Sally Castle

Experience

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  New Zealand organisations

  Jan 1979 - Jan 1998

  Various positions

  Obtained private sector experience in general accounting, as a client advisor for a large accountancy firm (Arthur Young) and as a financial accountant for a private sector company

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  The Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management

  Nov 1998 - May 2003

  Manager, Business Support

  • Established culture and work practices for senior management group.• Developed and implemented a strategic planning framework and documents for MCDEM, including new quantity, quality, timeliness and cost indicators aligned with key business objectives.• Developed and implemented a wide range of innovative improvements to corporate systems, policies and processes within MCDEM.• Provided expert advice to the Director and other Managers on organisational governance, strategy and performance, finance, human resources, information and technology management, contracts, property, and administration.• Successfully led and managed MCDEM’s budgeting and other financial processes from 1998 to 2003 (for a total budget of $6.7 million).• Successfully managed refurbishment (1999) and relocation (2002) of the Ministry’s Wellington office, on time and within budget, and achieved $150,000 in savings by negotiating sublease of rental property unused in a regional centre.• Led the introduction of DIA’s electronic Document Management System within MCDEM, revised file classifications, and wrote document management guidelines.• Successfully implemented the DIA Performance Management System within MCDEM, including delivering training to all staff in the operation of the system.• Developed and implemented IT “technology refresh programme”, IT training strategies, an intranet, and a comprehensive Business Continuity Plan. Show less

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  State Library of Queensland

  Jan 2004 - Jul 2004

  Acting Executive Manager, Policy and Planning

  • Managed the development of the State Library’s Strategic Plan for 2004-08 and the Operational Plan for 2004-05, including a redeveloped balanced scorecard, strategy map, and outcome-based performance indicators.• Coordinated the development of State Library of Queensland section of the Ministerial Portfolio Statement for Education and the Arts, and the preparation of Estimates briefings.• Successfully led a small team responsible for strategic and business planning, quarterly and annual reporting, ministerial correspondence, briefings, policy development, and research.• Redeveloped the State Library’s Personal Performance Plan template, and developed and implemented a new business planning template. Show less

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  Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (Queensland)

  Jul 2004 - Jul 2006

  Executive Officer Planning & Business Management

  The Biosecurity Group of the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (now Biosecurity Queensland as part of the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries) is a large (600+ staff) organisation responsible for protecting Queensland from the threat of pests and diseases of animals and plants, and for ensuring animal welfare. Budget (at the time I was there) about $80 million per annum.• Successfully led and managed the Biosecurity Group business management team (15-20 staff) – finance, HR, ICT, planning, records management, and administration.• Led strategic planning for the Biosecurity Group, including the development of new strategies, objectives and outcome performance indicators.• Completely redesigned Biosecurity Output performance measures for 2006-07 Ministerial Portfolio Statement, and made major contribution to full DPI&F review of output performance measures.• Managed all Biosecurity Group obligations for corporate planning and reporting, including the Estimates briefs.• Led development of funding submission to CBRC which resulted in an additional $8.8 million (over four years) in funding for the Biosecurity Output of DPI&F.• Redesigned and redeveloped Biosecurity Group approach to statewide risk analysis and management.• Commenced the development of a workforce plan for the Biosecurity Group, including competency-based position descriptions and a review of the staffing profile and skills of the group. Show less

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  Australasian Reporting Awards

  Jan 2006 - Jan 2019

  Adjudicator
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  Q-COMP

  Jul 2006 - May 2008

  Executive Manager Business Services

  Q-COMP (The Workers' Compensation Regulatory Authority), BrisbaneQ-COMP is a 90-person statutory authority which operates under the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 to regulate the Queensland Workers’ Compensation Scheme. Major functions are: managing Scheme data, monitoring insurer performance (including WorkCover Queensland), providing support to medical assessment tribunals, undertaking reviews of decisions and appeals against review decisions, and providing education and information about the scheme. Budget is approximately $53 million per annum, fully funded from insurer levies (no government funding).• Successfully led, managed, coached and mentored 18 staff (including Information Systems, Human Resources, and Finance Managers and their staff) in the Q-COMP Business Services Group to achieve superior performance during a period of significant change.• Successfully led the development of key business and scheme performance indicators and the strategic and business planning process for 2007-08.• Led the development of improved information systems governance and improved risk management systems.• Managed the development and review of corporate HR, finance, and IT policies and procedures.• Developed and in the process of implementing single service desk model for delivery of support services to Q-COMP’s customers.• Significant contribution as member of Q-COMP senior management team. Show less

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  Civil Aviation Safety Authority

  Jul 2008 - Jun 2009

  Section Head, Group Business Strategy

  The primary function of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is to conduct the safety regulation of civil air operations in Australia and the operation of Australian aircraft overseas. Until 30 June 2009 (subsequently combined with Air Transport into a new Operations Group) the General Aviation Operations Group (GAOG) oversaw the activity of aircraft under 5,700 kg in weight, had a budget of $26 million, and managed nine regional offices and approximately 200 staff out of CASA’s 700 staff complement.• Successfully led a small team of people responsible for providing coordinated business support services to GAOG – strategic and business planning, financial management, human resource management, ministerials and corporate communications, and general administration.• Developed and introduced:o quarterly business plan template and reporting to Group General Manager;o summary financial report for Group General Manager using traffic light system;o effective system for vacancy and recruitment management in GAOG.• Developed and managed national recruitment strategy and campaign for Flying Operations Inspectors and Airworthiness Inspectors.• Represented GAOG on project board for CASA-wide TRIM (electronic document management system) implementation project.• Represented GAOG on project team for introduction of CASA-wide time recording system through Changepoint application.• Coached, mentored and developed staff to improve overall work quality from the small team.• Significant contribution as member of GAOG’s senior management team. Show less

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  State Library of Queensland

  Jul 2009 - Feb 2010

  Acting Manager Office of the State Librarian

  My roles at the State Library were as Acting Manager, Office of the State Librarian, and Transition Manager, The Edge (The Edge is a new digital culture centre for young people, which opened on 26 February 2010). Key responsibilities and achievements were:• Set up eight sub-project teams for The Edge, revised and significantly improved project governance arrangements and delivered project reports to Library Board of Queensland and The Edge Project Steering Committee.• Organised and managed simultaneous recruitment of ten new staff positions for The Edge including participation in interview panels for The Edge Director and other roles.• Reviewed The Edge risk register and commenced re-evaluation of risks.• Provided strategic level advice and assistance to the State Librarian on a range of organisational matters, including The Edge project.• Reviewed and improved speeches, correspondence, Board papers, and other written material to ensure compliance with corporate requirements and State Librarian directions. Show less

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  Strategia Management Consultants

  May 2010 - Nov 2012

  Principal Consultant

  I completed a funding strategy for a not-for-profit organisation in the early childhood sector in July 2010. I have done four subsequent pieces of work for the same organisation, implementing some of the recommendations I made in my first report and assisting the organisation with a range of activites relating to the funding scheme.I also completed a significant piece of work focusing on funding coordination, business process development and mapping, policy writing and compliance. I did a lot of work on complex spreadsheets, developing solutions designed to save time for future funding rounds and business process mapping using SmartDraw.During my consultancy I did a special assignment for the State Library of Queensland, where I provided expert advice in the realignment of the Office of the State Librarian. Show less

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  Queensland Health

  Nov 2010 - May 2011

  Engaged by Queensland Health to establish the Employee Overpayments Project, which will recover more than $46 million overpaid to more than 50,000 Queensland Health staff principally because of issues related to the implementation of the new payroll system in March 2010.• Wrote project documentation in accordance with PRINCE2 project methodology, including project initiation document, project products, risk schedule, governance structures, key performance indicators and linkages to departmental strategy and outcomes• Developed analysis and recovery approach and recommendations for managing the recovery of overpayments in a complex, dispersed statewide environment with multiple stakeholders and diverse political, financial, industrial and policy issues• Led business process mapping and procedure development for analysis and recovery processes• Led the development of communications planning and user specifications for supporting IT systems• Established and led project team of 20 staff • Provided high level advice and support to project Steering Committee• Rapidly developed detailed knowledge of Queensland Health payroll system and interactions between payroll and finance systems. Show less

  • Project Manager, Client Engagement, Queensland Health Shared Service Partner

    Mar 2011 - May 2011

  • Project Manager, Employee Overpayments Project

    Nov 2010 - Mar 2011
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  Queensland Audit Office (QAO)

  Nov 2012 - Jul 2013

  Principal Advisor, Governance, Reporting and Procurement

  In this role my main achievements were:• Delivered fraud risk assessment and fraud control plan.• Completed complex spreadsheets and analyses of tender pricing for new audits.• Provided confidential advice to Auditor-General and senior managers on strategic planning.• Established decision framework, business process map and template for corporate services benchmarking.• Developed revised governance framework, corporate vision statement and template for data dictionary.

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  Bric Housing

  Jul 2013 - Sept 2017

  General Manager Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer

  bric is a not-for-profit company in the Queensland community housing sector which manages almost 900 tenancies mostly for high and very high needs tenants. My key responsibilities were:• Executive representative (with CEO) on bric’s Board and Audit, Finance and Risk Committee and provider of strategic advice and reports to the Board and committees.• Company Secretary for bric housing.• Budgeting, financial modelling and financial reporting across multiple programs.• Trusted advisor to the CEO and business on corporate strategy and governance, performance monitoring and measurement, finance, human resources, business systems, information management, property development, contract and lease management, and risk.• Lead internal and external compliance and reporting, including Board, ACNC, ATO, state government and National Regulatory System for Community Housing (NRSCH).• Lead preparation of business development submissions and tenders, business plan, annual financial statements and annual report.• Review property leases, deeds and contracts.• Develop and maintain effective relationships with wide range of internal and external stakeholders. • Coach and mentor bric staff. Show less

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  Queensland Law Society

  Sept 2017 - Sept 2019

  Chief Financial Officer and General Manager Corporate Services

  Queensland Law Society (QLS) serves the needs of more than 10,000 member solicitors in Queensland. QLS' key functions are to issue practising certificates for Queensland lawyers, provide membership services such as events, educational and professional development programs, and advocate for good law in Queensland and nationally through the Law Council of Australia. My role as CFO and General Manager Corporate Services included:- providing leadership to the Corporate Services team comprising Finance, People and Culture, Information and Communications Technology, and Facilities and Administration (five direct reports and a total team of 20);- leading and managing the delivery of all financial services for QLS, including delivery of the annual operating and capital budget, fee setting, annual financial statements, the annual audit, monthly management reporting and analysis to budget holders, Finance and Risk Committee and Council, corporate investments, financial accounting functions (receivables, payables, treasury and reconciliations), statutory compliance, procurement policy and payroll; - leading and managing the delivery of effective information and communications technology infrastructure across the business, including disaster recovery and business continuity planning and testing, technology hardware and software, network and systems administration and service desk functions;- leading the efficient management of Law Society House including building infrastructure, strategy, room hire and events support, and management of administration functions;- leading the delivery of human resource services to QLS, including recruitment and selection, training, performance management, policy development, and supporting all people needs;- regularly preparing and presenting papers to the Finance and Risk Committee and Council;- providing advice to the CEO on all corporate services functions;- fulfilling my role as a member of the QLS Executive Leadership team. Show less

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  New Zealand Law Society

  Sept 2019 - Sept 2020

  General Manager, Finance and Administration

  • Lead the Finance and Administration team comprising Finance, Human Resources and Administration.• General Manager responsible for library services and branches. • Lead the delivery of all financial operations, including budgeting, financial reporting, annual financial statements, audit, investment management, financial accounting functions (receivables, payables, treasury and reconciliations), statutory compliance and payroll.• Prepare complex financial models and provide advice and analysis.• Lead and manage administration functions such as reception, mail, office supplies and other support services.• Lead the human resources function.• Prepare and present papers to the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee and Board.• Risk framework and risk management.• Member of the Executive Leadership team, reporting to the CEO on all matters relating to finance, human resources, administration, libraries and branches. Show less

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  Taumata Arowai (Water Services Regulator) Establisment Unit - Department of Internal Affairs

  Nov 2020 - Apr 2021

  Senior Advisor Finance Operations

  Led the establishment of finance operations (including banking, taxation, finance delegations etc) and the implementation of Microsoft Dynamics Business Central and Datapay payroll system for newly established Crown entity.

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  Crown Law

  May 2021 - Jul 2021

  Interim Chief Financial Officer
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  Accenture New Zealand

  Aug 2021 - now

  Technology Delivery Lead Senior Manager, Accenture Technology