What's it like to work in the Dept of Finance?

Always found it intriguing that the department charged with controlling everyone else’s spending manage to pay themselves near the highest salaries of the entire APS…

I was going to say it is generally more professional than other agencies, however, you will need to perform many administrative tasks in three different manners to achieve the same results in order to tick all the boxes for the many guidelines you will need to follow. I have found it more gentle than other agencies with not too many back knives flying around, with staff being fairly respectful of one another. But then I read Ben_Dover’s description regarding the curdled milk, and realised he had my job description down pat. Now I am severely depressed and need another large bottle of something strong….

angrymotorist1 said :

PoQ said :

Of course, for some outside perspective (if a little old) one look at the comparision at

http://canberra-it-survey.blogspot.com.au

The departmental rankings are at the bottom…

Finance probably ranks quite well with contractors, as they don’t seem to have any problems with keeping high paid contractors doing day to day tasks for periods of 5 – 10 years or more…

Which is exactly why the gubmint went down the path of using contractors, right?

Wait, what?

PoQ said :

Of course, for some outside perspective (if a little old) one look at the comparision at

http://canberra-it-survey.blogspot.com.au

The departmental rankings are at the bottom…

Finance probably ranks quite well with contractors, as they don’t seem to have any problems with keeping high paid contractors doing day to day tasks for periods of 5 – 10 years or more…

Of course, for some outside perspective (if a little old) one look at the comparision at

http://canberra-it-survey.blogspot.com.au

The departmental rankings are at the bottom…

Boxhead said :

Zan said :

It really depends on what level you are moving to, which Branch/Division. But surely you don’t expect an honest answer on an open forum, do you? After all, Canberra is a small town and it takes only a couple of grey cells to work out nicknames.

Zan, you’re right, your name is a dead giveaway. I only used one grey cell to work out that you’re … ummm … Zan! That’s it. Let me think of some Zans I know … Zan Rowe from Triple J! You’re her! You’re Zan Rowe from Triple J!

Some more grey cells are needed.

devils_advocate said :

angrymotorist1 said :

That’s my honest opinion from personal experience.

Regards,
Angry Motorist

While I don’t dispute anything you say, that description could apply to the public service as a hole.

Spot on.

I spent four years at Finance, and all but six months was fantastic. I’ve also worked in several other C’wealth agencies, as well as having spent a number of years in the private sector. I’ve been out for a couple of years now, but my views remain that Finance is generally a positive environment – notwithstanding a couple of the “encalves” and a moniroty of disgraceful leaders – but these are to be found in most organisations.

My experience supports the view that Finance is certainly more “professional” than most Departments. This professionalism is reflected in dress and presentation, attention to detail, core competencies and the applications of the Work Level Standards, as well as the expectations of staff to deliver and the fostering of a collegiate work-place (generally). I would add that all of this applies to those outside of the Parliamentary entitlements area – which seems to be a law unto itself. Not saying it’s better or worse – just different.

There are some wonderful individuals and leaders in Finance, but there are also some cancerous personalities who will drag down everyone they perceive as a threat. As I said previously though – this is to be found everywhere.

Boxhead said :

Zan said :

It really depends on what level you are moving to, which Branch/Division. But surely you don’t expect an honest answer on an open forum, do you? After all, Canberra is a small town and it takes only a couple of grey cells to work out nicknames.

Zan, you’re right, your name is a dead giveaway. I only used one grey cell to work out that you’re … ummm … Zan! That’s it. Let me think of some Zans I know … Zan Rowe from Triple J! You’re her! You’re Zan Rowe from Triple J!

ABSOLUTE GOLD

What’s it like to work in the Dept of Finance?

Take 2 ltr milk, pour into a glass container.
Set on a table.
Pull up chair.
Without moving away or averting gaze, watch milk until it curdles.
Repeat for the rest of your life.

Zan said :

It really depends on what level you are moving to, which Branch/Division. But surely you don’t expect an honest answer on an open forum, do you? After all, Canberra is a small town and it takes only a couple of grey cells to work out nicknames.

Zan, you’re right, your name is a dead giveaway. I only used one grey cell to work out that you’re … ummm … Zan! That’s it. Let me think of some Zans I know … Zan Rowe from Triple J! You’re her! You’re Zan Rowe from Triple J!

angrymotorist1 said :

That’s my honest opinion from personal experience.

Regards,
Angry Motorist

While I don’t dispute anything you say, that description could apply to the public service as a hole.

And no that’s not a typo so don’t even.

Despite what Zan has said – I am prepared to give you an honest answer as I have worked for the Department of Finance and Deregulation (in IT, so not sure what the relevance is to the field you are in) and I don’t particularly mind what people think of my opinion as there is no way on gods green earth I would ever consider working for them again…

My experience in IT at finance was that they have an awful lot of money to throw around but they didn’t manage to get much done with it. Completely overstaffed for the amount of work they have (comparing this to several different agencies), coupled with a poisonous work environment filled with “managers” with such a high level of self importance that they couldn’t even see that anything was wrong.

An independent review of the wasted time and money in IT at finance would save the taxpayers millions, but of course they are pretty good at concealing that – aren’t you guys?

That’s my honest opinion from personal experience.

Regards,
Angry Motorist

Just be prepared for the rest of the public service hating your guts, especially around budget time.

It really depends on what level you are moving to, which Branch/Division. But surely you don’t expect an honest answer on an open forum, do you? After all, Canberra is a small town and it takes only a couple of grey cells to work out nicknames.