Principal Accounting Policy (12-Month Fixed-Term) | Brisbane or Perth

Responsible for the proactive delivery of timely and accurate accounting advice, including the preparation of technical accounting papers as necessary, to support complex issues and transactions arising across the BHP Group. The role is also responsible for coordinating high-quality Risk and Audit Committee papers and representing Accounting & Reporting in key Group initiatives and processes, including the Group’s impairment process, updates to the Group’s accounting policies, and the analysis of developments in relevant financial reporting frameworks.

Reporting to the Head of Accounting Policy and Sustainability Controllership, this role is critical to ensuring that consistent accounting advice and methodologies are applied to complex accounting matters across the BHP Group.

Key Accountabilities

• Responsible for:
  • Delivering high-quality, critically reviewed Risk and Audit Committee papers to the Head of Accounting Policy & Sustainability Controllership, together with appropriate supporting documentation.
  • Representing Accounting & Reporting / Accounting Policy on Group-wide initiatives.
  • Coordinating the Group-wide Accounting Policy processes in collaboration with other members of the Group Policy team. This includes the periodic impairment indicator assessment process, requiring interaction with the Portfolio Strategy and Development team.
  • Coordinating periodic updates to the Group’s accounting policies, including facilitation of necessary review and approval processes.
  • Working closely with Group Reporting to ensure accurate and relevant disclosures are included in the Group’s annual and half-year financial statements.
  • Overseeing regular reviews of developments in financial reporting requirements across relevant jurisdictions, including assessment of potential impacts to the Group, preparation of position papers, and drafting of response or comment letters where appropriate.
• Provide proactive, timely, and accurate accounting advice across the Group, including the preparation of technical accounting papers to support complex issues and transactions. Stakeholders may include Accounting & Reporting teams, Finance Business Partners, associated Global Functions where there is a flow-on impact, Portfolio Strategy and Development, Group Executive Management, the Risk and Audit Committee, external regulators, and external auditors.

• Bachelor’s degree in Commerce, Management, Finance, or Accounting, and a professional accounting designation (both required).
• CA or CPA qualified with several years of experience within a large, complex, global organisation.
• Strong understanding of IFRS and external reporting requirements.
• Experience working within an accounting policy or technical team at a Big Four firm, providing technical advice to audit teams and external clients.
• Superior communication, facilitation, influencing, and interpersonal skills, essential for building constructive relationships and credibility with diverse stakeholders and cross-functional teams.
• Significant post-qualification experience within a multi-entity, large international corporate environment. Experience in mining, heavy manufacturing, and/or industrial industry work environments is preferred.
• Strong understanding of relevant legislation and internal and external compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated leadership capability in global, multi-cultural environments, with the ability to lead and manage change.