Principal Taxation Officer

About the role

The Principal Taxation Officer provides high‑level tax advice to senior leadership and ensures the department’s tax position is compliant and aligned with strategic objectives. This senior role supports the Director General, Executive Leadership Team and broader organisation across finance, procurement, people and culture, and digital services.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the end‑to‑end preparation, review and lodgement of the consolidated GST Group Business Activity Statement (BAS) and ensure timely, accurate submissions to the Australian Taxation Office.
• Oversee all statutory tax lodgements, including GST, FBT, NTER and Payroll Tax, maintaining compliance with legislative requirements.
• Provide expert advice on complex taxation matters, preparing submissions, briefing notes and reports for senior management and key stakeholders.
• Manage critical taxation processes such as monthly apportionment, cost‑centre tax assessments and annual methodology recalibration.
• Conduct detailed analytical reviews of transactions, identify non‑compliance issues and drive continuous improvement of internal controls.
• Contribute to the development and enhancement of taxation policies, systems and practices, including advice on complex contractual matters.

Required profile

• Extensive experience in taxation within large government or public‑sector environments.
• Proven ability to lead statutory tax return preparation and lodgement processes.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills with experience building productive internal and external relationships.
• Demonstrated commitment to public‑service professionalism, probity and continuous improvement.

Required skills

• Goods and Services Tax (GST) compliance
• Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) knowledge
• National Tax Equivalents Regime (NTER) expertise
• Payroll Tax administration
• Australian Taxation Office (ATO) reporting systems
• Tax return preparation and lodgement
• Tax apportionment and cost‑centre assessment
• Analytical review and internal control evaluation