A passion for giving back

Finding his niche in the public sector in Australia – far away from his birthplace, Nigeria – Fred Alale has ensured that his career has been one that is rich and varied, with each appointment deepening his knowledge and fuelling his interest in serving communities.

Alale joined the Victoria State Government in 2019, initially with the Department of Treasury and Finance, where his role was to deliver large infrastructure projects. When this was interrupted by the pandemic, he was seconded to the Department of Justice and Community Safety to lead business compliance with public health directions.

Skill synergies

Although this role did not require financial skills, there were synergies. ‘Being, in effect, an enforcement officer had nothing to do with accounting but my training was very useful,’ Alale says. ‘People will challenge enforcement decisions so you have to have traceability and evidence, looking at each case through an audit lens, and also to understand the legalities.’

After the Covid-19 emergency passed, Alale grasped an opportunity to take on his current role in the Department of Education, where he is director of financial systems and projects. ‘The most rewarding part of my role is working with my team to solve complex problems for our clients, which are internal department stakeholders,’ he says.

Leading a multidisciplinary team of around 20 professionals implementing the Oracle Cloud Program, he oversees the development, management, improvement and implementation of financial systems and tools designed to record, store and share financial information crucial for reporting and decision-making purposes.

The ability to pivot into a financial IT role is one of the benefits Alale credits with his ACCA training. ‘The great thing about the ACCA qualification is that you’re not locked in to being an accountant,’ he says.

‘Before I took on my current role I’d moved into consulting; I’d done project management office-type work, and had been solving issues or problems within large complex organisations – not your typical accounting roles. Without ACCA, I don’t believe I would have had the experiences I’ve built on to get me where I am today.’

On the move

From a young age, Alale dreamed of working in finance.

Moving from Lagos to London at 18 to study accounting and finance, Alale graduated with first-class honours and numerous prizes.

‘To give myself the best chance for employability, I decided to register with ACCA and study one more year full time to complete my ACCA professional level papers and become an ACCA affiliate,’ he says.

Various finance jobs followed, until in 2007, a coveted opportunity finally came to join EY.

When in 2010 a colleague on secondment to the UK introduced him to a partner in Melbourne, the wheels were in motion for a move to Australia with his wife Claire and 18-month-old baby. ‘Chartered accountants were on the professional shortage list in Australia,’ he says. ‘I applied and was accepted as a highly skilled migrant.’

Based in Melbourne, he moved between the Big Four firms, relishing each unique role, especially those that offered experience in the digital space. ‘I’ve always not just done what’s required of my role, but looked for improvement opportunities,’ he says.

Community commitment

His thirst for Big Four experience sated, Alale began eyeing the public sector. ‘I have a passion for giving back, and wanted to do daily work more aligned with my personal values. A government position provided that.’

His day job is only part of Alale’s commitment to community. Soon after settling in Australia, he attended a community event that would spearhead his volunteer work. A festival of Nigerian culture held in Melbourne led to connections with other professionals who invited Alale to join efforts to raise the standards of events and activities run by the Nigerian community. He soon became treasurer, then president, of the Nigerian Society of Victoria.

When an application was made for a government grant to bring a popular Nigerian artist to Melbourne, the society was advised that funding would be contingent on engaging the wider African communities. So, Alale co-founded the annual African Music and Cultural Festival.

‘Fewer than 5,000 people attended our first event in December 2014,’ he says. ‘Now we are the largest African festival in Australia, involving more than 35 African countries, and expecting 55,000 visitors for this year’s event in November at Federation Square, Melbourne.’

Opportunity to excel

For his significant contribution to the African communities in Victoria, Alale was appointed Member (AM) of the Order of Australia in the 2023 Australia Day awards. ‘I couldn’t have done this in Nigeria or the UK,’ he says. ‘Only Australia has given me the opportunity to excel and be the best I can be.’

He enjoys providing a platform for young talent. ‘I’ve been lucky to have some good mentors and role models encouraging me along the way,’ he says. ‘Other young Australians may not have had that, and I am passionate about giving back and helping others achieve their potential. It’s not how many doors open for me, but how many people I can bring through those doors; that is my measure of success.’

Now a father of three daughters, his hope is for ‘my ceiling to be their floor’, he says.

‘I want them to use wherever I get to as a base; to realise they are privileged, and to never take that for granted; to always have a value of helping others and making a difference in the community; to be happy in whatever they do; and to value and look out for each other.’