Company Overview

Catholic Schools NSW (CSNSW) represents NSW Catholic schools and their owners to the media, government, and other education sector stakeholders. Catholic Schools in NSW educate approximately one in five NSW students.

CSNSW has the role of Systems Accountant.

Under its Constitution, CSNSW acts as the overarching entity for the purposes of advancing education and religion in Catholic schools in NSW and ensures that Catholic schools meet their compliance requirements and can measure their activities in such a way as to maximise the education and faith outcomes of students. The company’s constitution is also backed by canonical mandates of delegation from each of the 11 diocesan bishops in New South Wales who are also the members of the Company.

Employees of CSNSW provide advice to Government, Catholic School Agencies and Schools on the full range of educational policy and compliance drivers impacting contemporary NSW schooling.

Primary Purpose of the role

The primary purpose of the role is to support entities within the Catholic Schools NSW shared services portfolio with the back-office finance and accounting function, specifically Catholic Schools NSW, CSSA Trial Exams, CSNSW Sport Services and Council of Catholic School Parents (CCSP). The Systems Accountant will be integral in assisting CSNSW with software conversions and upgrades as required and will lead process improvement and automation of manual or laborious processes. This role is also entrusted with improving and modernising reports, training users on how to efficiently use the ERP, and troubleshooting.

This is a permanent full time position with the expectation that you are willing and able to work from the CSNSW office located in Sydney CBD.

Key responsibilities

Duties include however not limited to;

Prepare quarterly, monthly and annual management and financial reports incorporating variance analysis. Assist the Financial Controller with report preparation for the Audit and Risk Committee

Liaise with internal and external stakeholders.

Assist the Financial Controller and Chief Operating Officer with the annual budget preparation process.

Assist business units with budget preparation.

Engage with business units and prepare regular reports on strategic and other projects to facilitate monitoring of progress and actual results versus budget.

Prepare the monthly balance sheet reconciliations for review by the Financial Controller.

Run the interest calculation module and process transactions in the ERP.

Check the fortnightly payroll, prepare payroll pre-payment and accrual journals.

Prepare annual and long service leave schedules, reconcile the payroll reports to the general ledger accounts.

Check accounts payable and receivable invoicing and supporting documentation batches prior to authorisation.

Process fixed asset transactions via the fixed asset register.

Reconcile the fixed asset register to the general ledger.

Run interest calculation module monthly and process monthly interest journals.

Prepare journals for investment transactions.

Prepare the monthly Treasury report for incorporation in Audit & Risk Committee and Board papers.

Liaise with the organisation’s bank with regard to lodging authorisation forms for new signatories and removing departing signatories and processing corporate credit card applications and cancellations.

Administer the Expense Me credit card system.

Ad hoc duties as requested.

User Support

System security maintenance.

Facilitate system training for the efficient & effective use of system with development and preparation of reports to meet business needs.

Oversee and respond to user issues relating to finance GL, budgeting etc.

System Maintenance

Provide support to the teams for all system integration issues including reconciliation issues, ongoing monitoring, incident management and coordination of corrective actions.

Maintain finance system data structures and implement internal controls to ensure integrity of master data.

Monitor and improve the accuracy, completeness, and consistency of master data across systems.

Perform regular data audits and data cleansing activities to identify and resolve data issues.

Maintain relationships by liaising with vendor partners to troubleshoot and resolve system issues.

Testing new functionality or software updates/releases.

Maintenance and set up of system data structures and ensure integrity of master data.

Assist with the month end / year-end closing.

Process Improvement

Active involvement in various process improvement project tasks including requirements gathering, user acceptance testing, user training, system configuration, data migration, change management and implementation.

Active involvement in the ongoing change and release process (system upgrades) including configuration changes and co-ordinate/undertake user acceptance testing.

Communicate to users regarding new releases and upgrades.

Identify and deliver and support continuous improvements to various user requirements, system and sub-systems processes, process automation, reporting and system integration improvements.

Other

Maintain documentation including system documents, requirements, procedures, training manuals and guides, etc.

Other responsibilities as directed by the Financial Controller.

Key Challenges

The demands this role vary considerably within a year and the role will involve shifting focus from one to the other as demand dictates or working on other projects as they may arise.

Essential Requirements

National Criminal History Record Check in accordance with the Disability Inclusion Act 2014

Working with Children Check clearance in accordance with the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012.

CPA or CA qualified.

Empathy with and support for the mission, ethos and beliefs of Catholic schools and the communities they serve.

10 years’ experience in a finance role in a medium to large organisation

Demonstrated interpersonal skills and strong verbal and written communication skills.

Attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines.

Ability to work independently as well as part of a team.

Strong work ethic.

Preferable

Experience in leading computerised system conversions and upgrades.

Stakeholder engagement and collaboration skills.

Join Our Team!

Applications for the position should include:

A cover letter - which must address the essential requirements of the position.

Curriculum Vitae.

Applications to be addressed to the Human Resources Manager.

Applications close 5pm, Friday 6 June 2025 (unless closed earlier).

You must have full legal rights to work in Australia with no restrictions.

CSNSW only engages people who are suitable to work with children and has developed and implemented child safe human resources practices accordingly.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.