Financial Management Group
Stein Helgeby
Deputy Secretary
The Financial Management Group develops and advises on the budgetary and financial framework applicable to public sector agencies, on governance, and accounting policy issues, on the Government’s investment funds (Future Fund and the Nation-building Funds), and on superannuation arrangements for members of Parliament and Commonwealth employees. The Group is also responsible for developing and maintaining the Australian Government's procurement policy framework, including the initiation and management of a range of whole-of-government contracts, and for providing advice on and coordination of government information and advertising campaigns. Additionally the Group consolidates Budget updates, contributes to the preparation of the Budget statements and prepares the Commonwealth's monthly and annual consolidated financial statements.
The Group also has an important role in coordinating public financial management support to a number of countries in the region, and in providing training to Finance staff and other public sector agencies in Australia.
Deputy Secretary: Stein Helgeby
Phone: (02) 6215 2668
Financial Framework Division
First Assistant Secretary: Lembit Suur
Phone: (02) 6215 3244
The Financial Framework Division (FFD) provides policy development and advice. FFD is responsible for the development of policy and delivery of guidance, training and information on the Commonwealth's financial framework, including the grants policy framework. This framework is the foundation upon which the Commonwealth's financial system is built and encompasses budgeting policies as well as the financial governance arrangements for Commonwealth agencies.
Financial Framework Policy Branch
Assistant Secretary: Kerry Markoulli
Phone: (02) 6215 3538
The Branch maintains and improves the Commonwealth's financial framework by:
- developing policy in this area
- promoting the Australian Government's financial framework policies
through the development and implementation of overarching guidance - maintaining the Finance Minister's delegations to Commonwealth Chief Executives
- providing timely and robust advice to agencies
- delivery of Financial Management and Budget training in Finance
- managing the partnership arrangement with the six external providers of Budget and Financial Essentials training across the APS
Legislative Review Branch
Assistant Secretary: Marc Mowbray-d'Arbela
Phone: (02) 6215 3657
The Branch reviews and improves the Commonwealth financial framework and Commonwealth electoral legislation by:
- developing policy on these areas and guidance on the financial
framework - preparing legislative amendments where necessary
Asia-Pacific Partnership Branch
Assistant Secretary: Thea Daniel
Phone: (02) 6215 2548
Asia-Pacific Partnership Branch coordinates the Department’s contribution to the government’s economic and fiscal stabilisation initiatives in the Pacific.
Finance officers are deployed to work with the governments in:
- Papua New Guinea, in the Departments of Finance and Treasury, under the Strongim Gavman Program (formerly the Enhanced Cooperation Program)
- the Solomon Islands, in the Department of Finance and Treasury, under the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI)
- Indonesia, in the Ministry of Finance, under the Government Partnership Fund (GPF) of the Australia-Indonesia Partnership for Reconstruction and Development
Budget Framework Branch
Assistant Secretary: Gareth Hall
Phone: (02) 6215 3705
The Branch provides advice on the refinement and simplification of financial management policies and practices. Its responsibilities include:
- developing and progressively implementing proposals to enhance transparency and simplify aspects of the financial framework
- guidance and advice on Portfolio Budget Statements, outcomes, programmes, performance measurement, evaluation and related reporting arrangements
Commonwealth Financial Accountability Review (CFAR)
Assistant Secretary: George Sotiropoulos
Phone: (02) 6215 3815
The Branch has responsibility for collaboratively developing and implementing a contemporary financial framework that defines and enables high quality resource management for the Australian Government.
Financial Reporting and Cash Management Division
First Assistant Secretary: Tim Youngberry
Phone: (02) 6215 2660
The Financial Reporting and Cash Management Division (FRACM) consolidates all updates of the Budget, provides budget financial data published by the Government (e.g. MYEFO and Final Budget Outcome), and prepares and publishes the Commonwealth's monthly and annual consolidated financial statements. It undertakes this role consistent with relevant external reporting standards. In addition, the Division develops accounting policy to support the Commonwealth’s budgeting and reporting framework. FRACM also prepares all appropriation bills, administers the cash drawdown of those appropriations and administers the movement of all cash payments and receipts through the Official Public Account.
Accounting Policy Branch
Assistant Secretary: Peter Gibson
Phone: (02) 6215 3551
The Branch:
- issues and updates the Finance Minister's Orders (Financial Statements)
- resolves accounting and reporting framework issues
- pursues GFS/GAAP harmonisation
- facilitates the implementation of Australian Equivalent Financial Reporting Standards
Cash Management Branch
Assistant Secretary: Lisa La Rance
Phone: (02) 6215 2126
The Branch:
- administers the appropriation framework and related system
- administers the Official Public Account
- monitors/reports on daily underlying cash movements
Financial Reporting Branch
Assistant Secretary: Mathew Fox
Phone: (02) 6215 3271
The Branch:
- Produces annual Consolidated Financial Statements and monthly financial statements.
- Prepares financial tables for all estimates updates and budget publications (Budget, Mid-Year Fiscal and Economic Outlook, Final Budget Outcome and Pre-Election Economic and Fiscal Outlook).
- Provides advice and analysis on Budget-related accounting, classification and reporting issues, including Specific Purpose Payments.
- Monitors and quality assures the preparation of estimates and actuals (with Budget Group).
- Supports the Government’s agreement with the Independents through the development of a spatial accounting model for use across Government.
CBMS Redevelopment Branch
Assistant Secretary: John Trabinger
Phone: (02) 6215 2836
Assistant Secretary: Chris Markovitch
Phone: (02) 6215 2502
The Government announced in the 2010-11 Budget that it will comprehensively redevelop the Central Budget Management System (CBMS). The CBMS is the core whole-of-government ICT system underpinning the budget and financial management of the Australian Government.
The CBMS Redevelopment Project can be contacted via email on: CBMSRedvelopmentSecretariat@finance.gov.au
Procurement Division
First Assistant Secretary: John Grant
Phone: (02) 6215 2855
The Procurement Division is responsible for:
- Developing and maintaining the Australian Government's procurement policy framework. The procurement policy framework establishes the principles for the Australian Government's acquisition of property and services.
- Providing advice and guidance on Australian Government procurement matters.
- Implementing the Government co-ordinated non-ICT procurement contracting initiative.
- Managing whole-of-government procurement information and AusTender, the Australian Government’s electronic tender system.
- Managing whole-of-government motor vehicle fleet and advertising contracts.
- Maintaining the Australian Government Recruitment Advertising Guidelines.
- Co-ordinating whole-of-government communication and advertising matters.
Procurement Policy Branch
Assistant Secretary: Andrew Stephen (A/g)
Phone: (02) 6215 2554
Procurement Policy Branch is responsible for procurement policy development, providing advice to the Government on the procurement policy framework and developing supporting guidance for agencies. The Branch also co-ordinates regular Australian Government Forums to build expertise, promote the understanding of procurement policy and to facilitate networking. The Forums are supported by a monthly Procurement Bulletin.
Procurement Implementation Branch
Assistant Secretary: Simone Pensko
Phone: (02) 6215 3688
Procurement Implementation Branch is responsible for managing AusTender, the Australian Government's procurement information system. The Branch also manages a range of whole-of-government contracts including the motor vehicle fleet management, air travel, travel management and advertising contracts. It also administers the recruitment policy guidelines.
Coordinated Arrangements Management Branch
Assistant Secretary: Lorraine Watt
Phone: (02) 6215 1952
Coordinated Arrangements Management Branch is responsible for establishing whole of government arrangements and their ongoing management and coordination. The Branch has responsibility for Major Office Machines and Stationery and Office Supplies and provides advice on the operation of these arrangements, monitors performance and reports on progress.
Communications Advice Branch
Assistant Secretary: Laurie Van Veen
Phone (02) 6215 3178
The Communications Advice Branch is responsible for providing policy, advice and co-ordination of whole-of-government communication and advertising matters. The Branch is responsible for providing advice on communications good practice, strategies and research, and assisting with the procurement of communications consultants. The Branch also provides a secretariat function associated with the Interdepartmental Committee on Communications.
Travel Arrangements Taskforce
Assistant Secretary: Andrew Staines
Phone: (02) 6215 2124
The Travel Arrangements Taskforce is responsible for the procurements associated with three travel tenders – one each for travel management services, domestic and international air travel – and establishing contracting arrangements that will deliver better pricing arrangements and value for money outcomes for government.
Funds and Superannuation Division
First Assistant Secretary: Alan Greenslade
Phone: (02) 6215 2006
Funds and Superannuation Division is a policy development and implementation Division. The Division provides policy advice to the Government on its Investment Funds:
- Future Fund
- Building Australia Fund
- Education Investment Fund
- Health and Hospitals Fund
The Funds and Superannuation Division also provides policy advice on the Commonwealth civilian and parliamentary superannuation arrangements and manages the financial aspects of those superannuation arrangements. Superannuation arrangements are a significant aspect of Commonwealth administration covering over 160,000 contributing Commonwealth members and encompassing the management of significant financial flows and liabilities.
Superannuation Branch
Assistant Secretary: Sharon Ong
Phone: (02) 6215 2485
The Branch:
- monitors employer superannuation contributions and unfunded liabilities
- manages contracts for actuarial services
- manages relevant governance issues for the Australian Government's civilian superannuation schemes
- administers the Parliamentary Contributory Superannuation Scheme
- advises on superannuation policy issues, particularly in relation to matters affecting Commonwealth civilian superannuation
- prepares legislative amendments, as required
- communicates with agencies (as employers)
Funds Branch
Assistant Secretary: Greg Feeney
Phone: (02) 6215 3422
The Funds Branch advises the Minister for Finance and Deregulation on aspects of the Future Fund and the Future Fund Management Agency, including investment performance, board appointments, and transfers to the Fund, target asset levels and debits from the fund.
Superannuation Administration Reform Project (SARP)
Assistant Secretary: Peter Manwaring (A/g)
Phone: (02) 6215 1448
SARP is managing the outcome of the review of ComSuper. This includes projects to improve member superannuation data, IT infrastructure, and superannuation scheme administration systems within ComSuper. Additionally SARP will conduct the tendering process for outsourcing the administration of the Public Sector Superannuation accumulation plan (PSSap).
Email: SARP@finance.gov.au
Implementation and Performance Improvement Division
First Assistant Secretary: Rosemary Deininger
Phone: 6215 3005
The Implementation and Performance Improvement Division (IPID) focuses on the operational and policy aspects of the Government’s assurance framework and strategies to promote whole-of-government efficiency improvement. This includes responsibility for project delivery assurance reviews (including Gateway Reviews and Implementation Readiness Assessments) and the development of the efficiency improvement initiatives of the March 2011 Review of the Measures of Agency Efficiency.
Assurance Reviews Branch
Assistant Secretary: Joe Raiti (A/g)
Phone: (02) 6215 2067
The Branch has responsibility for applying a centrally-administered assurance review framework to higher-risk government activities, involving:
- Implementation Readiness Assessments, which provide assurance on the implementation readiness of a proposal
- The Gateway Review Process, which examines major projects at critical stages to provide assurance about a project's progress.
It does this by:
- developing policy and guidance
- facilitating reviews and reviewer training
- disseminating lessons learned on project management to assist agencies improve their on-time, on-budget delivery of major projects against their specified outcomes
The Branch also has responsibility for developing a framework for intensive reviews into agencies’ delivery capability.
Efficiency Improvement Branch
Assistant Secretary: Brad Cook
Phone: (02) 6215 2559
The Branch has responsibility for:
- Developing strategies to manage costs across the government, including through the initiatives outlined in the March 2011 Review of the Measures of Agency Efficiency.
- Co-ordinating the Better Government reform agenda.
Contact for information on this page: Finance Web Manager at: feedback@finance.gov.au