Finance Specialist

Azooa is preparing a response for 2026-163-Aero-GWEO-RFQ – Commercial Finance Specialist / Commercial Specialist and is seeking suitably qualified contractors for this Defence opportunity.

This opportunity supports the GWEO Manufacturing Division and requires experienced Defence commercial, procurement, contract management and commercial finance specialists to support Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance capability outcomes.

Azooa’s recommended maximum hourly rates, based on current market conditions, are:

• Level 3 maximum rate: $155.98/hour including super
• Level 2 maximum rate: $112.72/hour including super

Azooa recommends candidates bid at or below the relevant level rate where possible, as this will support stronger value-for-money positioning for winning.

Overview

The GWEO Manufacturing Division opportunity is linked to the Government’s commitment to develop Australian Defence Force and industry capabilities for the manufacture of Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance in Australia.

The work supports GWEO Group objectives across strategy, capability development, acquisition, domestic production and sustainment for Defence’s GWEO needs.

The RFQ seeks:

• 2 x Level 3 Commercial Finance Specialists
• 2 x Level 2 Commercial Specialists

The positions support procurement and contract management activities across Defence capability acquisition and sustainment programs.

Core Purpose

The core purpose of these roles is to provide specialist commercial, procurement, contracting and financial support to GWEO capability outcomes.

The roles will assist with commercial strategies, procurement methods, contract management, ASDEFCON documentation, tender activities, financial analysis, price and payment matters, stakeholder engagement and commercial risk management.

Scope / Responsibilities

The Commercial Finance Specialists and Commercial Specialists will be expected to support:

• Development of commercial strategies
• Identification of recommended procurement methods
• Defence procurement and tender documentation
• Procurement strategies
• Endorsements to proceed for Commonwealth approval
• Request for Tender documentation
• Tender evaluation plans
• Evaluation reports
• Liability risk assessments
• Procurement schedule management
• Contract management of ASDEFCON contracts for materiel acquisition
• Contract change processing
• Review of contract deliverables
• Contractor performance management
• Support to Commonwealth-led negotiations with prime contractors
• Delegate approvals
• Contract management plans
• Specialist commercial and finance advice to delegates and stakeholders
• Compliance with relevant departmental procurement policies
• Identification and management of commercial and finance risks
• Internal briefs, approval submissions and reports
• Project representation at key contract meetings

Key Deliverables

Expected deliverables may include:

• Commercial strategy inputs
• Procurement method recommendations
• Procurement strategies and approval documentation
• Tender documentation
• Tender evaluation plans
• Tender evaluation reports
• Liability risk assessments
• Procurement schedules
• Contract change documentation
• Contract deliverable reviews
• Contractor performance inputs
• Contract management plans
• Delegate approvals
• Commercial and finance advice
• Risk assessments and mitigation recommendations
• Internal briefs and approval submissions
• Meeting coordination and commercial representation
• ASDEFCON-based procurement and contract management artefacts
• Price and payment analysis for Level 3 roles
• Supplier price evaluation and commercial finance support for Level 3 roles

Mandatory / Essential Criteria

Candidates should be able to demonstrate:

• Demonstrated experience in Defence commercial and procurement
• Minimum 8+ years’ experience within Defence
• Ability to work as an effective team member
• Ability to make responsible decisions on assigned matters
• Ability to consult, recommend and work with minimal supervision
• Strong analytical skills
• Strong written communication skills
• Strong oral communication skills
• Knowledge of Defence Writing Standards
• Knowledge of internal Defence processes
• Demonstrated experience using the ASDEFCON document suite
• Demonstrated experience in complex stakeholder management
• Active security clearance at the level specified in the RFQ
• Minimum NV1 security clearance

For Level 3 Commercial Finance Specialist roles, candidates should also demonstrate direct Price and Payment experience, including:

• Pricing analysis
• Financial modelling
• Pricing negotiations
• Cost assurance
• Payment frameworks
• Supplier price evaluation

Desirable Criteria

Desirable experience may include:

• GWEO experience
• Guided weapons and explosive ordnance domain exposure
• Defence materiel acquisition experience
• Defence sustainment program experience
• Experience supporting prime contractor negotiations
• Experience preparing Commonwealth delegate approval packs
• Experience with liability and commercial risk assessments
• Experience supporting complex Defence acquisition programs
• Experience with contract change proposals
• Experience supporting senior Defence stakeholders
• Experience in Brindabella Business Park, Victoria Barracks or Defence capability environments

Engagement Details

• RFQ Number: 2026-163-Aero-GWEO-RFQ
• RFQ Title: 2 x Commercial Finance Specialist, 2 x Commercial Specialist
• Client / Project Area: GWEO Manufacturing Division
• Location: Brindabella Business Park, Canberra
• Other Locations: Other locations may be considered for the right candidate
• Travel: Irregular travel may be required to GWEO hubs in Canberra, Melbourne and other Defence facilities
• Start Date: ASAP
• Initial End Date: 5 November 2026
• Extension: Extension to 30 June 2027 available, subject to approval of a Contract Change Proposal currently being developed with the Commonwealth
• FTE: 1.0 FTE per role
• Clearance: Minimum NV1

Role Options

Level 3 Commercial Finance Specialist

• Skill Set 4.2 Procurement Methodologies & Contracting Options
• Skill Set 4.5 Contract Management & Contract Performance
• 2 vacancies total
• Minimum NV1 clearance
• 1.0 FTE
• Azooa recommended maximum rate: $155.98/hour including super

Level 2 Commercial Specialist

• Skill Set 4.2 Procurement Methodologies & Contracting Options
• Skill Set 4.5 Contract Management & Contract Performance
• 2 vacancies total
• Minimum NV1 clearance
• 1.0 FTE
• Azooa recommended maximum rate: $112.72/hour including super

Clearance Requirements

This opportunity requires:

• Active security clearance at the level specified in the RFQ
• Minimum NV1 clearance

The RFQ also notes that this position may require access to US export-controlled materiel. Candidates may be requested to disclose dual citizenship and country of birth during the recruitment process. Dual citizens may be subject to further assessment and appointment may be conditional upon approval to access US-controlled export material.

RFQ Relevance

Your profile will need to be positioned against the RFQ requirements, including:

• Defence commercial experience
• Defence procurement experience
• Contract management experience
• ASDEFCON experience
• Defence Writing Standards
• Internal Defence processes
• Procurement strategy development
• Tender documentation
• Tender evaluation planning and reporting
• Liability risk assessments
• Contract change processing
• Contractor performance management
• Delegate approvals
• Contract management plans
• Commercial and finance risk management
• Stakeholder engagement
• GWEO or Defence capability acquisition relevance
• NV1 clearance

For Level 3 roles, your profile should also clearly highlight:

• Pricing analysis
• Financial modelling
• Pricing negotiations
• Cost assurance
• Payment frameworks
• Supplier price evaluation

Rate Guidance

• Azooa recommended maximum rate for Level 3: $155.98/hour including super
• Azooa recommended maximum rate for Level 2: $112.72/hour including super

Azooa recommends candidates remain at or below the relevant level rate where possible, based on current market conditions, as this will support a stronger value-for-money position for the submission.

Rate competitiveness generally works as follows:

• Below the relevant Azooa recommended maximum: strongest value-for-money position and higher chance of winning
• At the relevant Azooa recommended maximum: aligned to Azooa’s recommended maximum and may still be competitive
• Above the relevant Azooa recommended maximum: less competitive unless specialist GWEO, ASDEFCON, Defence commercial finance, pricing, procurement or contract management experience strongly justifies the rate

Higher rates may still be considered where niche Defence commercial, GWEO, ASDEFCON, complex procurement, contract management, pricing, cost assurance, NV1 clearance or strong Defence stakeholder experience outweighs rate competitiveness.

How Azooa Can Support You

Azooa can support you by:

• Positioning your profile to maximise win probability
• Helping align your rate with current market expectations and value-for-money positioning
• Assisting with tailored CV and submission strategy
• Highlighting relevant Defence commercial, procurement, ASDEFCON and contract management experience
• Supporting Level 3 positioning for pricing, financial modelling, cost assurance and payment framework experience
• Supporting Level 2 positioning for procurement, contracting options and contract performance experience
• Providing access to similar Defence and Federal Government opportunities