Senior Communications Advisor

AFCA, the Australian Financial Complaints Authority, is seeking a Senior Communications Adviser to join its Strategic Communications team in Sydney. This full‑time, onsite role focuses on turning strategic priorities into clear, persuasive messages for internal and external audiences while helping safeguard AFCA’s reputation. If you enjoy translating complexity into clarity and advising senior leaders on how to communicate with impact, this could be a strong fit.

AFCA is a not‑for‑profit financial ombudsman dedicated to fair, independent dispute resolution. The organisation champions inclusive leadership, accountability and resilience, and offers flexible work options and thoughtful benefits. The role sits in a team that shapes communications across the organisation, ensuring messaging aligns with AFCA’s mission to help Australians.

Based in Sydney, AFCA emphasises an inclusive culture that puts people first and relies on clear, credible communications to support its work resolving financial disputes.

Turning strategy into stories that move the needle

This role blends strategic counsel with practical delivery. The Senior Communications Adviser shifts between high‑level guidance, hands‑on writing and stakeholder engagement, making sure projects land with impact across the organisation and its publics.

You’ll shape integrated communications plans aligned to AFCA’s strategic goals and translate dense policy and regulatory information into compelling narratives for diverse audiences. Content will span internal updates, digital channels and traditional media, and you’ll act as a trusted adviser to senior stakeholders to help them engage effectively with their audiences. Building strong cross‑team relationships around shared priorities is part of the job, and you’ll use data and insights to understand what works and continually improve reach and impact. You’ll lead communications projects from concept to delivery, coordinating subject matter experts, stakeholders and external suppliers, all while bringing a curious, continuous‑improvement mindset to the team.

What you’ll bring

These are the essentials that will help you hit the ground running, followed by a couple of nice‑to‑haves.

• A relevant qualification or equivalent experience in communications, public relations, journalism or a related field
• A proven history of developing communications strategies and creating engaging content across digital, internal and traditional media
• Outstanding writing, editing and storytelling capabilities
• The ability to simplify complex information into clear, accessible messages
• Strong interpersonal and influencing skills with the confidence to offer trusted advice to stakeholders at all levels
• Solid project management and organisational abilities, able to manage competing priorities and deliver quality outcomes under pressure
• Good judgement, curiosity and a collaborative approach
• A customer- and outcomes-focused mindset aimed at delivering high-quality stakeholder experiences

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in financial services, regulatory environments or member-based organisations is a plus but not essential

What you’ll gain and how you’ll work

The role carries recognisable accreditation and diversity‑friendly benefits. AFCA holds Gold AWEI Accreditation 2025 for LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion, and is Accredited Family Friendly Workplace, supporting work‑life balance and inclusivity.

There’s a hybrid working option with two days a week in modern offices designed for collaboration and wellbeing, alongside flexible arrangements to suit different needs.

Additional inclusive leave options include flexible public holidays, gender affirming leave, women’s health leave and bonus paid time off during the end‑of‑year holiday period.

Accessibility support during the recruitment process is available at [email protected], and AFCA notes that the organisation does not use AI or automated tools to screen candidates, so the process may take a little longer.

Tips for applicants

On your résumé, start with a concise snapshot of your senior communications leadership and a concrete result that demonstrates strategic impact.

In your portfolio or examples, highlight a case where you built an integrated communications plan and delivered messaging across digital, internal and traditional channels, with measurable engagement and reach.

Be ready in interviews to discuss times you advised senior executives on messaging and led a project from idea to delivery, including how you used data and insights to steer decisions and improve outcomes.

Ask about how the team measures the impact of strategic communications and how storytelling aligns with AFCA’s strategic priorities, or request a recent example of a complex issue turned into a narrative that drove tangible results.