Organisation: National Archives of Australia
Job Title:Assistant Management Accountant
Location: ACT
Demonstrated understanding of the Government’s financial management framework, and experience in budget development and the ongoing reporting and budget management
With demonstrated relevant experience in financial management and budget development, I have also performed a vast array of research to inform myself in the Government’s financial management framework in preparation for moving into a Government role. This has included research and information on the differences between commercial and government budgeting and funding as well as management accounting concepts. Working for the Housing Industry Association a few years ago as an Accountant as well as dealing with the Department of Defence in my role at Raytheon, has given me insight into how government financial management and reporting is facilitated.
My experience and knowledge in senior accounting roles and therefore in budgetary reporting and management is extensive. My current role demonstrates my experience in the preparation of monthly and end-of-year reporting, adjustments and accruals, payroll tax for all five entities of the organisation, as well as cash flow forecasting and monitoring. In addition, I am responsible for the preparation of the monthly board meeting financial reports including a profit and loss statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement and a range of other ad hoc reports and financial summaries. In addition to running these reports, I have successfully improved the reporting process and automated the accounting handling process.
Within my previous role at Melrose Automobiles, I was responsible for the preparation of financial analysis and reporting for management regarding franchisees, BAS, PAYG and the company’s financial performance as well as managing general balance sheet account reconciliations. I also facilitated the end-of-month journals, adjustment and accruals, subsidiary ledgers and vehicle control accounts. Financial statement preparation included preparing of the annual and monthly financial statements including the preparation of ledgers management, payroll management and financial reconciliations for clients, suppliers, creditor accounts and banking.
Previous to these two roles, I worked at Raytheon Australia as a contract financial analyst and the Housing Industry Association. Within the HIA, I was exposed to government structure in terms of their financial system, with strict charge coding, recurrent funding models as well as monthly reconciliations, including balance sheet accounts, banks and accruals. Taking all of these roles into account, I have demonstrated my ability to undertake not only budget development and reporting, but also an array of other financially based tasks, as well as facilitating the successful management of teams within the finance area.
Well-developed ability to present information clearly and succinctly, both verbally and in writing and to convey technical concepts to a general audience
During my role with Melrose Automobiles, I have demonstrated my influential communication skills along with the ability to ensure understanding from all parties. Within this role, I communicated on a daily basis with the department managers in relation to their financial position. Most of these department managers were non-accounting people and I ensured I translated any technical accounting terms in ways they could easily understand. For example, when I was explaining the process of depreciation, I needed to clearly explain the process as well as ensure they understood the advantages of depreciation of vehicles.
dditionally, I liaised with the department managers about accrual accounting and why it needs to be meticulously performed, explaining its purpose to account for upcoming payments and accountabilities. Both of these highly technical accounting concepts are hard to understand for those who are not accounting minded. However, I successfully managed to explain the terms without unnecessary technical jargon, as well as gain compliance from the managers by conveying this information.
In my current role, I use my communication skills to manage and supervise the assistant accountant, the accounts payable officer and five other administrative staff. I ensure I talk to staff members in a professional and friendly way and make myself approachable. Furthermore, I endeavour to build rapport with the team, as a whole and with individuals. Recently joining this organisation, I communicate with my team to not only build rapport, but also to engage the team in ensuring productivity increases in processing financial paperwork. I have seen some positive results within a short timeframe with this initiative and believe a large reason for this is that the team feel included and involved in the process improvements they are undertaking. Part of this successful communication is motivating the team to produce quality work and to take pride in its success.
Currently, I see my role as not only ensuring the accounts are accurate and correctly managed, but also to inform others around their responsibilities. In providing direction, I make sure that all in my team understand basic concepts and are committed to adhering to budgets, and equipped with the required information to ensure smooth processes and functions.
Ability to work with others in a small team with the capacity to take personal responsibility for meeting objectives and delivering quality outcomes and responding positively and flexibly to change and uncertainty
During my tenure with Raytheon Australia, I showcased my ability to take initiative and complete tasks autonomously whilst ensuring ethical behaviour and conduct. I was required to adhere to both the Australian Accounting Standards and the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Additionally, I used my skills to facilitate financial analyses, forecasting and budgeting.
Not only did I perform my role with limited supervision, I also managed a team of staff and encouraged them to be autonomous within their roles as well. Part of this role was the facilitation of forecasting for assets and although the team were working on this task, I took overall responsibility for the outcomes and reports. I assisted the team in this task to ensure it was of a high quality and would be delivered on time and took pride in the fact that we were successful in doing so.
Responding positively to a change in staff numbers and allocation, during my role at the Housing Industry Association (HIA), I planned an initiative to automate the month-end preparations and monthly reconciliation process. Through the execution of this automated approach, the processing time was significantly reduced, as well as resulting in the accuracy of the reconciliation process being enhanced considerably, ensuring we could deliver quality outcomes with less staff.
Working within the private sector means adapting to changes in financial and taxation legislation and guidelines with little or no support from elsewhere. It is often the company’s responsibility to ensure they understand changes in legislation and how it affects their company. This responsibility then falls to staff like myself to adapt to changes and market forces accordingly. As with my role at the HIA, this often leads to a change in company structure and uncertainty around job security. I have been in this situation more than once during my career and each time have responded positively for both myself and my staff. This has included the above initiative to automate processes, as well as numerous times where I have trained new staff or existing staff into new roles. By training and mentoring these staff appropriately, I have taken responsibility for meeting my team’s objectives and delivering quality outcomes.
Well-developed analytical and problem solving skills and the ability to explore new ideas demonstrating creative approaches to achieving outcomes
Within both my current and previous role, I have been required to analyse and apply a range of legislative requirements, including legislation around Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) and taxation as well as accounting standards and principles. My current role as finance manager means I am responsible for ensuring accurate and evidence-based decisions and conclusions are made to solve problems and explore new ideas.
During my role as assistant financial controller for Melrose Automobiles, there was a change in legislation around the leasing of vehicles and novated leasing arrangements. This change, relating to FBT requirements meant that a large amount of business people were no longer interested in buying a car, as leasing arrangements were no longer available to them. This had and was going to continue to cause a significant downturn in vehicle sales for the company and new initiatives needed to be implemented as a result. A change in priority was discussed within the company as a result of this significant market trend, and I both analysed and monitored how the change had already, and would affect the organisation going forward. This information then formed the basis for future decisions and strategies to be decided upon in light of the data.
The outcome which we were trying to achieve was to mitigate losses due to the legislation changes and I used my initiative to start exploring new ideas to achieve this outcome. Specifically, I provided an analysis report to the senior management of the company that determined a possible change in a target market group, given the legislative modification and forecasting based on focusing on other areas, including services. The priorities of the organisation altered to a more service-based approach as a direct result of this adjustment, and gave us an alternative focus out of the downturn in sales as well as providing much needed motivation for employees.
Eventually, because of a change of government not long after this change, the legislation reverted back to the previous ruling and subsequently another strategy session was called. This meeting reversed most of the recent decisions, however this made sense given the situation.
Demonstrated knowledge and capacity to apply the APS Values, Code of Conduct, workplace diversity principles and work health and safety within a work and team environment
Having familiarised myself with the APS Values and Code of Conduct, I have found they mirror my own values and professional conduct well. Originating from Malaysia myself, I currently work with a broad diversity of colleagues and customers, with different backgrounds and cultures. This diversity of people is indicative of our society and I welcome it. Within my current role, I have dealings with a broad range of people from Australian to African, Chinese and Indian. I interact well with people, including those from different background, cultures, religions or socio-economic circumstances.
I take pride in my professional approach to my work and my ability to deliver for both internal and external clients through a service mentality and proactive attitude to understand their perspective. Through working and dealing with a diversity of clients and colleagues, I have a commitment to equal employment opportunity in every sense of the phrase. I believe all employees should be treated with respect, no matter their gender, background or culture and would expect to be treated this way myself.
Working with large and a diverse range of organisations, I have both worked with and provided customer service to a broad range of people. I have demonstrated respect for all people, no matter their culture, background, gender or religion and have conducted myself with the highest integrity in line with APS values and Code of Conduct Standards.
Tertiary qualifications in a relevant field and completion of or significant progress towards professional qualifications (CPA or CA) would be highly regarded
As well as my current progression in my CPA studies, I also hold the following qualifications:
- Bachelor of Commerce (Major in Accounting), University of Canberra, 2006
- Diploma in Commerce (Major in Accounting), University of Canberra College, 2005
- Diploma in Business Study (Major in Accounting), Institute of Perkim Goon, 2003
