Q&A with Will Black, Graduate Accountant, Ballina Shire Council
When William Black completed his accounting cadetship at Ballina Shire Council, it marked a major milestone, not just for him personally, but for the local government sector across New South Wales.
Will became the first graduate in NSW to complete the NSW Government’s Fresh Start Program, an initiative designed to help councils build the next generation of local government professionals through funded apprenticeships, traineeships, and cadetships. The program is helping young people transition into meaningful local careers while supporting councils to strengthen their future workforce.
For Will, the pathway offered the opportunity to combine university study with real-world experience inside a council finance team. That experience has now led to a full-time role as a Graduate Accountant at Ballina Shire Council.
We spoke with Will about how he found his path into accounting, what a council cadetship actually looks like day to day, and why local government turned out to be the right fit for him.
Q. Let’s start at the beginning. What first sparked your interest in accounting?
A. I don’t think accounting was the obvious choice straight away. Early on, I was actually interested in forensic accounting because I liked financial maths and linked it a bit with police work.
As I got closer to finishing high school and looking at university options, I started thinking more about what would suit my skills. Accounting just made sense and felt like something I could really build a career around.
Q. Was local government always a part of your plan?
A. Not really. Local government wasn’t originally on my radar. I knew I wanted to work in an organisation rather than go into areas like tax or auditing. Management accounting appealed more because you’re working within a business or organisation and can really see how things operate.
When I saw the Ballina Shire Council opportunity come up, I thought I’d apply and see what happens.
Q. How did you come across the cadetship?
A. I found it online. I was looking for internships because my degree allowed either an internship or an industry project. At the same time, I was moving to the area and looking for work, so the cadetship ticked both boxes. It gave me a job and allowed me to complete my internship hours at the same time.
Q. For someone who doesn’t know much about council cadetships, what did the role involve?
A. A typical day would start with emails, then a lot of work around journals and reconciliations. It’s about making sure accounts across different parts of the Council line up and that everything is allocated correctly.
You see lots of different areas of Council at a high level, which I find really interesting because you start to understand how all the pieces come together.
Q. Do you work with teams outside finance?
A. Yes, quite a bit. There’s a lot of communication across departments. For example, during quarterly budget reviews we work with managers from across Council to collect updates and adjustments and then apply those into the long-term financial plan. So even though I’m in finance, there’s regular interaction with lots of different areas.
Q. You were studying at the same time. How did you find balancing work and university?
A. It was challenging. I definitely had to cut back on some social activities to make it work! But working while studying actually helped a lot. Seeing the practical side of what I was learning made it easier to understand. At Uni you might learn something and then move on to the next subject, but when you’re applying it every day it sticks.
Q. Did you notice theory and practice coming together?
A. Definitely. Sometimes I’d be learning something during the week at Uni and then see it happening at work almost straight away. Even terminology that I’d learned earlier suddenly clicked when I heard it used in a real context. That practical exposure really helped reinforce what I was learning.
Q. You’ve now moved into a full-time graduate role. How has that transition felt?
A. I’m still quite early into it, so there’s a lot I’m learning. During the cadetship, tasks were a bit more structured and had a monthly rhythm. Now it’s more about being involved in what the accountants are doing and helping solve issues as they come up.
It feels like the next step and I’m gradually getting more involved in the bigger picture.
Q. Working in local government means working with public money. Does that feel different?
A. Yes, that’s something I’m noticing more now. Budgets aren’t unlimited, so you see how decisions are made about priorities and how funds are allocated. It gives you a real sense of responsibility.
Even though my role isn’t directly out in the community, it’s a good feeling knowing you’re contributing in a small way. I’ll see a road or a building name come across my desk and then drive past it later and think, “That’s what’s happening there.”
Q. How would you describe the culture at Ballina Shire Council?
A. Very welcoming and supportive. This was my first office job, so I learned a lot, not just about accounting but about working in an office environment. The finance team has been really supportive and there’s a friendly regional vibe across the organisation that makes it easy to feel welcome.
Q. You were the first graduate of the Fresh Start Program across NSW. What did that opportunity mean for you?
A. The program provided the funding that helped create the cadetship opportunity, and for me it gave a strong foundation to start my career.
I’m planning to complete my CPA over the next couple of years, and the experience I’ve gained here has set me up really well for that next step. The skills are transferable anywhere, but at the moment I’m enjoying being in the public sector.
Q. What would you say to someone considering a cadetship or a career in local government accounting?
A. I think local government is a really good place to build strong habits early in your career. Because you’re dealing with public resources, things are carefully managed and you learn a lot quickly.
There’s also a bigger picture. When you look back later, you can see the impact you’ve been part of in the community, and that can really mean something.
Interested in starting your own local government career in finance and accounting? Explore current opportunities and discover where a career in local government could take you: https://www.careersatcouncil.com.au/finance-and-accounting/
