Director Portfolio Finance \ CFO Advisory

Director Portfolio Finance

• Investment due diligence, portfolio support and interim investee CFO responsibilities.
• Pivotal and autonomous senior finance role.
• Excellent working culture with Hybrid arrangement and 6 Weeks Annual Leave on offer.
• The successful individual can be based at the firm's offices in either Sydney or Melbourne with some domestic travel required.

The Company

Robert Half Executive Search has been exclusively retained to identify a Director of Portfolio Finance for an innovative Growth Equity firm with a remit to invest in Australian businesses to support their continued growth. The organisation invests in Founder-led SME businesses across a range of industries, taking a minority stake with a commitment to providing support and expertise to facilitate continued expansion.

This firm boasts a truly collegiate and trusting environment with no silos and an openness to new ideas. The Successful candidate will be working directly and as part of a senior leadership team that is solution-oriented and energised by innovation.

The Role

The Director will carry out significant financial due diligence for potential investments, ensuring their alignment with the organization's investment thesis and strategic objectives. Once an investment is made the Director will partner closely with CEOs and CFOs in investee businesses, contributing to the development and execution of value-creating investment strategies to drive growth. From time to time, where a portfolio business is undergoing a transition period, the Director will be required to step into the role of interim CFO cover providing financial leadership, operational guidance, and strategic insights to maximise value creation and drive sustainable growth.

Although this role is strategic in nature, it will require a hands-on approach and a willingness to lean into the details when necessary.

Role Responsibilities include:

Investment Due Diligence

• Lead financial analysis, assessment, and due diligence of potential investment opportunities, evaluating financial statements, historical performance, market trends, and risks.
• Collaborate with the investment team to develop financial models, projections, and valuation analyses to support investment decisions.

Portfolio Support

• Assess and manage financial risks associated with investments and portfolio companies, supporting portfolio CEOs and CFOs to implement strategies to mitigate potential challenges.
• Prepare Quarterly Portfolio Reviews and Quarterly Board Portfolio Health reports.

Interim investee CFO Responsibilities

• Where required, assume the role of interim CFO for portfolio companies post-completion, providing financial leadership and strategic direction until a permanent CFO is appointed.
• Work with portfolio company teams to identify, select and onboard permanent CFO appointments.

Your Profile

This is an exciting growth opportunity for an accomplished senior finance professional and requires a depth and breadth of knowledge across all traditional aspects of financial control, FP&A and compliance, as well as valuations and due diligence.

Directly relevant experience would come from Private Equity, Investment firm, PE-backed portfolio businesses or Family Office environments (with business investments as opposed to property or equities).

Ideal Background

• CA, CPA or CFA Qualified.
• Extensive experience leading finance functions across a broad range of commercial industries: E-Commerce, Retail, FMCG, Manufacturing or other Tech-enabled businesses.
• Some SME business exposure in a hands-on finance leadership role essential.
• Proven leadership experience at the CFO/FD (or similar) level.
• Solid foundational technical accounting, Audit and/or Transactions Services experience - ideally gained within a Big 4 accounting firm or other significant enterprise.
• Excellent financial modelling, valuation, and analytical skills.
• Deep expertise in hands on preparation of detailed integrated 3-way cash flow models (Income Statement – Balance Sheet - Cash Flow Statement).
• Extensive experience in managing all day-to-day operations of a finance function.
• Demonstrated experience in implementing robust financial systems within small businesses.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ONLY APPLICANTS WITH FULL WORKING RIGHTS IN AUSTRALIA WILL BE CONSIDERED