Director, Financial Control and Compliance

Director, Financial Control and Compliance

UNSW Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia

Overview

You will join UNSW during an exciting and transformative period. This role will play a pivotal part as an enabler of the financial control and compliance frameworks, with a future view to identifying opportunities and raising the profile of the function while optimising process efficiencies.

As the Director of Financial Control and Compliance you will work closely with other assurance functions within UNSW and with sector assurance bodies including, but not limited to, Audit Office NSW and NSW Treasury. This role is pivotal to delivering strategic technical financial advice to senior business leaders across the organisation and will influence policy stances more broadly across the sector.

You will also be responsible for leading and managing the overall financial control, governance and compliance strategies for UNSW and its controlled entities, supporting all statutory reporting obligations, and ensuring that all underlying accounting transactions comply with Australian Accounting Standards and relevant NSW Treasury guidance and are prepared in accordance with the Australian equivalent of IFRS.

About UNSW

UNSW is one of the world's leading research and teaching‑intensive universities, known for innovative, pioneering research and high‑quality education outputs, influencing significant global societal impacts. UNSW is a large organisation with a diverse and talented community and a culture focused on thoughtful, practical, and purposeful work. It is among the world's top 20 universities and a member of Australia's Group of Eight.

Opportunity and Impact

You will join during an exciting transformation and this role will enable the good work already in place in the financial control and compliance frameworks, while also identifying opportunities to raise the function's profile and optimise processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the overall financial control, governance and compliance strategies for UNSW and its controlled entities, support statutory reporting obligations, and ensure underlying accounting transactions comply with Australian Accounting Standards and NSW Treasury guidance; align with the Australian equivalent of IFRS.
• Work with assurance functions and sector bodies (including Audit Office NSW and NSW Treasury) to deliver strategic technical financial advice to senior business leaders and influence policy stances.
• Oversee financial reporting, governance, risk management and internal controls; drive process improvements and policy development.
• Lead responses for ICAC, GIPA and PID compliance; contribute to the development and implementation of internal financial control frameworks and internal fiscal policies and procedures.
• Develop and implement systems and processes for local and international tax compliance.
• Provide analytical and conceptual thought to diagnose sensitive business issues and deliver innovative, timely solutions.
• Foster excellent communication, stakeholder engagement and partnership with business units to deliver high‑quality financial support and advisory services.
• Lead a multi‑team financial control function and develop staff capabilities.
• Maintain knowledge and understanding of the higher education sector.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification and CA or CPA designation with substantial experience managing multi‑faceted financial/statutory accounting functions in a large and complex organisation (Higher Education experience is not essential).
• Significant experience planning and managing statutory audits in a large/complex organisation.
• Extensive experience developing and implementing internal financial control frameworks in support of statutory obligations and internal policies and procedures.
• Extensive experience developing and implementing systems and processes for local and international tax compliance.
• Strong analytical and conceptual thinking with the ability to diagnose issues and provide innovative and timely solutions.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and stakeholder management skills; ability to inform, persuade and negotiate with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Proven ability to develop internal business partnerships delivering high‑quality financial support and advisory services.
• Extensive experience managing multi‑team performance and developing staff capabilities.
• Knowledge and understanding of the higher education sector.

How to Apply

Submit your CV and Cover Letter detailing your interest and suitability for the role (as per the skills and experience in the job description) before Sunday 14 September by 11:55pm. Sponsorship is not available; valid Australian working rights are required on application.

Remuneration, Location and Benefits

Employment Type: Full‑time, continuing position. Remuneration: Competitive total package. Location: Kensington, NSW (Hybrid working model).

Benefits

• Flexible working options (work from home, flexible hours).
• Additional 3 days leave during December festive period.
• Career development opportunities.
• Up to 50% discount on UNSW courses.
• Flexible superannuation contributions (up to 17%), leave‑loading and salary sacrifice.
• Discounts and entitlements (retail, education, fitness).

UNSW is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion. Applications from women, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTIQ+ community, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, are encouraged. UNSW provides workplace adjustments for people with disability and access to flexible work options for eligible staff.

Contacts

Job queries: Kim Symons, Talent Acquisition Consultant

E:

Seniority and Job Details

Seniority level: Director

Employment type: Full-time

Job function: Finance and Sales

Industries: Higher Education and Research Services

#J-18808-Ljbffr

---