Mobile: 0421 418 638 Email: sarah.r ichards_90@hotmai l .com

Sarah RichardsSKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES

Ability to manage conflicting priorities Presentation experience High level influencing skills Contingency planning Scope projects Research and analyse data Budget and costing Risk assessment Work well both in a team environment

and independently Highly-developed analytical and research

skills Effective Relationship building and

stakeholder management skills Highly organised and excellent time

management Experience using Excel to track

milestones, forecast budgets and produce reports including graphs

Experience providing secretariat support and writing high level briefs, reports, letters and taking minutes

State and federal government and private sector experience

Visual thinking and design

High level oral and verbal communication skills and the ability to adjust communication method to suit the listener

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Sep 2015 – Present PricewaterhouseCoopers Indigenous Consulting (PIC) Senior Associate (Full-time)

Key clients and projects Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council – Organisational Review

o Completed an organisation review to provide the basis of a strategic planning process that will allow an assessment of recent performance and broader environmental factors that can be included in developing future directions.

Australian Taxation Office (FED) – Resume Writing workshopo I organised and co-facilitated two sessions to Indigenous public servants on the ins and

outs of resume writing. The project also included an evaluation report that outlined how useful participants found the training and what other training sessions they would like offered.

Central Region Aboriginal Land Corporations – Economic Developmento Conducted exploratory market research on potential business ideas for a group of 9 Local

Aboriginal Land Councils in the Central West NSW region to consider pursuing.

Confidential client – stakeholder consultations for service deliver program restructure o Assisted with the coordination of a 2-day Indigenous Student Design Workshop with the

purpose of getting students to help design a new payment system that was more user-friendly.

o Performed qualitative and quantitative research that focused on the Indigenous aspect of one of Australia’s most complex payment systems within the social welfare system. I then interpreted that research and included it in the analysis report.

Cronulla-Sunderland Sharks – Reconciliation Action Plan o Assisted Cronulla Sharks formulate their first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). I analysed

what they currently undertook at the club and determined that some existing programmes could have specific quotas aimed at Indigenous Australians.

Kinchela Boys Home – Strategic Plan

o Assisted Kinchela formulate their strategic plan and provided guidance on the usefulness of advisory committees.

Department of Communities (QLD) – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Reform Project

o Drafted personas to be included in the final reform project report. Using personas enabled the voice of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to be present in a compelling and informative way and at the same time, kept their identities secure.

Department of Employment (FED) – Indigenous Employment Stakeholder Consultationso Engaged with, and sought detailed feedback from key stakeholders including views,

perspectives, issues and information about employment policy options. A written summary of themes from each cohort (jobseekers, parents/guardians, employers) was provided the department following each session.

Department of Human Services (FED) - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employees Plano Drafted the new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees plan for the Department.

As part of this process I analysed and classified consultation information and determined suitable actions to address the areas of concern by the Department’s Indigenous employees.

Confidential client (FED) – Indigenous Unconscious Bias tool and training package business caseo Undertook research and analysis of unconscious bias and diversity practices, in

particular, Indigenous unconscious bias. Analysed the current employment state of Indigenous Australians in the public service and used both research and analysis components to inform the business case for an Indigenous unconscious bias tool to be developed and delivered.

Department of Social Services (FED) – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Disability Action Plano The main purpose was to facilitate the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Disability

working group and guide the discussion on a National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Disability Action Plan. The outcomes of the workshop were used to provide a revised National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Disability Action Plan for the working group to consider.

Land tenure proposal o Coordinated overall proposal process, collaborating with key stakeholders and sub-

contractors for input into $2.3m select tender proposal. I led brainstorm sessions with the Director and CEO to test ideas. I delegated sections of the proposal and then coordinated the collation of the different sections into one consistent format. I created infographics to demonstrate key processes and relationships and I also had the opportunity to experience Microsoft Project which was used to create the detailed project plan.

Jan 2012 – Sep 2015 Department of Finance Finance Officer (Full-time), Reporting and Resourcing Branch – Governance and Resource Management Group,

Key responsibilities

Quality assurance checks of monthly and annual financial statements Running various reports and using them to analyse variances to provide explanations that are

used to brief the Minister of Finance Preparation of underlying cash balance reporting Preparation of complex papers for the CFS Assurance Committee meetings Assisting ABS with their compilation process of the Australian National Accounts (ANA) by

providing them with specific data requested quarterly

Apr 2012 – Dec 2012Department of Finance

Graduate Finance Officer (Full-time), Financial Reporting and Accounting Branch – Governance and Resource Management Group

Key responsibilities

Quality assurance checks of monthly and annual financial statements Creating various reports to assist with my supervisor’s analysis Updating Ministerial Briefs Assisting Australian Bureau of Statistics with their compilation process of the ANA by providing

them with specific data requested quarterly

Jan 2012 – Apr 2012 Department of Finance Graduate Projects Advisor (Full-time), Accounting Policy – Governance and Resource Management Group

Key responsibilities

Advising other government agencies on their accounting standard queries Assisting with the implementation of Sustainability Reporting Guidelines within the

Commonwealth Government Daily media monitoring Organised interstate CFO forums

Jul 2011 – Dec 2011 Department of Public Works - CITEC (QLD)Financial Accounting Assistant (Full-time), Corporate Services Branch

Key responsibilities

Reconciliation of end of month general ledger accounts Completion of monthly accruals Completion of monthly Inter-Business Unit reconciliations Undertaking of subsidiary general ledger reconciliations

Jan 2009 – Jul 2011 Department of Public Works - CITEC (QLD)Cadet, National Indigenous Cadetship Program

Key responsibilities

Reconcile end of month general ledger accounts Complete daily accounts receivable duties including entering cheques and identifying customer

accounts using the SAP program Completing general journals for searches monthly Assisted the Financial Accountant with end of month duties including Inter-Business Unit and

Fringe Benefit Tax reconciliations

ADDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT

April 2005 – Sep 2011 Woolworths (QLD)Checkout operator and office assistant

EDUCATION & TRAINING

2012 – 2015 CPA Program

2008 – 2011 Bachelor of Business (Commerce)Griffith UniversityMajors in Accounting and Economics

2006 – 2007 Certificate II in BusinessCertificate II in TourismGraduation CertificatePalm Beach Currumbin Highschool

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Jan 2015 – Present CPA – MemberJan 2012 – Dec 2014 CPA – Associate Member

ACHIEVEMENTS

2015 ACT NAIDOC Artist of the Year2012 CPA Scholarship

EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Sep 2005 – Present Touch Football RefereeJan 2013 – Present Indigenous Accountants Australia Advisory Committee (IAAAC) –

Advisory Committee Member Nov 2012 – Nov 2016 Canberra & District NAIDOC Aboriginal Corporation – Director, Secretary and

Head of the Ball Committee Jan 2013 – Sep 2015 Department of Finance’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Staff Network –

Co-ChairMar 2012 – Mar 2013 Social Network of Graduates Committee – Ball Chair

REFEREES

Michelle CraigieDepartment of Prime Minister and CabinetPh:0418 635 978

Relationship: ATSISN members at Finance and current client with PIC

Donna HargreavesNational Disability Insurance SchemePh: 0419 461 912

Relationship: Former Director

Jessica BorkowskisDepartment of Finance

Ph:0438 334 823

Relationship: Former Assistant Director