North Sydney Council administers the North Sydney local government area on Sydney’s picturesque lower North Shore. Our 400 employees look after 77,000 residents spread across 10 square kilometres of land on the foreshores of Sydney Harbour providing spectacular harbour views, beautiful parklands and a bustling CBD.

Are you a strategic financial leader ready to make a meaningful impact? We’re looking for a Senior Management Accountant to lead and oversee all aspects of our budgeting and financial planning  with precision, integrity, and vision at North Sydney Council. 

The role 

As our Senior Management Accountant, you will lead Council’s budgeting, financial planning, and statutory reporting functions to ensure full compliance. You will drive the development of Council’s annual budget, Long-Term Financial Plan, and Quarterly Budget Review Statements (QBRS), working closely with service units to ensure accuracy, consistency, and alignment with organisational strategy. Your expertise will underpin the integrity of Council’s financial frameworks through robust analysis, realistic forecasting, and transparent reporting.

A key part of this role will include overseeing variance analysis, maintaining budgeting systems, and ensuring quality financial advice is delivered to senior executives and elected officials. You will also manage the overhead allocation model and provide leadership to the Financial Planning & Reporting Accountant, fostering high performance and professional growth.

You will play an essential role in internal and external audit processes—preparing statutory financial returns, reconciling financial data, ensuring compliance across all disclosures, and supporting the Financial Controller with annual financial statements and the alignment of budget data to audited outcomes.

The person 

You are a highly skilled and forward-thinking accounting professional with a strong understanding of local government financial frameworks. You combine technical accounting expertise with strategic insight, ensuring financial information is both accurate and meaningful for decision-makers.

You excel in managing complex budgeting and forecasting processes, with the ability to interpret financial data, challenge assumptions, and provide clear, concise analysis to senior leadership. Your attention to detail is matched by your commitment to transparency and continuous improvement.

You bring proven experience in statutory reporting, audit preparation, and maintaining financial systems with a high level of data integrity. Your leadership style is collaborative and supportive, enabling you to guide and develop team members while maintaining high standards across financial planning and reporting outputs.

Why work at NSC? 

We're committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and positive workplace. Our teams are reflective of the communities in which we operate, and we value the unique contribution each member makes to the North Sydney Council. The work we do makes a real difference to the lives of our residents and contributes to their economic and social wellbeing.

North Sydney Council as an employer offers excellent employee benefits such as:

• Easy accessibility to work with spectacular harbour view work locations
• Access to Fitness Passport 
• Excellent work-life balance with a 35-hour working week for indoor employees or fortnightly RDO’s for outdoor employees
• Flexible working hours with access to flexi-time for indoor employees
• Freedom to direct contributions to any compliant superannuation fund
• A holistic health and well-being program offering exercise classes, flu vaccinations, skin checks
• Access to employee recognition and reward program
• Weekly fruit baskets
• Free access to counselling sessions through our Employee Assistance Program
• Free financial advice by a certified Financial Planner
• Monetary transport allowance
• Invitations to local government events, training and planning sessions
• Access to corporate social events at picturesque harbour locations
• Close locale to transport options including train, bus, metro and bike ways 

How to apply

If you are motivated by meaningful work, enjoy influencing strategic outcomes, and thrive in a dynamic environment, this is the opportunity to make a significant impact across our Council. 

Applicants are required to submit a resume and provide a brief summary of how your skills and experience meet the key requirements of the role. 

This position requires a Police Clearance and is a requirement of the recruitment process. 

Salary range from: $110,556 to $132,014 per annum + 12% superannuation + $1,000 pa Transport allowance 

35 hours per week with access to Flex Time 

To view the Position Description, Click Here 

Closing Date: 27 January 2026 - 11.30pm 

North Sydney Council is committed to the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity in order to  provide a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. North Sydney Council also adheres to the principles of a child safe organisation and is committed to the care and protection of all children and young people. We strongly encourage candidates from wide-ranging backgrounds, identities and experiences to apply.