Governance & Resource Management

Accounting and Frameworks

Assistant Secretary: Lasantha Samaranayake
Phone: 02 6215 2629

• Determines the financial statement reporting requirements for Australian Government entities.
• Provides advice on technical accounting and financial reporting issues, and related financial framework matters including Portfolio Budget Statements, capital budgeting and financial sustainability.
• Contributes to the development of accounting standards for the public sector.
• Facilitates ongoing collaboration and consistency between Australian Government Chief Finance Officers
• Manages financial arrangements for Commonwealth superannuation schemes and the investment/asset funds.

Estimates and Reporting

Assistant Secretary: Angela Baum
Phone: 02 6215 3936

• Produces the financial statements and tables for all estimates updates and budget publications (Budget, Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook and Final Budget Outcome).
• Produces the annual Consolidated Financial Statements.
• Produces the Australian Government’s General Government Sector Monthly Financial Statements.
• Contributes to the development of statistical standards for the public sector.

Financial Management

Assistant Secretary : Chi Tran
Phone: 02 6215 1888

• Manages daily cash drawdowns and maintains central records of appropriations.
• Provides advice and oversight on cash and banking policies.
• Arranges for annual appropriations from Parliament.
• Provides advice on special accounts, and annual and special appropriation arrangements.
• Manages Schedule 1AB amendments of the Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Regulations 1997.

Data and Assurance

Assistant Secretary: Andrew Lalor
Phone: 02 6215 2081

Data and Assurance Branch focuses on providing advice to Government on the design and implementation of key whole-of-government initiatives. The Branch hosts the Government Business Analytical Unit that aims to improve the capacity for government data to be used to inform decision-making on and management of public sector resources. The Branches roles and responsibilities include leading whole-of-government data policy in the Commonwealth, providing policy advice to the Minister responsible for public data and supporting data governance mechanisms.

Grants Policy

Assistant Secretary: Lasantha Samaranayake
Phone: 02 6215 2629

Grants Policy leads development and implementation of whole-of-government policy initiatives to achieve greater public sector productivity and more efficient use of public resources. Current initiatives include the Public Sector Modernisation Fund and departmental investment. The Branch provides stewardship of the Commonwealth Grant Policy Framework and grants administration.

Communications Advice

Assistant Secretary: Sally Harris
Phone: 02 6215 2503

Communications Advice Branch manages the Government’s information and advertising framework and assists with the coordination of whole of government advertising campaigns. It provides advice to departments and entities on communications good practice, strategies and research, and assists with the procurement of communications consultants, through a multi-use list. It also supports the work of relevant cabinet and other advisory committees. Within Finance, it works with the Procurement Management Branch, to manage the Commonwealth’s master media agency contract.

Funds and Superannuation

Assistant Secretary: Neil Robertson
Phone: 02 6215 2110

Funds and Superannuation Branch provides policy and advice including on governance frameworks for the government’s investment funds, and superannuation arrangements for Commonwealth employees, members of parliament, federal judges and Governors-General. The Branch also administers the pension schemes for former parliamentarians, judges and governors-general.

Superannuation arrangements are a significant aspect of Commonwealth administration covering approximately 175,000 contributing Commonwealth members.

Funds and Superannuation provides policy advice to the government on its Investment Funds:

• Future Fund
• Medical Research Future Fund
• DisabilityCare Australia Fund
• Future Drought Fund
• Emergency Response Fund
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land and Sea Future Fund.

PGPA and Digital Reporting

Assistant Secretary: Kim Baker
Phone: 02 6215 1372

The PGPA and Digital  Reporting Branch provides guidance and advice to Commonwealth entities on their accountability and reporting obligations under the PGPA Act and government policy framework. It maintains the Commonwealth’s performance reporting and annual reporting frameworks and supports the development of better practice for each of these. Major projects include the introduction of the digital annual reports and an initiative to improve digital records management by Commonwealth Government bodies.

The Branch also gives practical guidance and advice to Commonwealth entities on governance and accountability issues. It is responsible for the Governance Structures Policy. The Branch provides expert advice to all Commonwealth entities on the PGPA Act and obligations under the PGPA framework. It issues guidance and is building a significant web presence to provide targeted technical information to support those working in and with government bodies.

Resource Management

Assistant Secretary: Sebastian Powney
Phone: 02 6215 1603

Resource Management promotes good governance public resource management, both in Australia and internationally. We develop and implement policy and legislation in relation to electoral processes and democratic institutions reform. We work with stakeholders to improve the Australian Government charging framework through the development of policy, guidance, and tools. We also provide technical assistance and support the development of capacity across the Indo-Pacific region, through deployments and projects, and facilitate and support Finance’s international engagement activities. We also provide governance oversight of two portfolio entities, the Australian Electoral Commission and the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority. 

Client, Strategy and Enablement

Assistant Secretary: Michelle Black
Phone: 02 6215 3437

The Client, Strategy and Enablement Branch in the SDO is made up of four sections: Client Strategy and Governance, ERP Services, Environment Management and Performance Assurance and Enablement. These areas engage with a wide range of stakeholders to provide effective planning, decision making, risk management and service improvement to enable client agencies to focus on their core business and better meet community needs.

Operations and Service Management

Assistant Secretary: Helen Martin
Phone: 02 6215 3508

The Operations and Service Management Branch in the SDO, provides a range of corporate transactional services to Australian Government agencies in areas of human resources, financial operations, travel and expense management, process automation and customer service management solutions. They collaborate with agencies to deliver services more efficiently, through streamlining processes and systems, and adopting automations to allow staff to focus on high-value, customer service-based activities.