Victorian Government
2024 Accounting and Finance Stream (Jan 2024)
Melbourne, Metro Melbourne + hybrid arrangement
Opportunity expired
Opportunity details
- Graduate Job or Program
- AUD 62604 / Year
- plus super
- 1-10 vacancies
- Apply by 17 Apr 2023
- Start date 28 Jan 2024
Why join us?
Graduates join us because we offer meaningful work that directly impacts Victorians. No other employer has such a diversity of roles.
Over 12 months, you’ll work in 3 roles across different departments and have access to future career opportunities that are only available to people who work in the Victorian Public Service.
As a graduate, you’ll also have opportunities to learn and grow with mentors and peer networks and be guaranteed a permanent job at the end of the program.
Our graduate program (accounting and finance stream)
The accounting and finance stream is open to graduates with a major in accounting, finance, banking, commerce and business management.
You’ll have a home department that you start in for your first rotation and return to at the end of the program in a permanent position. You’ll be drawing upon your hard-earned accounting and finance skills and knowledge during each placement in this stream. You may also receive vital support towards Chartered Accountant or Chartered Practicing Accountant accreditation.
You'll contribute to important work and make connections across government. Along the way, you'll develop your talents and find new passions.
Program benefits
You'll work in 3 roles across different departments and get:
- specialist training in accounting and finance that affects government
- a starting salary of $62,604 plus super
- personal and professional training
- mentoring from executives
- training in general and specialised areas
- help to gain professional accreditation
- flexible working conditions, such as hybrid working
- a chance to build networks with like-minded graduates across government
- a promotion and pay rise to more than $74,500 plus super at the program’s end
- access to future career opportunities that are only available to people who work in the Victorian Public Service.
Skills required
- Verbal and written communication
- Problem solving and analytical mindset
- Adaptability and resilience
- Teamwork and stakeholder engagement
- Technical skills in accounting, finance, banking, business management or commerce
Eligibility criteria
- Undergraduate or postgraduate degree or the same as level 7 and above of the Australian Qualifications Framework completed between 1 January 2021 and 1 January 2024.
- Australian or New Zealand citizen or Australian permanent resident or have unrestricted working rights in Australia at time of application.
- Not be on a temporary graduate visa.
- Not have taken a voluntary redundancy from the Victorian public sector in the 3 years up to the program start date of 29 January 2024.
- Have a minimum of 6 units/subjects (major) in accounting or finance.
You will be required to provide evidence of your COVID-19 vaccination status or exemption if you are successful in receiving a formal offer to join the program.
Application stages
- Online application form
- Online assessment
- Video interview
- Candidate information session
- Assessment centre
- Employment offer
Pathway for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants
The Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander graduate pathway provides culturally appropriate guidance and support to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants through the recruitment and selection process. You'll be supported by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander staff and other experienced professionals during the recruitment process and your career within the Victorian public sector. The pathway is part of the Victorian public sector’s 5-year Aboriginal employment strategy, Barring Djinang.
Disability pathway
The disability pathway provides graduates with disability access to safe, inclusive support and workplace adjustments from a dedicated professional. It enables us to better understand you as an individual and assists with equitable access throughout the entire recruitment and selection process. It can also include support during the graduate year. The disability pathway is consistent with the Victorian Government’s Getting to Work disability employment action plan.
How to apply
Applications for the 2024 Victorian Government graduate program are open from 6 March 2023 to 9:59 AM AEST 18 April 2023. We are also accepting applications for our generalist, data analytics and economic consultancy streams.
Click the "Apply on employer site" button to start your application.
Hiring criteria
- No experience required
- Australian Citizen +more
- Business & Management +more
- Bachelor or higher
Reviews
Depends on the department, but I feel for the most part the work I have been doing has actually made a genuine contribution.
Depends on the department and team. In my second and third rotation, had great managers and meaningful work to develop my skills. In my first rotation it was a struggle to get any work to do at all. Developing PowerBI dashboards to analyse services and performance, as well as budget usage.
Depending on the rotation, anywhere from exploratory data analysis, SQL, BI reporting, building dashboards, and engaging with stakeholders to understand requirements for a task. In my current role, day to day responsibilities are mostly preparing regular reports.
About the employer
Victorian Government
3.8
> 100,000 employees
Government & Public Service
Start your career in the Victorian Government graduate program and find work with purpose.
Pros and cons of working at Victorian Government
Pros
I've enjoyed working on meaningful programs and projects that I can see have a positive impact on the community. Even as a grad, I feel I've been able to make a valuable contribution.
Carefully considered graduate workplan that connects you with a like-minded graduate cohort. Offers three departmental rotations so that you get an engaging insight into public service work as a graduate.
I think the ability to work on projects and policies that are topical and improve Victoria is the best aspect of the job. There are a lot of really interesting roles and responsibilities. I like working on things that make a difference to people and place. It feels good to work for people and not profit. So far, I have worked on emission reduction projects, major infrastructure projects and grant programs. I am excited by all the important things I will work on in the future.
The prioritisation of staff well-being, flexible working arrangements, and the ability to remain mobile at the beginning of my career, gaining insight and experience into a number of areas.
Meaningful work and shared values between employees. In general, public servants are quite nice people. Meeting lots of people in the program. Great work life balance :)
Cons
Some managers are not sure how to best utilise grads or how to ensure we feel welcome in our short 4 month rotations. These managers are in the minority, however.
The uncertainty and underappreciation. Mobility and MOG changes are part and parcel of working in the VPS however they can be quite unnerving. The announcement of job cuts just weeks into the program was very unsettling. These efficiency savings have made me worry about losing my position and future career decisions. I also wasn't aware of just how unstable the job and teams were when I applied. Every team I have been in during the program has had people acting and leaving. I have also seen a change in premier and portfolio reshuffles. Secondly, I think there is a perception that public servants don't do anything and are bludgers. The Victorian Government Graduate program is very hard to get into and everyone is really passionate and hard working. Similarly, I have worked in teams with really inspiring and smart people. I think it is a shame that public perception isn't better. Further, I think the ceiling in terms of pay is quite low unless you're an executive. While the public service should be for people and not profit, in this fiscal environment we should be paid accordingly. I have been stressed as a graduate about paying my rent and affording to live in Melbourne.
Being a graduate there is not always a constant workload where motivation levels fluctuate over time.
Pay is ok. VPS 2.1.6 Given recent inflation, I think it is no longer competitive. 2 years ago it would have been appropriate, but it feels like taking a pay cut to be a part of the program. I understand that other graduate programs are not necessarily that much higher, but I think across the board there needs to be an increase. I'm in the Data Stream for the graduate program. I have a master’s in data science, but the work I've been given has mostly been data analyst related. I don't feel challenged in these roles, but I think that may be due to being overqualified.
The pace can be quite stressful and there are limited opportunities to celebrate the success of completing a particular piece of work before having to do the next one.