Project Accountant – Perth

Project Accountant – Perth

Application Closing Date: October 18, 2026

About the Organisation:

Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC) is the Native Title Representative Body (NTRB), delivering native title and other services across the Pilbara, Mid West, Murchison and Gascoyne regions of Western Australia. YMAC is run by a First Nations board of directors, representing several native title groups, each of whom have their own language, culture, traditions and protocols.

YMAC services include native title claim and future act representation; heritage services; executive office, community, and economic development assistance; land administration, and natural resource management support.

Country is our mother, our provider and keeper of our cultural belongings. Culture and Country go together. You can’t have one without the other.

Our Vision:

Protecting Country, language and culture, we come together as one, united and strong.

Our Purpose:

Walking together we champion rights, Country, language, and culture; provide education and awareness and create opportunities for a better tomorrow for First Nations peoples.

About the Role:

YMAC is currently seeking a full time (37.5 hours per week) Project Accountant to join the team in our Perth office on a permanent contract.

The Project Accountant provides end-to-end financial oversight of assigned projects, ensuring budgets, forecasts, cash flows, financial reporting, funding requirements and contractual obligations are accurately managed.

Working closely with project managers, operational teams and key stakeholders, the role provides timely financial analysis and advice to support informed decision-making, maintain financial control and identify emerging financial risks and opportunities.

The position also supports negotiations and meetings with funding bodies, proponents, service providers and other stakeholders to achieve favourable financial and operational outcomes. In addition to project responsibilities, the Project Accountant undertakes strategic, operational and special projects as directed by the Group Financial Controller (GFC) or Chief Financial Officer (CFO), including financial reviews, process improvement initiatives, contract evaluations, business case development and other organisational priorities.

About You:

You will have demonstrated experience in project accounting, financial management or a similar role, with strong knowledge of budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, financial reporting and financial controls.

You will be confident working closely with project managers, operational teams and stakeholders to provide clear and timely financial analysis and advice. You will have the ability to identify financial risks and opportunities, monitor project performance and ensure funding and contractual requirements are appropriately managed.

You will have strong communication and relationship management skills, with the ability to confidently participate in negotiations and meetings with funding bodies, proponents, service providers and other stakeholders.

You will be highly organised and analytical, with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities. Experience in financial reviews, process improvement, contract evaluation and business case development will also be valuable, along with the ability to contribute to strategic and organisational projects as required.

​​​​​​What YMAC Offers

YMAC believes in providing a safe and supportive working environment, and the best way to do that is to ensure our employees are well-looked after. YMAC provides the following in addition to your standard employee experience:

• Salary Packaging
• Annual CPI increases
• Flexible working arrangements:
• Working from home arrangements
• Extra weeks’ paid leave over end of year shutdown
• Cultural Leave for First Nations employees
• Annual Wellness & Uniform Allowance
• Paid Parental Leave

If you’d like to know more, our Enterprise Agreement can be found here.

Selection Criteria

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Commerce or another relevant discipline.
• Current professional accounting qualification such as CA, CPA, ACCA or equivalent is desirable.
• Minimum five years’ relevant accounting experience, including substantial responsibility for project accounting, budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting and audit or funding compliance, preferably within a multi-site entity.
• Demonstrated experience in project financial management, including cash flow management, variance analysis, grant or contract compliance and audit coordination.
• Demonstrated ability to apply Australian Accounting Standards, taxation requirements, funding conditions, contractual obligations and internal control principles in a project environment.
• Demonstrated proficiency with ERP and financial reporting systems and advanced Excel skills, including the development and maintenance of financial models, forecasts, reconciliations and management reports.
• Experience in a project-based, grant-funded, not-for-profit, Aboriginal corporation or similarly complex stakeholder environment is desirable.

Skills

• Demonstrated ability to deliver accurate, timely and fit-for-purpose project financial reporting, grant acquittals and compliance information for management, boards, funding bodies and other authorised stakeholders.
• Demonstrated capability in project budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, variance analysis and financial modelling, with the ability to translate results into practical advice and recommended action.
• Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving capability, including the ability to identify financial, contractual and operational risks, investigate complex issues and recommend proportionate corrective action.
• Demonstrated commitment to accuracy, sound professional judgement and effective financial control when managing complex project information, competing requirements and material financial risks.
• Excellent communication, consultation and relationship-management skills, including the ability to explain complex financial information clearly, influence sound decisions and work effectively with project teams, executives, boards, auditors, funding bodies and service providers.
• Demonstrated ability to build financial capability in non-finance stakeholders through practical guidance on budget management, financial accountability and project decision-making.
• Demonstrated ability to improve financial systems, controls and processes and contribute effectively to system implementation, finance transformation or broader organisational improvement initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise initiative, manage competing project and reporting priorities, and deliver accurate work within fixed financial, contractual, funding and audit timeframes.

How to Apply:

Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation is an equal opportunity employer and values inclusion and diversity in all forms including, but not limited to: genders, cultural backgrounds, LGBTQ+, disability & neurodiversity. We strongly encourage First Nations candidates to apply.

To apply for this role, which has a generous range of benefits including: salary packaging; flexible working arrangements; and, but not limited to, an extra week’s paid leave over Christmas shutdown, please submit your CV and cover letter addressing the above selection criteria via Seek.

A current National Police Clearance is required prior to commencement of employment with YMAC.

Applications for this position close on Sunday, 18 October 2026, however applications will be reviewed as they are received.

If you have any questions relating to this opportunity, please email careers@ymac.org.au.