Brad Appleton

Experience

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  Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Victoria, Australia

  Feb 2007 - Feb 2011

  Manager, Budget Reporting & Client Services

  senior management role within the Financial Services Division responsible for the development and coordination of management and budget reporting across the Department as a whole. Leading a team of eleven people, this position reports directly to the Assistant General Manager, Budget and Reporting with responsibilities ranging from the development and implementation of reporting frameworks through to providing high quality analysis and financial advice and support to a broad range of clients from project managers through to the Departments executive management committee. Regular collaboration with DTF and DPC also plays a vital part of the role. Show less

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  Independent Review of State Finances - Victoria

  Mar 2011 - Jan 2012

  Senior Analyst

  The Victorian Government announced in January 2011 that it would establish an Independent Review of State Finances. The Review’s Terms of Reference required the following four areas to be considered:• a root and branch examination of Victoria’s finances;• debt management in Victoria;• review of service delivery and infrastructure; and• public sector governance.The Review commenced in February 2011 and was led by an independent panel. It was chaired by Dr Michael Vertigan AC and included Don Challen and Professor Ian Harper. The Panel was supported by a dedicated Secretariat made up of 25 staff specifically selected from the Victorian Public ServiceThis position was a senior role within the Secretariat for the Review responsible for undertaking in depth research and analysis of Victoria’s fiscal position and the efficiency and effectiveness of the services it delivers. Show less

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  Department of Education and Training, Victoria, Australia

  Feb 2012 - Feb 2016

  Director, Budget & Reporting

  Executive management role within the Department responsible for the development and coordination of management and budget reporting across the Department as a whole. Leading a team of twenty people, this position reports directly to the Chief Finance Officer with responsibilities ranging from the development and implementation of reporting frameworks through to providing high quality analysis and financial advice and support to a broad range of clients from project managers through to the Departments executive management committee. Regular collaboration with Department of Treasury and Finance (DTF) and Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC) also plays a vital part of the role.The Department has an operating budget of over $12 billion per annum, the Department of Education and Training (Victoria) is responsible for providing and ensuring access to high quality primary and secondary education for all Victorian children, including support for non-government schools. The Department is also responsible for the health, development and wellbeing of children and early childhood development (0 - 8 years) and recently, became responsible for the higher education and training sectors in Victoria. The Financial Services Division within the Department is responsible for establishing the appropriate financial management environment within the Department, the statutory authorities in the portfolio and government schools as well as advising on issues that impact on the financial health of the Department. The Division also provides financial information and analysis to support decision-making, designs and implements financial management principles, processes and systems to ensure that managers have the necessary support to execute their financial management responsibilities and lead efforts to ensures that the Department complies with accounting standards, financial and taxation legislation and financial governance principles. Show less

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  Department of Treasury and Finance, Victoria

  Aug 2013 - Oct 2013

  Consultant - Review of Financial Management in Dept of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure

  In April 2013, the Premier announced a significant restructure of the Victorian public service, including the integration of urban and transport planning with local infrastructure and services in the Department of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure (DTPLI). Following the machinery of government changes, the Secretary of DTPLI commissioned a review of the department’s financial management, with the review to be presented to him and the Department’s Senior Executive Group for consideration. Key objectives of the review were to: 1) describe the current financial management arrangements in DTPLI (i.e. in relation to the department and broader portfolio); and2) identify opportunities for improvement into the future.The review utilised a financial management model adapted from a framework developed by the United Kingdom’s National Audit Office and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). This model incorporates five aspects of financial management – governance and leadership; planning; decision making; monitoring and forecasting; and reporting – to construct a rounded view of the financial management capacity of an organisation.The Department of Treasury and Finance (DTF) led this review and I was specifically recruited on a part time basis to provide input into the review from a line agency perspective and to leverage my skill set developed as a financial management executive and the knowledge and experience gained from my work at the Independent Review of State Finances. Show less

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  Melbourne Polytechnic

  Feb 2016 - Mar 2020

  With an expanded responsibility for twenty two staff, this role is key to ensuring the organisation meets its financial and compliance requirements as well as implementing strong resource allocation and management processes and frameworks and building stronger business performance analysis capability. These responsibilities underlie the continued improvement of the Institute’s commercial operations to achieve a financially sustainable and successful future.Melbourne Polytechnic is a registered training organisation that delivers vocational training (VET) and Higher Education programs. Following significant government reform of the sector, the organisation experienced a decline of 20% in student enrolment year on year for a period of 5 years resulting in significant financial losses over the same period. The organisation had undergone a number of significant restructures and staff changes during this period and by 2016, the foundational operation of the Institute was inefficient with significant revenue leakage and cost blow outs.During 2016, significant effort was undertaken to stabilise the organisation including the creation of acommercial team. In 2017, Melbourne Polytechnic successfully halted and reversed a 5 year trend ofsignificant enrolment decline with training delivery and revenue growing through a concerted effort to boost new enrolments, retain students and the successful implementation of business process re-engineering. Show less A newly created executive management role responsible for driving financial and commercial improvements in the operation of the organisation. The role works closely with the CFO, COO and CEO to improve commercial acumen in the organisation and implement monitoring frameworks and systems as well as significant process improvement to drive growth and reduce costs. Liaising extensively with government departments, the role is key to improving stakeholder relationships and ensure the optimisation of available funding streams. Show less

  • Director, Finance and Commercial (CFO)

    Jul 2018 - Mar 2020

  • Commercial Director

    Feb 2016 - Jul 2018
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  Navitas

  Mar 2020 - now

  • General Manager, Planning, Business Development & Strategy

    Jul 2022 - now

  • Head Of Business Development & Strategy, Careers & Industry Division

    Mar 2020 - Jan 2023