Reserve Bank of Australia Annual Report – 2018 Operational Structure
The Reserve Bank is managed by the Governor, Philip Lowe[*], and the Deputy Governor, Guy Debelle[*][†]. It has five operational groups – Business Services Group, Corporate Services Group, Economic Group, Financial Markets Group and Financial System Group – and six supporting departments.
Business Services Group
Assistant Governor: Lindsay Boulton[*][†]
Business Services Group comprises Banking Department, Note Issue Department and Payments Settlements Department.
Banking Department
Head: Michelle McPhee
Deputy Head: Bipan Arora, Stephanie Connors
Banking Department provides a range of banking services to Australian Government departments and agencies as well as a number of overseas central banks and official institutions. The services broadly comprise two activities – management of the government's core accounts and transactional banking. Sydney-based staff are responsible for the direction, administration and development of the department's work, while the day-to-day interaction with customers is largely managed by staff in the Canberra Branch.
Note Issue Department
Head: Melissa Hope
Deputy Head: James Holloway
Note Issue Department is responsible for all aspects of the banknote lifecycle from research into and development of new banknote designs and security features, to the supply of high-quality banknotes to meet the community's needs. The department works with the Reserve Bank's wholly owned subsidiary, Note Printing Australia Limited (NPA), to design and produce the banknotes. (See below for information about the activities, governance and structure of NPA.) The department manages laboratories to assess new and used banknotes, develop new security features and assess counterfeits detected in circulation. It operates the highly secure National Banknote Site for the storage, processing and distribution of banknotes. The department also has an extensive public engagement program with commercial banks, retailers, cash-in-transit companies, law enforcement agencies and banknote equipment manufacturers. Staff participate in a number of international groups as part of the Bank's efforts to address the risks posed by counterfeiters.
Payments Settlements Department
Head: Greg Johnston
Deputy Head: David Emery (Acting), Peter Gallagher
Payments Settlements Department is responsible for the settlement of high-value payments and interbank obligations arising from the conduct of Exchange Settlement Accounts and the Reserve Bank's own trading activities, as well as operation of the Reserve Bank Information and Transfer System (RITS), Australia's real-time gross settlement system (RTGS). RITS also includes the Fast Settlements Service, which Payments Settlements Department operates on an RTGS basis 24 hours a day, seven days a week for settlement of New Payments Platform transactions. Services are also provided for the clearing and settlement of low-value payments, such as those arising from cheque and direct entry transactions.
Corporate Services Group
Assistant Governor: Susan Woods[*][†]
Corporate Services Group is responsible for the delivery of technology systems and infrastructure, and facilities management services to support the day-to-day operations of the Bank. It comprises the Information Technology Department and Workplace Department.
Information Technology Department
Chief Information Officer: Gayan Benedict[†]
Deputy Head: Andrew Pade (Acting), Peter Speranza
Information Technology Department is responsible for developing and maintaining reliable, resilient and secure information technology functions to support the Reserve Bank's policy, operational and corporate functions. In fulfilling these responsibilities, the department delivers and maintains the Bank's technology systems and infrastructure, provides ongoing system quality assurance, and maintains the Bank's cyber-security defensive controls. The department also supports technology planning for the Bank, which includes catering for emerging and future technology requirements.
Workplace Department
Head: Bruce Harries
Deputy Head: Ed Jacka
Workplace Department is responsible for management of the Reserve Bank's physical assets, the maintenance of its properties and building infrastructure, and the delivery of workplace services. Key activities include workspace fit-outs, engineering, physical and protective security, catering, cleaning, procurement and strategic vendor management, and environmental risk management for the effective operation of the Bank and the safety, security, amenity and wellbeing of staff.
Economic Group
Assistant Governor: Luci Ellis[*]
Economic Group is responsible for analysis of economic trends, both domestic and overseas, forecasting and research relevant to the framing of policy in a number of areas of the Reserve Bank's responsibility. It consists of Economic Analysis Department and Economic Research Department.
Economic Analysis Department
Head: Alexandra Heath
Deputy Head: Lynne Cockerell, Merylin Coombs, Michael Plumb
Economic Analysis Department monitors and forecasts trends in the domestic and international economies, provides regular advice on these developments and monetary policy to the Governors and the Reserve Bank Board, contributes to the work of various external bodies, maintains contacts with relevant external analysts, undertakes applied research and prepares reports for publication.
The Reserve Bank maintains four State Offices to conduct economic liaison across Australia. These offices hold regular discussions with individual firms and organisations in both the private and public sectors, and assist with communication to the wider community.
The Bank also has an office in Beijing, which is responsible for monitoring Chinese economic and financial developments as well as maintaining relationships with government and private sector entities in China.
Economic Research Department
Head: John Simon
Deputy Head: Vacant
Economic Research Department undertakes longer-term research into issues relevant to the Reserve Bank's responsibilities, including research on the Australian economy, monetary policy, financial stability, the payments system and the operation of financial markets. Results of this research are published in the Research Discussion Paper series. The department organises a major annual conference and an annual research workshop. In addition, it organises a program of internal seminars, hosts a number of invited visitors each year and is responsible for administering a comprehensive library service for the Bank.
Financial Markets Group
Assistant Governor: Christopher Kent[*][†]
Financial Markets Group is responsible for implementing the Reserve Bank's operations in domestic and foreign exchange markets, monitoring developments in financial markets and coordinating the Bank's relationships with international institutions. The group consists of Domestic Markets Department and International Department.
Domestic Markets Department
Head: Marion Kohler
Deputy Head: Ellis Connolly
Domestic Markets Department is responsible for the Reserve Bank's operations in the domestic money and bond markets. The department analyses developments in domestic financial markets, including the cost and availability of finance through financial intermediaries and capital markets, and provides regular advice to the Governors and the Reserve Bank Board on these issues.
International Department
Head: Bradley Jones
Deputy Head: Matthew Boge, David Jacobs
International Department is responsible for the Reserve Bank's foreign exchange operations, the investment of international reserve holdings of gold and foreign exchange, and the provision of regular advice on developments in international financial markets to the Governors and the Reserve Bank Board. The department is also responsible for maintaining the Bank's relations with a number of major international institutions.
The Representative Offices in London and New York come under the umbrella of the Financial Markets Group. The European Representative Office in London maintains liaison with central banks and other institutions and authorities in Europe, including the Bank for International Settlements and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The New York Representative Office performs similar functions in North America. Both of these offices monitor economic and financial developments in their respective local markets, and assist with foreign exchange operations and investment of international reserves.
The Financial Market Group's Business Support Services area provides project delivery, market data management and operational support services, in conjunction with the Information Technology Department, for the Reserve Bank's investment and trading operations.
Financial System Group
Assistant Governor: Michele Bullock[*]
Financial System Group supports the Reserve Bank's broad responsibilities for financial system stability and its role in payments system oversight and regulation. The group consists of Financial Stability Department and Payments Policy Department.
Financial Stability Department
Head: Jonathan Kearns
Deputy Head: Darren Flood, David Orsmond
Financial Stability Department analyses the implications for financial system stability of developments in the macroeconomy, financial markets and the financial sector more generally, including areas such as patterns of financial intermediation, financial products and risk management techniques. The department provides advice on these issues to the Governors and the Reserve Bank Board and supports the Reserve Bank's representation on bodies such as the Council of Financial Regulators, the Financial Stability Board and the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision. It is responsible for producing the Bank's semiannual Financial Stability Review.
Payments Policy Department
Head: Tony Richards
Deputy Head: Sarah Harris, Chris Thompson
Payments Policy Department is responsible for developing and implementing the Reserve Bank's payments system policy. It provides analysis and advice to the Payments System Board on improving the safety, efficiency and competitiveness of the payments system. The department is also responsible for oversight of Australia's high-value payments, clearing and settlement facilities, and represents the Bank on the Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures of the Bank for International Settlements.
Audit Department
Audit Department is responsible for conducting independent appraisals of the Reserve Bank's activities, functions and operations to ensure that an adequate framework of internal control has been established and is operating effectively. The Head of Audit Department reports to the Deputy Governor and the Chair of the Reserve Bank Board Audit Committee.
Finance Department
Chief Financial Officer: Robert Middleton-Jones[*][†]
Financial Controller: Sam Tomaras
Finance Department is responsible for the Reserve Bank's financial statements and taxation reporting obligations, prepares the Bank's budget and provides a range of support services, including corporate payments, payroll and travel. Finance also manages the Bank's Enterprise Portfolio Management Office.
Human Resources Department
Human Resources Department provides a range of people-related services to support the Reserve Bank in maintaining a productive and engaged workforce. This includes sourcing high-quality staff as well as implementing policies and programs that cover employment conditions, reward, development, diversity and workplace health and safety.
Information Department
Information Department is responsible for the Reserve Bank's records management system, information governance and its archives, and for facilitating public access to Bank records.
It also manages the Reserve Bank of Australia Museum and a program of public education, with particular focus on supporting students and educators.
Risk and Compliance Department
Risk and Compliance Department supports the consistent and effective application of the Reserve Bank's framework for managing risk, both at the enterprise level and for individual business units. It assists departments to identify, understand and manage their compliance obligations. It also monitors and reports on portfolio risks and compliance with respect to the Bank's operations in financial markets. The department is responsible for secretariat and coordination services and advice for the Risk Management Committee. The Head of Risk and Compliance Department reports to the Deputy Governor.
Secretary's Department
Secretary: Anthony Dickman[*]
Deputy Secretary: Andrea Brischetto
General Counsel: Catherine Parr[†][‡]
Deputy General Counsel: Peter Jones
Secretary's Department provides secretariat and coordination services and advice on governance matters for the Governors, the Reserve Bank Board and its Audit and Remuneration committees, the Payments System Board and the Executive Committee. Secretary's Department is responsible for the Reserve Bank's communication, including preparing and publishing Reserve Bank information, maintaining the Bank's websites and handling enquiries from the media and general public. In addition, the department provides legal services to the Bank through the General Counsel (who reports directly to the Deputy Governor), coordinates a range of contacts with government, the parliament, other central banks and international organisations, and arranges programs for international visitors.
Wholly owned subsidiary: Note Printing Australia Limited (NPA)
NPA is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank that produces banknotes. NPA operates under a charter reviewed and approved annually by the Reserve Bank Board. See the chapter on ‘Governance’ for further detail about the governance of NPA.
NPA's prime function is the efficient and cost-effective production of high-quality and secure Australian banknotes, in accordance with specifications and requirements set by the Reserve Bank. NPA also undertakes other activities, including developing and producing passports for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, producing banknotes for other issuing authorities and producing other security products.
NPA's Executive Committee, comprising its Chief Executive Officer and the heads of NPA's eight business areas, is responsible for the operational and administrative management of NPA. As at the end of June 2018, NPA employed 244 permanent staff.
The financial accounts of NPA are consolidated with those of the Reserve Bank.