Remuneration and employment conditions for Finance’s APS and EL officers are determined under the Finance Enterprise Agreement 2019. The Enterprise Agreement operates in conjunction with Commonwealth legislation and Finance’s policies and guidelines to define the terms and conditions of employment for staff.

The Department at times uses Individual Flexibility Arrangements to secure specific expertise or specialist skills critical to business needs.

SES remuneration and employment conditions are determined under subsection 24(1) of the Public Service Act 1999. These are supported by a remuneration model that determines pay levels within each SES level based on performance.

Table 20: Employment arrangements for SES and non-SES staff, at 30 June 2021

Table 21: Salary ranges by employment classification, at 30 June 2021

APS performance pay

Finance does not offer performance pay.

Non-salary benefits

The Department offers staff a number of additional benefits:

• annual influenza immunisation
• mentoring and coaching programs
• in-house capability development programs
• a confidential employee assistance program for employees and their immediate families
• access to a serious illness register
• study assistance to eligible employees
• access to flexible working arrangements
• contributions to relevant professional memberships.

Finance employees are eligible to participate in salary sacrifice arrangements for non-salary benefits such as novated car lease vehicles and additional employer superannuation contributions.

Performance management

Our performance management framework supports employees and their managers to create a positive performance culture. The framework is a key resource to support staff and their managers to identify, foster and develop to their full potential through a fair, open and effective performance management process.

In 2020–21, Finance’s Performance and Capability Policy was revised to capture and align to changes set out in the APS Commissioner’s Directions, Finance’s Integrity Framework and leadership expectations, as well as to ensure consistent use of language across performance-related employee policies.

Supporting tools and online learning resources were also updated and made available to provide guidance for managers and staff on regular and meaningful performance and development conversations as well as on Finance’s performance management processes.

Recognition of outstanding performance

Finance recognises and rewards outstanding performance as a critical element in attracting and retaining the best people. Finance formally recognises exceptional contributions by staff through the annual Australia Day awards and Secretary’s awards which recognise the contributions of those teams and individuals whose work has exemplified Finance’s values and who have made significant contributions to the Department’s outcomes.

Recipients of the 2020 Secretary’s awards, as well as staff who received 2021 Finance Australia Day awards and external awards are listed in Appendix D.

Machinery-of-government changes

No machinery-of-government changes affecting the Department of Finance occurred in 2020–21.