Chief Financial Officer

Our client is a leading services organisation with extensive community impact and engagement in the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne. Uniquely positioned as a 'challenger' brand, the organisation has created a Chief Financial Officer role within their org structure to add commercial flair and risk management discipline to their operations. Reporting to the Chief Executive and supporting a board and committee structure made up of professional Directors, this is a unique role for a finance leader seeking some operational variety in their role.

The Chief Financial Officer will be responsible for overseeing the commercial operations and financial reporting requirements of the organisation, whilst ensuring the organisation is adequately prepared for the scale required to achieve their strategic objectives. By providing informed commercial and strategic insights to the Chief Executive and Board, key financial metrics will be achieved and operating risks will be well managed. Broad portfolios that the CFO will manage include:

Finance: Critical business partnering role to Chief Executive and Directors in measuring operating performance and profitability, understanding budgets and financial forecasts, cost control and allocation of capex for growth initiatives; management of financial control function, including general ledger integrity, payables and receivables, reconciliations, monthly P&L/balance sheet/cash flow reporting and payroll; management of the financial analysis and planning function including budgeting, financial forecasting, periodic reporting, and financial modelling; oversight of cashflows, funding and capital requirements; management of audits and compliance processes.

Risk: Oversight of the risk function including accountability for the risk register; reviews and assessments of risk management policies and protocols; recommendations and implementations of risk management solutions such as insurance, safety and security policies, business continuity plans, or recovery measures.

Strategy Development: In collaboration with the Chief Executive and Board, confirm the strategic direction for the organisation in accordance with the strategic planning process; play a commercial and financial planning advisory role to the organisation in analysing current and past trends in KPIs and stakeholder return metrics; provide strategic support to executive team in developing strategic projects that require capital investment or are material to the organisation.  

Infrastructure and property: Provide leadership to facilities management team and deliver all infrastructure, maintenance and general property projects the organisation requires in a compliant and cost-effective manner.

Board matters: Act as minute secretary and support Directors to undertake their duties as required; appointment as joint Company Secretary to support the Board in accordance with company law and regulators as required; act as an ex-officio member of the Risk, Finance & Audit, IT and Infrastructure sub-committees.

Technology: Work collaboratively with the executive team to oversee the finance team's use of information technology, ensuring systems capability is aligned with the requirements of the organisation's strategic and operating plans.

People/ HR: Lead, coach, evaluate and develop finance team to ensure they work effectively, consistently and to agreed timeframes; provide strong leadership and direction around people and culture initiatives; provide support to HRBP and Chief Executive with EBA negotiations and industrial relations management.

The successful candidate will excel in a team environment partnering effectively with the executive team, board, external stakeholders, service providers, and the community which the organisation services. They will also be highly pro-active, independent, show good judgement and be capable of executing their role with minimal instruction and supervision.

To be successful in securing this role, the CFO will have: 

• A Commerce/Accounting degree and be CAANZ/CPA qualified;
• 10+ years' experience in a Finance Manager / Financial Controller role including accountability to Boards and managing a broad range of stakeholders;
• Commercial and strategic leadership experience within enterprises that have experienced growth and challenged the status quo (education, health, membership based & NFP, general services industries highly regarded);
• Strong understanding of key business functions including technology, community engagement and communications, HS&E, project and facilities management and customer service;
• The resilience, tenacity and application of change management principles to succeed in developing and improving risk management frameworks, financial models and financial reporting standards;
• Demonstrated experience in successfully leading a team;
• The highest standards of professionalism, integrity and ethics pursuant to the responsibilities of the position and being a representative of such a recognisable organisation;
• Outstanding interpersonal skills, with an ability to develop and build rapport instantly with people; &
• A commercial basis for decision making, with an eye to organisational impact and efficiency gains.

Tom Hutchinson from TWH Advisory has been appointed as the advising consultant to our client on this assignment. Confidential enquiries regarding the role can be directed to him on or The successful candidate will be subject to reference checks, a national police check and certification of educational qualifications prior to an offer of employment being confirmed.