Finance and Corporate Services Manager

About Us

CHCA is an Aboriginal-controlled, not-for-profit community housing provider based in Alice Springs. We deliver safe, affordable housing and tenancy support for Aboriginal families and communities across Central Australia.

We are values-driven, collaborative, and committed to strengthening communities through stable housing and culturally grounded service delivery.

You don't need to be a CPA or an accountant; we are seeking capability, integrity, and the right behavioural fit alongside the relevant operational and financial experience.

About the Role

We are seeking a Manager with a positive, proactive attitude and a genuine commitment to working alongside Aboriginal people in Central Australia.

This is a senior operational role overseeing CHCA's internal finance, risk and compliance systems and ensuring accuracy, and strong business processes. You will work in consultation with our external CFO partner, who provides high-level financial reporting and technical oversight.

If you enjoy taking ownership, improving systems, working with purpose, and living in a place with big blue skies and a real connection to the community, this role will suit you.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead CHCA's internal financial operations and reporting
• Work collaboratively with our accountant on month-end, audits, and compliance
• Oversee payroll, budgets, reconciliations, and financial systems
• Provide accurate compliance, human resource, IT, risk and operational insights to the CEO and leadership team
• Strengthen internal controls, processes, and governance
• Supervise finance/admin staff and build capability across the organisation
• Support program and funding acquittals and controls

About You

You bring experience in finance, but even more importantly, you bring the right attitude:

• Positive, solutions-focused, calm under pressure
• Hands-on and willing to roll up your sleeves
• Enjoy working in a small team with a big mission
• Respectful, culturally aware, and committed to working with Aboriginal people
• Comfortable living and working in Alice Springs and embracing the desert life
• Strong communicator who collaborates well with internal and external stakeholders

What We Offer

• Fantastic salary consummate with experience
• Fun and diverse role to grow
• 6 weeks annual leave
• Salary packaging benefits
• 38-hour working week
• A role with purpose and real community impact
• Supportive leadership and strong partnership with an external accountant
• An opportunity to build a life in one of Australia's most unique regions

How to Apply

Apply via SEEK with your resume and a cover letter answering the following 10 questions.

1. Describe your experience leading an organisation's budgeting process. What approach do you take to engaging managers and ensuring realistic, accurate budgets?
2. Tell us about a time you identified a material variance in financial performance. How did you investigate it, and what actions did you recommend?
3. What is your experience preparing or managing month-end close processes? Which components do you typically take ownership of?
4. Explain a time when your financial advice directly influenced a major operational or strategic decision. What was the situation and outcome?
5. Working alongside external accountants or a CFO service requires strong coordination. Describe how you ensure internal financial data is accurate, timely, and aligned with external reporting requirements.
6. Tell us about a time you identified a financial, compliance, or operational risk. What steps did you take to address it, and what controls did you implement?
7. Describe how you ensure compliance with funding agreements, grant conditions, or regulatory requirements. What systems or checks do you rely on?
8. This role involves working closely with the CEO, an external CFO accounting firm, and a small internal team. How do you build strong working relationships and maintain clear, respectful communication?
9. Give an example of a time you had to deliver difficult or corrective advice to colleagues or managers. How did you handle the situation?
10. How do you foster a positive, accountable, and solutions-focused culture within a finance or business support team? What behaviours do you model?

For a confidential discussion regarding the role, please contact Miko Smith, Chief Executive Officer

We reserve the right to offer a contract to a suitable candidate at any point during the process, and we will only make contact with shortlisted or suitable applicants.