Head of Financial Planning

• Newly created Head of FP+A role working with a community focused organisation.
• Report into the CFO and lead a small FP+A team.

About Our Client

ECMS is a respected Early Learning and Care organisation located in Northcote. As a medium-sized business, it is committed to delivering impactful services and fostering a professional work environment. The business is looking to expand it's offering and this role will be heavily responsible in supporting that growth.

Job Description

The Head of FP+A will be responsible for-

Strategic Financial Leadership

• Lead and manage the development and execution of the financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting processes, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and growth plans.
• Provide insightful, data-driven analysis to support executive and board-level decision-making.
• Partner with senior leaders to evaluate business performance, identify risks and opportunities, and drive financial insights that influence service mix, growth strategy and operational efficiency.

System & Process Improvement

• Design and implement a comprehensive financial reporting architecture, embedding robust processes for budgeting, forecasting, financial modelling, and management reporting.
• Develop dashboards, KPI frameworks, and advanced data visualizations to monitor performance and support rapid growth.
• Establish standardised monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting cycles, with strong financial controls and data validation.
• Lead and manage the transition from Excel-based models to scalable, automated planning and reporting solutions, including the selection, implementation, and optimization of an EPM system.
• Drive continuous improvement in reporting accuracy, timeliness, and insights by leveraging business intelligence and AI/ML tools, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and compliance across reporting frameworks.

Financial Reporting & Analysis

• Oversee the preparation and analysis of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports, including consolidated statements and key performance indicators.
• Develop and maintain robust financial models to support scenario planning, business cases, strategic investment and long-term forecasting.
• Lead variance analysis to compare actual results with forecasts and budgets
• Deliver actionable insights and tailored recommendations that drive strategic decisions and address gaps to improve future outcomes.
• Provide scenario planning, cost analysis, and business case support for key programs and funding streams.

Team Leadership & Business Partnering

• Manage, mentor, and develop a small FP&A team, fostering analytical capability, ownership and a culture of continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with operational leaders to embed financial insights in operational decision-making and improve financial literacy.
• Provide regular business intelligence reports and insights to support site performance optimization.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as a key business partner to the CFO, CEO, and executive team, translating complex financial data into actionable insights.
• Collaborate with cross-functional leaders to support strategic initiatives, investment decisions, and business transformation projects.

The Successful Applicant

The Head of FP+A will ideally meet the below criteria-

• CA/CPA Qualified
• Experience across the early childhood education sector would be highly desirable
• Proven experience of progressive finance experience with a strong emphasis on FP&A
• Demonstrated leadership with a focus on the FP&A function
• Extensive experience with EPM platforms and business intelligence/analytics tools (such as Adaptive Planning or Anaplan)
• Demonstrated expertise in Agile methodology and change management
• Demonstrated experience with TechnologyOne
• Strong understanding of data integration and system architecture
• Strong project management and implementation skills

What's on Offer

The Head of FP+A role is offering-

• A base salary of $160,000- $175,000 plus super.
• Flexible/Hybrid working- 2-3 days in office
• The opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the not-for-profit industry.