Budget Analyst, Expenditure Trends Team

ABOUT THE DIVISION 

Budget Policy and Data Division provides advice on whole-of-government budget trends and policy issues, budget processes, and methodologies for compiling budget estimates. Working closely with other central agencies, the Division coordinates the annual Budget process, including bringing together information from Finance Agency Advice Units and other central agencies to provide advice to Government.
The Division produces the Budget Process Operational Rules, provides guidance to portfolio agencies on their input into budgetary processes, and undertakes analysis and management of budget estimates in the Central Budget Management System. The Division is also responsible for Finance’s data governance and maintains a centre of expertise in data analytics to support the department.

ABOUT THE BRANCH 

Data Governance and Analytics Branch manages a range of whole-of-government expenditure policy and frameworks, provides analysis and advice on program estimates and other Expenditure Trends, and coordinates and contributes to a range of key Budget products. The Branch is also responsible for enterprise data governance for Finance, as well as requests for Finance’s data under the Data Availability and Transparency Act 2022.

The key duties of the position include:

THE OPPORTUNITY 

The Expenditure Trends Team is a diverse and vibrant team responsible for shaping whole-of-government expenditure policies and costing framework, developing budget publications on Government on functional expenses and non-taxation receipts, and supporting Finance senior executives’ engagements with esteemed bodies like the OECD Committee of Senior Budget Officials and visiting foreign delegations. 

Working alongside the team, you will have exciting opportunities to undertake in-depth analysis and provide strategic advice on Commonwealth expenditure, including strategic/historic approaches to budget management and the Government efficiency dividend framework. You will play a vital role in engaging closely with stakeholders across Finance and Central Agencies on key budget matters. You will be involved in undertaking costings for complex whole-of-government policy proposals and developing whole-of-government expenditure and costing frameworks. 

Successful candidates will obtain: 

• Central Agency experience, including building your understanding of how the Government’s strategic policy priorities are developed and implemented across the Commonwealth.
• A sophisticated understanding of the Machinery of Government, the Federal Budget and Cabinet processes and best practice in influencing Government decision-making and approach to policy implementation.  
• Practical experience and technical expertise in: 
  • Analysing and assessing government expenses, including an understanding of how economic parameters influence government expenditure, and processes for modelling expense programs. 
  • Whole-of-government policy costings and modelling. 
  • Using programs and platforms such as the Central Budget Management System (CBMS). 
  • Developing complex briefing material for the Executive.
• Effective project management, stakeholder management and negotiation skills. 
• Access to diverse career advancement pathways.

The analytical skills and financial management capabilities you will develop and practice in Finance are highly valued and readily transferrable to a range of future career opportunities across the public and private sectors. 

DETAILED VACANCY INFORMATION

For detailed information about this role, including the job specific capabilities, please refer to the downloadable vacancy pack, which can be accessed by clicking the hyperlink at the bottom of this page.

Eligibility

• Under section 22(8) of the Public Service Act 1999, employees must be Australian citizens to be employed in the Australian Public Service (APS) unless the Agency Head has agreed otherwise, in writing.
• Successful applicants will be required to undergo the process to obtain and maintain, or continue to hold the required security clearance level for the role as indicated in the downloadable job pack. All Finance staff are required to have a minimum baseline security clearance prior to commencement.

Notes

This recruitment process is being used to fill current and future vacancies. A merit pool of suitable applicants may be created which may be used to fill future vacancies should they become available over the next 18 months.

A position may be offered as ongoing or non-ongoing subject to operational requirements. Where a non-ongoing position is offered, the role will be filled for a specified term of up to 12 months. A specified term may be extended up to a maximum period of 18 months.

Getting to know the Department of Finance

As a central agency of the Australian Government, the Department of Finance (Finance) plays an important role in assisting government across a wide range of policy areas to ensure its outcomes are met. Finance supports the government's ongoing priorities through the Budget process and fosters leading practice through the public sector resource management, governance and accountability frameworks. Finance plays a leading role in advising the government on many of its strategic priorities. We do this through our professional and considered approach to providing advice, developing policy, delivering services and engaging with our clients and stakeholders. Finance's key areas of focus are: - Budget - Business Enabling Services - Commercial - Governance and Resource Management