Army
Full Time

Finance Officer

Full Time
In-service title: Finance Officer or Financial Advisor

As an Army Finance Officer, you’ll play a pivotal role in providing financial and technical advice to the Army. You’ll ensure compliance to financial policy and supervise the collection of resource and financial management information for further analysis and reporting.

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An Army Accountant is working at her desk.

What you'll do

You’ll work in a unique environment within a fast-paced team responsible for managing the Army’s complex financial affairs. You could perform a range of functions from providing advice to commanders on the governance of financial transactions, preparing budgets, contract management and managing audits in a unit, Brigade Headquarters or senior headquarters.

Your duties may include:

  • providing advice to commanders on the financial management of Public Moneys
  • preparing budgets, financial statements, cash flow analysis, accrual accounting, costings and financial analysis
  • managing the development, training and implementation of financial management systems
  • deploying as a Financial Adviser on exercises and potentially to the United Nations and other overseas military operations
  • coordinating training and development of personnel for employment in Field Cash Offices
  • providing advice and assistance to units in Non-Public Moneys accounting
  • managing audit of Non-Public Moneys Accounts and conducting fraud investigations.

Opportunities for progression and upskilling continue throughout your career as an officer. As you progress, the Army will provide you with leadership, management, and specialist skills training to develop your ability to effectively manage your teams. You’ll also be provided with training opportunities to further develop your role-related expertise. This world-class training will strengthen your skillset and enable you to become an influential leader in the Army.

As an officer in the Army, you may also undertake a posting to an Any Officer role during your career, such as instructor/training roles and staff officer roles. This experience helps you broaden your skill set and prepare for more senior roles.

Following training, you could be posted to one of the many Army bases across Australia.

Discover where the Army operates across Australia on our base locations map. 

Requirements and training

About entry methods
Use your degree
Officer Entry: Graduate
Requirements
Citizenship

You must be an Australian citizen to serve in the ADF. However, Australian permanent residents may be eligible. For more details, visit the "Citizenship" tab on the Eligibility Requirements page.

Age

You can apply for a role in the ADF from 16.5 years of age and must be at least 17 to join. The maximum age to join is 57 years.

Licences

You don’t need a driver’s licence for this role but if you have one, it can’t be suspended or cancelled.

Security requirements

All ADF members require a security clearance. As an ADF member, you’ll need to obtain the appropriate level of security clearance for your role. You’ll need a collection of relevant information including background checks and/or interviews so the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) can make an informed assessment to ensure the protection of Government resources and information. Your Careers Coach will explain what level of clearance is required for the career you are considering.

For more information or to learn about how security clearance will apply to you, view the eligibility requirements page.

Education and experience

The minimum requirement for entry into this role is a bachelor-level degree in accounting, economics, commerce or business/business management.

It is desirable to have studied human resource management, strategic management, corporate governance and operational business development and planning within your degree.

Health and fitness

To join the ADF, you must be healthy and physically fit. This is partially assessed from the completion of an extensive questionnaire covering your medical history, followed by a physical examination.

You’ll also be required to successfully pass a physical fitness assessment.

Male

  • Push-ups: 8
  • Sit-ups: 20
  • Beep Test: 6.1.

Female

  • Push-ups: 4
  • Sit-ups: 20
  • Beep Test: 6.1.

For further details on medical and physical fitness standards, refer to physical fitness standards for entry into the ADF and medical process for entry into the ADF.

Period of service

You’ll be appointed for an Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS) of 4 years. Subsequent periods of service may be offered subject to the requirements of the ADF and your suitability for further service. You’ll have a Careers Coach who can advise on how IMPS will relate to your chosen occupation and personal situation.

You may request discharge at any time provided you do not have an outstanding IMPS obligation and provide a minimum of 3 months' notice.

Training
Military training

Course: Specialist Service Officer First Appointment Course (SSO FAC)
Duration: 25 days
Location: Royal Military College – Duntroon, Canberra, ACT

You’ll learn fundamental knowledge of:

  • leadership and military justice
  • weapons handling
  • command and control
  • unit and personnel administration
  • basic military skills
  • the ideals of officer behaviour
  • attitudes necessary for future employment.

This course is delivered in 2 parts for both full-time and part-time (Reserve) Officers.

  • Part 1 – 10 days
  • Part 2 – 15 days.
Employment training

Course: Finance Officer Basic Course (FOBC)
Duration: 16 days
Location: RAAF School of Administration and Logistics Training, RAAF Base Wagga, NSW

This course will give you the knowledge required as a member of the Royal Australian Army Pay Corps. Topics include:

  • resource management advice
  • understanding the Army Financial System in a changing environment
  • conduct of an Army Based Management interview
  • liaison operations.