Defence

Finance

Flexibility and fun in the finance world

The Chief Finance Officer, Phillip Prior, talks about the importance of perseverance, knowledge and fun to the Finance Executive’s people.

What are your thoughts on the value of people in an organisation?

The value of people comes from the contribution they make to organisational success. That contribution can emanate from a number of sources. Certainly, the completion of assigned tasks or projects is an obvious way people add value. But it is also about the way we value each other, the way we use our abilities to help others in the organisation.

However, people also derive a great deal of personal value from an organisation in terms of their own development and growth and sense of personal achievement.

People are vital in all Services and Groups within Defence, and the Finance Executive within Australian Defence Headquarters is no exception.
Photo provided by CFO.

What skills are needed to be an effective member of the Finance Executive?

The skills vary considerably, depending on the financial space people are working in. One thing is for sure – working here is certainly not just about being an accountant. Of course we have the need for numeracy skills, but there is also a lot of variety.

To be an effective member of the Finance Executive, you need to be able to see the business through the numbers in a practical, common sense and tangible way. You need analytical and communication skills and a commitment to customer service. We also value conceptual ability and strong writing skills.

How does the Finance Executive provide developmental opportunities for its people?

The Finance Executive has a culture where we want our people to learn, and we provide a range of opportunities for our people to do that.

We support study, leadership and professional programs. We understand the value in allowing people to develop their careers and skills. There are opportunities to develop a range of skills in the Finance Executive and we understand the benefits in allowing staff to be mobile.

The Finance Executive’s aim is to be as flexible as possible to accommodate the different developmental needs and requirements of our people.

What are the main benefits to people working in the Finance Executive?

One of the big pluses is that you get the opportunity to financially manage one of Australia’s largest and most complex organisations. That’s got to look good on the CV for any future employment.

Serving the nation means you really feel a sense of contribution, particularly at this point in time when, through perseverance, we have made significant improvements to Defence business.

You also get the chance to stretch yourself, do challenging things and work with a successful team. We recognise and reward our people – we value them.

I believe that everyone is entitled to enjoy what they do. There are pressures and deadlines, but we all need to be able to enjoy being here. It is important that, in a professional sense, people have fun at work.

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