programs and contracts.
• Review expenditure against funding, eligibility and contractual requirements and ensure costs are appropriately allocated.
• Prepare and process reimbursement claims and assist with funding acquittals.
• Identify and investigate financial discrepancies and ensure appropriate corrective action is undertaken.
• Maintain accurate, complete and audit-ready financial records.
• Assist with financial and management reporting.
• Support the maintenance and application of appropriate internal financial controls.
• Work collaboratively with operational teams to ensure financial information and supporting documentation are complete and accurate.
• Provide guidance and support to other Finance Officers as required.

About you

• Significant practical experience in a Finance Officer, Senior Finance Officer, Assistant Accountant or similar finance role.
• Demonstrated experience undertaking complex financial reconciliations and maintaining accurate financial records.
• Demonstrated experience contributing to financial and management reporting.
• The experience, capability and confidence to provide higher-level financial oversight and manage day-to-day finance matters.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and demonstrated ability to confidently use financial management systems.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret funding agreements, eligibility requirements and expenditure rules and apply these consistently.
• Excellent attention to detail and demonstrated ability to identify and investigate financial discrepancies.
• Strong organisational and time management skills, including the ability to work effectively within a high-volume and administratively detailed environment.
• Well-developed written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with managers, employees and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated initiative, sound judgement and the ability to work with an appropriate level of autonomy while maintaining confidentiality and professionalism.

About us

Youth Empowered Towards Independence (YETI) is a not-for-profit youth service in Cairns, Far North Queensland. YETI provides drug and alcohol treatment, adolescent-focused family support, and practical assistance to young people struggling to connect positively with family, school, jobs and the community. YETI has a multidisciplinary team that embraces cultural and gender diversity and equality.