Acquittals Manager

Lismore City Council

Lismore, Lismore and Far North Coast NSW

Strategy and Planning (Accounting)

Government - Local (Government and Defence)

Contract/Temp

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Shape your future. Serve your community. Belong to something bigger.

At Lismore City Council, we are delivering one of the most significant regional reconstruction efforts in Australia. Our Flood Restoration Portfolio (FRP) is a multi-year, once-in-a-career program rebuilding the community’s essential infrastructure following the 2022 natural disaster events. With a capital value exceeding 1B, this is an opportunity to shape the future resilience of a regional city while contributing to work that genuinely matters.

Lismore’s Northern Rivers location fosters an ideal work-life balance. It offers lush farmland, beautiful parks, a World Heritage-listed rainforest to explore, great restaurants, a diverse arts and cultural scene, and more—all just a stone’s throw from the Gold Coast, Ballina, and Byron Bay.

Today, Lismore is flourishing, and it's the perfect time to embrace and celebrate everything that makes the regional city so unique, while also being directly involved in shaping its future.

The Opportunity:

We’re seeking an experienced Acquittals Manager to lead the end-to-end funding acquittals functions across multiple funding steams.  Manage the reconciliation of project expenditure against the terms and conditions of all relevant funding agreements, ensuring that all costs claimed are accurate, eligible and compliant.

Reporting to the Finance Manager, you will:

Lead the acquittals process across complex, multi-year disaster recovery programs

Reconcile project expenditure against approved budgets, funding caps, milestone, and eligibility criteria.

Ensure all cost claims are substantiated with appropriate evidence (invoices, procurement documentation, completion certificates, timesheets, variation approvals, asset data, and other validation material).

Implement continuous improvement initiatives to strengthen acquittal processes, documentation standards, and financial governance.

Monitor and confirm that expenditure aligns with project scopes, procurement frameworks and funding program requirements.

Ensure compliance with NSW and Commonwealth funding conditions

Coordinate internal project teams, finance, project controls and external funding bodies

Prepare high-quality acquittals submission, audit documentation, and reporting packs

Identify financial risks and implement mitigations strategies

Support governance and transparency and audit readiness across the Portfolio.

What you'll need to be successful:

You are commercially astute, detail-driven and confident working in a complex, regulated environment. You will bring:

Demonstrated experience managing large-scale funding acquittals or grant compliance

Strong financial reconciliations and analytical capability

Experience interpreting funding deeds, agreements and regulatory frameworks

Advanced stakeholder engagement skills (government. Agencies, auditors, executive and project managers)

Degree in Accounting, Finance, Commerce, Project Management, or relevant field.

Minimum 5 years’ experience in either financial acquittals, financial governance, auditing, or grants management.

Demonstrated understanding of public-sector funding frameworks, audit requirements, and financial controls.

Please review theand use your resume and application responses in the application form below to demonstrate your ability to fulfil the position's responsibilities.

Additional details

Term Contract: contracted hours of work 35 hours a week/70 hours a fortnight up to 31 December 2027.

Closing date: Applications will be accepted until a suitable candidate pool is established. 

Location: The position will be primarily at our Flood Portfolio Office in Lismore. Flexible work options are available, working within operational requirements.

Contact: If you would like to learn more about this opportunity, please don't hesitate to contact Jennifer McEwen, HR Business Partner, at 0428 522 907.

Conditions of Employment: Conditions of employment are in the Local Government (State) Award and relevant Council policy, procedures, and agreements.

Pre-employment Screening: Before employment, there may be a series of pre-employment checks that may include health assessments, validation of the right to work in Australia, validation of qualifications and licences, criminal history checks, psychometric assessments, and referee checks.

Future Opportunities: This recruitment exercise may be utilised for vacancies and the possible establishment of a merit list for future opportunities within six months.

Lismore City Council is a proud employer of a diverse workforce, welcoming applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including those with disabilities. We are committed to fostering a diverse, flexible, and inclusive workplace that reflects the community we serve. We also welcome discussions about how our roles can be undertaken flexibly.

Adjustments can be made throughout the application and selection process to support disabled applicants.

If you would like to discuss adjustments, don't hesitate to get in touch with the People

NOTE: Never make payment to any employer, person, company, contractor or agency to get hired for a Job.

Culture team on 0266250500 or email people@lismore.nsw.gov.au