Head of Commercial Finance

Head of Commercial Finance Location : Salary : Work Type : Full time Strategic Finance Leadership role reporting to divisional CFO Provide key contract & commercial support Melbourne based, with inter-state travel As the Head of Commercial Finance for a major business line, you will partner directly with the Executive leadership team and oversee the full end-to-end finance function across multiple long-term contracts. This is a senior finance role within the division—responsible for driving financial strategy, performance, governance, and commercial outcomes across Australia’s largest essential services portfolios. The role offers the unique combination of executive-level influence, operational engagement, long-term service contract exposure, and the ability to shape financial performance across a multi-billion-dollar environment. Key Responsibilities : Strategic Finance Leadership

Lead all financial planning, performance, budgeting, forecasting and monthly reporting across the business line. Provide direct strategic support and commercial insight to Executive leaders and General Managers. Manage and mentor a high-performing finance team, ensuring capability, accuracy, and professional growth. Financial Performance, Reporting & Governance

Oversee accurate and compliant financial reporting, balance sheet integrity, audit preparedness, and statutory alignment. Lead monthly reporting, variance analysis, margin review, management commentary and performance insights. Drive strong internal controls, quality of reconciliations, and governance across all contracts. Contract & Commercial Support

Partner closely with commercial leaders to assess contract risks, pricing, variations, penalties / abatements, and performance incentives. Support bid governance processes, including “black hat” reviews, risk assessments and scenario modelling. Oversee financial modelling for contract mobilisation / demobilisation and ensure base case assumptions are maintained. Cash Flow & Operational Finance

Drive cash flow forecasting, collections, billing accuracy, and overall cash management across long-term contracts. Oversee AP, AR, payroll and transactional finance activities through shared services. Ensure forecasting accuracy at weekly, monthly, and quarterly intervals. Systems, Process & Continuous Improvement

Champion process improvements, financial automation and systems optimisation, including ERP and EPM platforms. Support group consolidation, reporting standardisation and finance transformation initiatives. Lead business improvement programs across contracts and assist in benchmarking activities. Leadership, Capability & Culture

Provide clear leadership, coaching and performance management across the finance team. Foster a culture of accountability, quality, continuous improvement and Zero Harm. Build strong internal relationships to improve cross-functional alignment and outcomes. About You / Ideal Candidate

You will be a senior finance leader with experience operating in large, complex, multi-contract or asset-heavy organisations —ideally across engineering, construction, infrastructure, defence, transport, energy or similar industries. You will bring : CA / CPA qualification (post-graduate qualifications advantageous). Proven experience leading finance teams within contract-driven environments. Strong capability in budgeting, forecasting, performance analysis and financial governance. Deep understanding of contract margins, risk identification, cost allocation and cash flow management. Experience partnering with senior operational leaders in fast-paced, commercially complex settings. Strong systems knowledge (ERP, EPM, consolidation tools) and a mindset for continuous improvement. Ability to lead through change, influence cross-functional stakeholders, and drive high performance. Why It’s a Great Role

Executive-level influence across a nationally significant business line. Broad commercial exposure across long-term service contracts and critical infrastructure operations. A highly visible role with impact across financial strategy, bid support, commercial decisions, and operational performance. Leadership of a capable finance team and the ability to shape structure, processes and capability. Opportunity to contribute to finance transformation, systems improvement, and modernisation initiatives . Work within a large, well-known organisation with a strong national footprint and a clear commitment to safety, culture and continuous improvement. A role offering genuine career progression into broader executive finance or commercial leadership.

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