Assistant Director Principal Technical Advisor

The Australian Financial Security Authority (AFSA) is responsible for managing the application of bankruptcy and personal property securities laws through the delivery of high quality personal insolvency and trustee, regulation and enforcement, and personal property securities services. 

Estate Administration is responsible for the management and administration of bankrupt estates through the Official Trustee (OT) function. Primarily focused on estates with a public interest element (e.g., vulnerability or misuse).

Purpose of the position 

The Role

Working under the guidance of the Director Estate Administration, the Principal Technical Advisor will work closely with the team’s Assistant Directors to help oversee and guide daily operations. You will be responsible for ensuring consistent and defendable decision-making practices that align with AFSA’s regulatory posture and support vulnerable people in the personal insolvency system.

Armed with extensive technical knowledge, and a good understanding of the legal and financial frameworks that support this work, the Principal Technical Advisor will support Case Managers from across the team to navigate the complexity of estate administration. This will include ensuring the ongoing and consistent implementation of best practice administration of the personal insolvency system. 

As an EL1 Technical Advisoryou will work under the supervision of the Director, Estate Administration. While the position enjoys a considerable level of independence and is entrusted with the authority to exercise delegations on behalf of the Director, any complex case determinations will be escalated to the Director for review and final decision-making. 

The Person 

Principal Technical Advisors should have a keen eye for detail to safeguard against potential errors or oversights. To be successful in this role, you should work with integrity, be comfortable navigating complex scenarios with confidence while demonstrating a deep sense of care for vulnerable individuals within the system. Operating with the highest standards of professionalism, Principal Technical Advisors are tasked with the efficient management of estates to ensure precision and efficacy in their actions.  

Key accountabilities 

• Effectively lead and manage the workload to enable high performance and service delivery excellence in accordance with corporate governance, legislative requirements, industry standards and policies. 
• Identify and contribute to the development and implementation of best practices, process improvement and change agendas aligned to broader government and organisational goals. 
• Apply sound judgement and make evidence-based decisions supported by organisational operating environment and legislative and regulatory frameworks. 
• Build and maintain productive relationships with client and stakeholder groups. 
• Engage with operational and strategic projects, both as a subject matter expert and, where required, as a project board member. 
• Lead, guide, and support workers to understand and adhere to all WHS obligations and take responsibility for own health and safety and that of others. 

 All duties will be performed in accordance with: 

• the APS Values, Code of Conduct and Employment Principles 
• WHS obligations, taking responsibility for own health and safety and that of others 
• AFSA’s risk management framework and relevant legislation, including guiding others to identify and  mitigate foreseeable risks. 

Skills and capabilities 

Shapes strategic direction 

• Has a macro view and looks beyond the boundaries or own responsibilities to the team, AFSA, the APS and industry and the broader community.  
• Understands environmental trends and integrates knowledge into business strategies focused on service, value, quality, people, and efficiency.  

Promotes performance excellence 

• Holds self and others responsible for achieving results and agreed outcomes. 
• Positively contributes to a culture of high performance, through effective performance management practices. 
• Is open, persistent and has a genuine debate around critical issues. 

Uses information to make evidence-based decisions 

• Researches, identifies, and integrates relevant evidence towards finding solutions to the problem. 
• Provides unbiased, comprehensive, and accurate advice to others. 
• Uses experience and organisational/environmental awareness to analyse what information is important and how it should be used in the decision-making process. 

Engages people to build productive relationships 

• Acts with honesty, integrity, and respect in dealings with others. 
• Is willing and able to understand others’ perspectives. 
• Sets and manages expectations to achieve positive outcomes. 

Drives innovation and continuous improvement  

• Constructively challenges and questions status quo with a view to continually improving the way we work.  
• Explores and works with new ideas that will benefit our stakeholders.  

Qualifications, accreditations, and experience 

• Tertiary qualifications in Law, Accounting, or relevant discipline from an Australian tertiary institution (or comparable overseas institution) is highly desirable. 

Why AFSA? 

You will enjoy excellent conditions including:

generous superannuation (15.4%).

hybrid working environment. 

a modern work environment.

We are a workplace committed to providing an environment that values diversity and supports staff to reach their full potential. 

We encourage applications from Indigenous Australians, people from culturally diverse backgrounds and people with disabilities. 

At AFSA we encourage every employee to balance their family commitments and personal interests with flexible working options.

Eligibility:

Please note that this opportunity is open only to Australian Citizens.

The successful applicant must have or be willing to undergo and maintain a security clearance to the level of Baseline Vetting as a condition of employment.

To satisfy character requirements all AFSA employees must undergo a police records check.

Where a person has received a redundancy benefit from APS agency employment and their corresponding redundancy benefit period has not expired, they may be ineligible for employment.

How to apply? 

The closing date for this position is 11:59PM AEST, Tuesday 23 April 2024.

Applications for this vacancy are submitted online through the AFSA careers portal.

If accessing the AFSA careers portal for the first time you will need to register. You will receive a confirmation email with a link to confirm your registration. Make sure to check your Junk folder if you don't see this email in your Inbox. Please note that the registration process only needs to be completed one.

Once you have confirmed your registration, to complete your application, you need to:

• Click the 'Apply' button below which will open the AFSA careers portal.
• Provide evidence in the education/qualifications section of your application, if applicable  
• Complete a short questionnaire (mandatory).
• Attach your resume and statement of claims (cover letter 1-pages) addressing the skills and capabilities and required qualifications, accreditations, and experience outlined in the position description (mandatory)
• Provide the full name, employer, and contact details of at least two referees, one of which must be your current or most recent manager.
• Ensure that all mandatory fields (marked with a red banner) are completed.

Applicants who fail to provide the above requested information, will not be assessed by the selection panel