Why South Australia’s Department of Treasury & Finance Could Be Your Smartest Career Move Yet 💼🚀
Looking for a public‑sector employer that blends big‑picture economic impact with hands‑on service to everyday South Australians? The Department of Treasury & Finance (DTF) might be the perfect fit. Below is your rapid, one‑scroll briefing—no 129‑page annual report required. 😉
AT‑A‑GLANCE 🧐
• Name of Department / Council: South Australian Department of Treasury & Finance (DTF)
• Location: State Administration Centre, 200 Victoria Square, Adelaide SA 5000 — with statewide reach 🌏
• CEO: Under Treasurer Rick Persse
• Total Revenue: $287.964 million controlled income in FY 2023‑24
• Total Number of Employees: ≈1,200 FTE (estimate based on $166.7 m employee spend)
DID YOU KNOW? 🤓
DTF administers more than $23.3 billion in revenue for the state—everything from GST grants to payroll tax—making it one of the most financially influential agencies in South Australia.
THE QUALIFICATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS, TRADES, PROFESSIONS, WORK EXPERIENCES & SKILLS MOST SUITED TO DTF
Top 5 academic qualifications most suited 📚
Bachelor of Economics – underpins fiscal analysis and budget modelling.
Bachelor of Commerce/Accounting – essential for financial reporting and audit compliance.
Bachelor of Information Technology – drives cyber‑secure systems for RevenueSA & Shared Services.
Master of Public Policy – shapes evidence‑based advice for Cabinet submissions.
MBA – equips future leaders for agency‑wide program delivery.
Top 5 certifications most suited 🏅
CPA or CA ANZ – recognised benchmark for treasury and audit functions.
PRINCE2® Practitioner – supports large‑scale project governance (think Finance Reform Program).
CISA/CISSP – guards whole‑of‑government finance platforms against cyber threats.
PMP® – ensures complex digital‐investment projects stay on time and budget.
Government Procurement Certification (SA) – aligns with Procurement SA’s mandate.
Top 5 trades / professions most suited 🔧
Data Analyst – translates massive revenue datasets into actionable insights.
Cyber‑Security Specialist – protects sensitive taxation and superannuation information.
Debt‑Recovery Officer – supports the Fines Enforcement & Recovery Unit.
Property Valuer – informs land‑tax modelling and asset valuations.
Facilities Electrician – keeps critical Treasury infrastructure running smoothly.
Top 5 skills most suited 💡
Soft skills: stakeholder engagement, analytical thinking, clear communication, ethical judgment, adaptability.
Technical skills: financial modelling (Excel/SAS), SQL & Power BI, risk management, SAP/CHRIS 21 payroll, cloud‑security controls.
General skills: report writing, policy interpretation, project coordination, customer service, continuous improvement mindset.
Top 5 work experiences most suited 🛠️
Budget preparation in a large organisation – mirrors State Budget processes.
Public‑sector procurement – aligns with Buying4SA and whole‑of‑government contracts.
Shared‑services delivery – valuable for roles in payroll, AP/AR, or HR systems.
Regulatory compliance – translates to tax‐collection and fines‑administration contexts.
Change management – crucial for the ongoing Finance Reform Program.
THE KEY FACTS 📌
• Name of Department: South Australian Department of Treasury & Finance
• Name of CEO: Rick Persse, Under Treasurer
• Location: Primarily Adelaide; statewide impact through offices and digital services
• Year Founded: 1837 (roots in the original Colonial Treasury)
• Main mission & purpose: Safeguard South Australia’s economic prosperity, fiscal sustainability, and service excellence—e.g., the team’s advice helped secure the state’s credit‑rating reaffirmation this year, lowering borrowing costs for community projects.
• Main duties:
– Craft the State Budget & Mid‑Year Review
– Collect state taxes and fines (RevenueSA & Fines Unit)
– Manage public‑sector superannuation (Super SA)
– Oversee fleet, insurance, and procurement services
Real‑world impact: Every dollar DTF saves on interest through SAFA’s Sustainability Bond Framework funds schools, hospitals, or roads instead.
• Key Projects / Strategic Priorities / Future Plans: Finance Reform Program, Digital Investment Fund, ESG Commitments reporting, Housing‑affordability stamp‑duty reforms, ICT cyber‑uplift across Shared Services.
THE EMPLOYEES & REVENUE 💰👥
• Total Number of Employees: ≈1,200 FTE (see estimate above).
• Total Number of Executives: 1 × Exec0F, 8 × SAES2, 39 × SAES1, 1 × SAESSP
• Salary Bands:
– ASO1–ASO4: ~$52 k – $86 k
– ASO5–ASO8: ~$89 k – $149 k
– SAES1: ~$166 k – $186 k
– SAES2: ~$206 k – $326 k
– Executive 0F: >$450 k (Under Treasurer level)
• Average salary: ≈$103k (124 m salaries / ~1,200 staff)
• Total Revenue: $287.964 m controlled; $23.26 b administered.
• Average Revenue per Employee: ~$240 k (controlled income basis).
GETTING A JOB AT DTF 🏃♀️💨
Which academic subjects shine? 🎓
Certificate / Diploma Level: Government Finance, Payroll, Business Administration—ideal for Shared Services or frontline tax roles.
Bachelor / Master Level: Economics, Accounting, Cyber Security, Data Science, Public Policy—core to budget, revenue and digital‑investment teams.
PhDs: Econometrics, Actuarial Science, Behavioural Insights—high‑impact research for cost‑of‑living, housing, or ESG policy modelling.
Sought‑after trades & professions 🔨
• Cyber‑security engineers
• Data visualisation specialists
• Procurement & contract managers
• Debt‑collection professionals
• Property & asset valuers
Valued work experiences 🗂️
• Government budget cycles
• Large ERP or payroll‑system roll‑outs
• Risk & audit engagements
• Complex stakeholder negotiations
• Change‑management leadership
In‑demand skills 🛠️
Soft skills: persuasive briefing writing, cross‑agency collaboration, customer‑centric mindset.
Technical skills: SQL/Python for data analytics, cloud‑security frameworks, PRINCE2 project tracking.
General skills: continuous‑improvement thinking, time management, digital literacy.
Hobbies & interests that align 🎯
• Community volunteering (mirrors public‑service ethos)
• Data‑science hackathons
• Personal finance blogging
• Policy debate clubs
• Sustainable investing
Want more information on DTF? 📲
General enquiries / HR: dtfinfo@sa.gov.au
Telephone: +61 8 8226 3500 (switchboard)
Address: State Administration Centre, 200 Victoria Square, Adelaide SA 5000
Current vacancies: iworkfor.sa.gov.au → search “Treasury and Finance” for live roles.
Department site: treasury.sa.gov.au
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