Meet Kevin: Finance Officer

From the first day, the finance team was really friendly and interested to know more about me. They helped me settle in very quickly. The biggest benefit to working here is being exposed to people from different cultures, rather than being the only person in the workplace from overseas. There are lots of nationalities represented in our council, which means we can learn from each other and make lots of friends.

I received a scholarship to study Accounting in Sydney and, once I graduated, I was really keen to stay in Australia and apply what I studied. I moved to Mount Gambier through the Skilled Work Regional Visa pathway. The Red Cross helped me with my résumé and supported me as I applied to Wattle Range Council.

Now I send invoices to council’s debtors and ensure trading terms are adhered to. I also manage the council’s inventory – for example, keeping an accurate record of how much tar or rubble we use to perform road maintenance. I love to see the meaningful impact of what we provide. When I see that the council’s finances are working smoothly, it really motivates me.

Working at council has been such a broad and varied experience. Our council area is vast. When performing stocktake, someone from the outdoor crew takes me to the different quarries where we get our rubble from – I really enjoy that because I can see more of the area and start to piece it together.

"I love to see the meaningful impact of what we provide. When I see that the council’s finances are working smoothly, it really motivates me."

The crew explains the materials they use, like limestone and sandstone – things I never thought I’d be working with. And now when I see a road that is sealed or unsealed, I know how to differentiate between the materials used. It feeds back into my work – if I understand why we use certain materials instead of others, I can help explain those reasons when we are budgeting.

If you set your sights on working in council in any capacity, you’ll have a good employer. You’ll get to meet a lot of people and have an impact on society. Plus, there’s a sense of pride, because you’re working for an important level of government close to the community. Go for it!