[Hiring] Sessional Ombudsman @AFCA

Role Description

Flexible, meaningful work. Expert impact when it matters most.

After a distinguished legal career, you may be looking for a role that allows you to continue applying your expertise in a meaningful way, while creating space for other professional interests, board appointments, consulting work, family commitments, or simply a greater sense of balance.

At AFCA, we are seeking Sessional Ombudsmen, Banking & Finance to join our highly regarded decision-making team on a per-engagement basis.

This unique appointment offers the opportunity to remain intellectually challenged and professionally engaged, while contributing to outcomes that have a genuine impact on consumers, small businesses and the financial services sector.

As a Sessional Ombudsman, you will be called upon to assist with complex and significant disputes within banking and finance. Drawing on AFCA's extensive specialist resources, research capability and dispute resolution framework, you will work collaboratively with experienced Ombudsmen, lawyers and industry experts to deliver independent, fair and balanced decisions.

This is an opportunity to focus on what you do best: applying sound judgement, analysing complex legal issues and helping resolve matters of significance.

This is a Board appointed, 3 year term role and can be performed fully remotely.

Qualifications

• Accomplished senior lawyers, former Partners, barristers, executive legal leaders and banking & finance professionals.
• Deep industry expertise, sound judgement and a strong track record of achievement.
• Experience in areas such as banking regulation, Banking Codes of Practice, contract law, insolvency, securities, lending and dispute resolution.
• Ability to thrive in a flexible, per-engagement environment.
• Strong communication skills with influence and empathy.
• Commitment to delivering fair, objective outcomes and maintaining the highest standards of integrity and impartiality.
• Legal qualifications and substantial senior-level experience within banking and finance, a tribunal, regulator, external dispute resolution scheme or a related environment.

Benefits

• Gold AWEI Accreditation 2025 – Recognised for LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion.
• Accredited Family Friendly Workplace – Supporting work-life balance and inclusivity.
• Hybrid working – Flexible arrangements with two days a week in our modern offices designed for collaboration and wellbeing.
• Additional and inclusive leave options – Flexible public holidays, gender affirmation leave, women’s health leave, and bonus paid time off over the end of year holiday period.

Company Description

The Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) was established in 2018 as a private not-for-profit ombudsman service providing free, fair and independent help with financial disputes. The original team has grown to over 1600 dedicated professionals. Since 2018, AFCA has received more than 634,000 complaints, helping to secure $2.1 billion in compensation for consumers.

AFCA is a 2026 Circle Back Initiative Employer - we are committed to responding to every applicant.