Financial Analyst Salary Guide Australia
Comprehensive salary benchmarks, APS5–EL1 classification mappings, interactive take-home calculator, 11 agency Enterprise Agreement pay scales, 15.4% superannuation, and career progression pathways.
Interactive Financial Analyst Salary & Take-Home Calculator
Select your Commonwealth Agency, APS classification level, and salary step position to calculate exact net pay, income tax, Medicare levy, HECS repayments, and 15.4% employer superannuation.
APS Classification Mappings: APS5, APS6 & EL1
In the Federal Public Service, Financial Analysts operate across three main classification levels depending on operational autonomy and analytical scope:
APS 5 — Finance Analyst / Junior Cost Analyst
$88,085 – $98,900Role Scope: Conducts routine financial analysis, operational cost tracking, general ledger reconciliations, variance checking, and entry into financial models.
Key Requirements: Bachelor of Commerce/Finance, intermediate Excel skills, SAP or TechOne entry, basic variance reporting.
APS 6 — Senior Finance Analyst / Costing Analyst
$98,500 – $124,800Role Scope: Builds complex financial models, leads division budget forecasting, evaluates policy business cases (NPPs), conducts KPI analysis, and drafts financial briefs.
Key Requirements: Advanced Excel & Power BI, progress towards CPA/CA, SQL/data analytics, business case evaluation.
Executive Level 1 (EL 1) — Principal Financial Analyst / Analytics Team Leader
$125,000 – $151,200Role Scope: Leads financial analytics teams, oversees portfolio spending forecasts, advises senior executives on major capital investments, and directs Estimates costings.
Key Requirements: Full CPA or CA ANZ qualification, 5+ years experience, executive communication, strategic financial modelling.
11 Commonwealth Agency Pay Scale Comparison (2024–2027 EAs)
Base salary rates vary between Commonwealth departments based on agency-specific Enterprise Agreements negotiated under APSC bargaining frameworks.
| Agency Department | APS5 Band | APS6 Band | EL1 Band | WFH Policy | Super |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Finance | $89,500 – $98,900 | $99,800 – $120,400 | $126,500 – $146,800 | Hybrid (3 days home) | 15.4% |
| Department of the Treasury | $90,800 – $100,500 | $101,200 – $122,100 | $128,400 – $148,900 | Hybrid (Flexible) | 15.4% |
| Australian Taxation Office (ATO) | $88,085 – $97,400 | $98,780 – $118,780 | $125,000 – $145,000 | Hybrid (3 days home) | 15.4% |
| Department of the Prime Minister & Cabinet (PM&C) | $92,100 – $102,400 | $103,100 – $124,800 | $130,500 – $151,200 | Hybrid (Flexible) | 15.4% |
| Department of Defence | $87,100 – $95,800 | $97,500 – $116,200 | $123,500 – $142,800 | Hybrid (2 days home) | 15.4% |
| Services Australia | $86,200 – $94,800 | $96,800 – $114,800 | $122,000 – $141,000 | Subject to approval | 15.4% |
| Department of Health & Aged Care | $87,900 – $96,900 | $98,200 – $118,100 | $124,800 – $144,500 | Hybrid (3 days home) | 15.4% |
| Department of Home Affairs | $87,800 – $96,800 | $98,000 – $117,800 | $124,200 – $144,000 | Hybrid (3 days home) | 15.4% |
| Department of Education | $88,200 – $97,500 | $98,900 – $118,900 | $125,200 – $145,200 | Hybrid (3 days home) | 15.4% |
| Department of Infrastructure, Transport & Regional | $88,900 – $98,100 | $99,500 – $120,100 | $126,100 – $146,200 | Hybrid (3 days home) | 15.4% |
| Attorney-General’s Department (AGD) | $88,500 – $97,800 | $99,100 – $119,500 | $125,800 – $145,800 | Hybrid (3 days home) | 15.4% |
Core Responsibilities & Technical Tools
Financial Analysis & Variance Reporting
Analyzing monthly agency financial performance, investigating operational expenditure variances against budget baselines, and preparing analytical commentary for division heads.
Budget Forecasting & Projection
Developing multi-year expenditure forecasting models, projecting departmental cash flows, and submitting quarterly updates to the Department of Finance via CBMS.
Costing & Business Case Evaluation
Evaluating New Policy Proposals (NPPs), building life-cycle cost models for capital acquisitions, and evaluating program business cases under PGPA Act rules.
Financial Modelling & Scenario Testing
Designing dynamic financial spreadsheet models, stress-testing budget assumptions, sensitivity testing, and evaluating inflation impacts on portfolio commitments.
KPI & Performance Dashboarding
Building automated Power BI dashboards and executive reports to monitor financial metrics, headcount costs, and procurement milestones.
Investment & Asset Analysis
Evaluating capital expenditure requests, reviewing government enterprise asset valuation statements, and conducting cost-benefit analyses.
Systems & Data Reconciliation
Extracting data from ERP systems (SAP S/4HANA / GovERP / Oracle), validating general ledger integrity, and automating financial reporting pipelines.
Executive & Committee Support
Drafting clear, data-driven financial briefs for Senior Executive Service (SES) officers, Audit Committees, and Cabinet budget submissions.
APS Enterprise Agreement Salary Growth Schedule (2024–2027)
Under the Australian Public Service Statement of Intent, all federal agencies receive mandatory across-the-board salary increases over the 3-year agreement cycle:
| Effective Date | General Pay Increase | APS5 Base Impact | APS6 Base Impact | EL1 Base Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 March 2024 | +4.0% | $83,000 → $86,320 | $92,500 → $96,200 | $118,000 → $122,720 |
| 13 March 2025 | +3.8% | $86,320 → $89,600 | $96,200 → $99,850 | $122,720 → $127,380 |
| 12 March 2026 | +3.4% | $88,085 → $91,080 | $98,500 → $101,850 | $125,000 → $129,250 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the salary of a Financial Analyst in the Australian Public Service (APS)?
An APS Financial Analyst typically earns between $88,085 and $98,900 at the APS5 level, $98,500 to $124,800 at the APS6 Senior Analyst level, and $125,000 to $151,200 at the EL1 Principal Analyst level. All federal government roles include an additional 15.4% employer superannuation contribution.
2. Is Financial Analyst a formal APS classification level?
No. "Financial Analyst" is a functional job title rather than a legislated APS classification level. Financial Analyst positions are mapped to standard APS classifications—typically APS5, APS6, or EL1—depending on the complexity of duties and decision-making responsibility.
3. Which Australian Government agency pays Financial Analysts the highest?
Department of the Prime Minister & Cabinet (PM&C) and Department of the Treasury generally offer the highest base salary steps across APS5 ($92,100 max), APS6 ($124,800 max), and EL1 ($151,200 max) levels under their Enterprise Agreements.
4. What is the starting salary for an entry-level Financial Analyst in Sydney or Melbourne?
Starting salaries for entry-level Financial Analysts in Sydney range between $72,000 and $88,000 plus super, while in Melbourne they range from $70,000 to $85,000 plus super. Graduate streams in the federal government start at $78,000–$88,085 base + 15.4% super.
5. Do APS Financial Analysts receive 15.4% superannuation?
Yes. All permanent and fixed-term APS employees receive a mandatory 15.4% employer superannuation contribution paid under Commonwealth Enterprise Agreements, which is significantly higher than the standard 12.0% statutory commercial rate.
6. Can Financial Analysts work from home (WFH) in government roles?
Yes. Under the 2024–2027 APS Enterprise Agreements, all major Commonwealth agencies support flexible hybrid working arrangements, with most financial analysts working 2 to 3 days per week from home.
7. Do I need a CPA or CA ANZ qualification to be an APS Financial Analyst?
A CPA or CA ANZ is not strictly required for entry-level APS5 positions. However, holding or actively pursuing a CPA or CA ANZ accreditation is highly preferred for APS6 Senior Analyst roles and is generally essential for promotion to EL1 Principal Analyst.
8. What software tools do APS Financial Analysts use daily?
Primary software tools include Microsoft Excel (advanced financial modelling and Power Query), Power BI (dashboard reporting), SAP S/4HANA, GovERP, TechnologyOne, Oracle Financials, and CBMS (Central Budget Management System).
9. How does a Financial Analyst calculate fortnightly take-home pay?
Fortnightly take-home pay is calculated by taking gross annual base salary, dividing by 26, and deducting PAYG income tax and Medicare Levy according to ATO tax tables, plus any HECS-HELP repayments.
10. What is the career progression path for a Financial Analyst in government?
The standard career path moves from Graduate / Finance Officer ($68k–$85k) → APS5 Financial Analyst ($88k–$98.9k) → APS6 Senior Analyst ($98.5k–$124.8k) → EL1 Principal Analyst ($125k–$151.2k) → EL2 Finance Manager ($155k–$195k+).