The Department of Finance (Finance) plays a key stewardship role in facilitating ongoing collaboration, support and development of accounting and finance professionals within the Australian Public Service (APS), and to grow the capability and capacity of the profession, consistent with the APS Workforce Strategy 2025 issued by the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC).
As a member of the APS and an accounting and finance profession, trying to keep up to date with all the Government rules, available resources, and support networks is a never ending task.
With the support of portfolio departments and the APSC, Finance have developed and compiled some key resources and useful networks for you. Take some time to familiarise yourself with key resources and join the networks to stay connected with your peers.
Join the APS Accounting and Finance Professional Network
Join the APS Accounting and Finance Professional Network
The Community is open to APS staff and staff of Commonwealth entities and Commonwealth companies.
Resources
Career Planning
- Graduate to EL2 Capability Framework – this will assist you in identifying your skill and knowledge gaps in your current or future roles, and working with your manager to gain that knowledge and experience
- CFO Career Pathways – a roadmap to show you how different experiences, skills and opportunities can lead you to a future career as a Chief Finance Officer (CFO)
- CFO Capability Framework – capability expectations for Chief Finance Officers.
Recruitment and retention resources for managers
- Principles for recruitment, mentoring and coaching, and secondments – suggested principles for the development of APS accounting and finance professional staff
- APS Accounting and Finance Profession Workforce Strategy (document available on request) – suggested actions for CFOs and accountable authorities in attracting, developing and retaining accounting and finance professionals
- APSC Graduate Portal – information on graduate recruitment in the APS, including the Accounting and Financial Management Stream
- Specialist panellist for Accounting and Finance SES vacancies – information on selection panel requirements for Accounting and Finance Senior Executive Service (SES) positions.
Technical Training and Resources
Previous technical training and information sessions run by Finance are available in the APS Accounting and Finance Professional Network GovTEAMS Community (see below for how to join). These include:
- Appropriations Reporting in Financial Statements
- Financial Reporting Framework
- An introduction to Appropriations - Appropriations Masterclass
- Portfolio Budget Statements Tips and Tricks
- Financial Stewardship Forum presentation slides.
Networks
APS Accounting and Finance Professional Network GovTEAMS Community
This community is a one-stop-shop, where you can access resources and connect with accounting and finance colleagues across the APS. We have created channels for you to share knowledge, mobility and learning and development opportunities, communities of practice, and related information.
The Community is open to APS staff and staff of Commonwealth entities and Commonwealth companies.
Join the APS Accounting and Finance Professional Network
Financial Stewardship Forum
The Financial Stewardship Forum is a regular meeting of Chief Financial Officers and other key finance officers of Commonwealth entities. The Forum provides information on current accounting and financial reporting issues, presented by Finance.
For more information, see the Financial Stewardship Forum page.
Communities of Practice
Communities of practice are groups of people working in the same field, who come together to share ideas, exhibit their work, solve problems and explore best practice.
Accounting and Finance CoPs allow practitioners from across the APS to collaborate and share challenges, issues and ideas for best practice in specific technical areas, draw on the knowledge and expertise of Finance, the professional bodies and other entities.
There are a number of Communities of Practice that have been established across the APS:
- Cash Management
- Financial statements (Coming soon)
- Management accounting/internal budgeting (Coming soon)
- Performance management
- Evaluation
- GovERP.
- Government Tax Managers Network - for non-corporate Commonwealth entities only
- GBE Forum
- Annual Reports