Associate Director - Performance Improvement

KordaMentha; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional Development

Flexibility

Career Growth

Leave That Works for You

Culture & Connection

Family Support

Health & Wellbeing

Job summary

KordaMentha is seeking an experienced Associate Director to join the Performance Improvement team. You will partner with clients and senior leaders to deliver high-impact strategy, operational and financial improvements across diverse industries.

Working with Partners and leaders, you will mentor teams, drive change, and shape practical solutions while expanding the practice and building trusted relationships.

Qualifications

• 6–8+ years in consulting, advisory, strategy or transformation.
• Experience leading complex engagements focused on operational, commercial, financial or strategic improvement.
• Strong financial and analytical capability, including modelling and performance diagnostics.
• Proven ability to engage and influence senior executives and stakeholders.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills, with clear recommendations.
• Experience leading teams and delivering high-quality outcomes in fast-paced environments.

Responsibilities

• Partner with clients and colleagues to deliver performance improvement engagements across industries.
• Analyse financial and operational information, identify issues and develop recommendations.
• Help clients understand performance, identify opportunities, and navigate change with confidence.
• Lead the design and implementation of practical, sustainable solutions.
• Build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders and guide organisations through transformation.
• Work with Partners on client delivery, business development, and practice growth.
• Coach and develop team members to foster a high-performing culture.

Skills

Consulting toolkit

Stakeholder management

Financial analysis

Strategic thinking

Leadership

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Tertiary qualifications

Job description

For more than 20 years, KordaMentha has supported businesses through some of their most complex matters and opportunities. Founder owned and led; we are an advisory firm that helps corporations, financiers, lawyers, private investors and government clients to grow, protect and recover value.

That’s what we do, but it’s how we do this that makes us who we are.

Proudly independent, strategically local, and with a bias for action to get things done, we focus on doing what is right by our clients, our people, and the wider community. Our track record shows that we help navigate the best path forward in challenging times, and do so across cities, regions and territories.

In the most stressful or demanding environments, we continue to drive change where it really counts.

For more than 20 years, KordaMentha has supported businesses through some of their most complex matters and opportunities. Founder owned and led; we are an advisory firm that helps corporations, financiers, lawyers, private investors and government clients to grow, protect and recover value.

That’s what we do, but it’s how we do this that makes us who we are.

Proudly independent, strategically local, and with a bias for action to get things done, we focus on doing what is right by our clients, our people, and the wider community. Our track record shows that we help navigate the best path forward in challenging times, and do so across cities, regions and territories.

In the most stressful or demanding environments, we continue to drive change where it really counts.

Job Description

Our Performance Improvement team is growing, and we are looking for an experienced Associate Director to join us. This is an excellent opportunity for a commercially minded consulting professional who enjoys solving complex strategic, operational and financial challenges across a diverse range of industries.

This is an outstanding opportunity to accelerate your career within a highly respected and growing Performance Improvement practice. Working alongside Partners and senior leaders who are recognised experts in their fields, you will benefit from strong mentorship while gaining exposure to complex, high-impact engagements across a range of sectors. In doing so, you will broaden your advisory skillset, deepen your commercial expertise and build trusted relationships with senior decision-makers.

At KordaMentha, we are engaged when organisations face critical business challenges and need clear thinking, strong judgement and practical action. As an Associate Director, you will partner closely with clients and senior leaders to deliver impactful solutions across strategic review, operational improvement, financial performance, transformation and implementation.

This opportunity will suit candidates with a consulting or advisory background who enjoy working in complex environments, helping organisations improve performance, navigate change and deliver sustainable outcomes.

In this role, you will:

• Partner with clients and colleagues to deliver impactful performance improvement engagements across a range of industries and complex operating environments.
• Analyse financial and operational information, identify key issues and develop clear, commercially grounded recommendations.
• Support clients to better understand business performance, identify opportunities for improvement and navigate change with confidence.
• Lead the design and implementation of practical, sustainable solutions tailored to each client’s circumstances and strategic objectives.
• Build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders and guide organisations through periods of transformation and change.
• Work closely with Partners and senior leaders, contributing meaningfully to client delivery, business development and the continued growth of the practice.
• Coach and develop team members, fostering a collaborative and high-performing culture.

This role offers the opportunity to combine strategic thinking, commercial analysis and client advisory in a team known for delivering outcomes on business-critical engagements. At KordaMentha, our work is rarely theoretical. We are engaged when organisations need clear thinking, strong judgement and practical action to address complex challenges and unlock meaningful performance improvements.

You will gain exposure to organisations across a broad range of sectors, including education, healthcare, government, infrastructure, not-for-profit and commercial enterprises. While experience within specific sectors may be valuable, we are particularly interested in candidates who can apply strong consulting, analytical and stakeholder management skills across different contexts and industries.

Qualifications

We are looking for someone who brings a strong consulting toolkit, a commercially curious mindset and the ability to influence outcomes in complex stakeholder environments.

You will have:

• Relevant tertiary qualifications and approximately 6–8+ years’ experience in consulting, advisory, strategy, transformation or a related environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex engagements focused on operational, commercial, financial or strategic improvement.
• Strong financial and analytical capability, including financial analysis, business case development, modelling and performance diagnostics.
• Proven ability to engage, influence and build credibility with senior executives and key stakeholders.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills, with the ability to distil complex issues into clear and actionable recommendations.
• Experience leading teams, managing workstreams and delivering high-quality outcomes in fast-paced environments.
• A genuine curiosity about how organisations operate and a passion for helping clients improve performance in practical, measurable ways.
• Experience in sectors such as higher education, healthcare, government, infrastructure, professional services or other complex stakeholder environments will be highly regarded but is not essential.

Additional Information

KordaMentha — Build your future, shape ours

We don’t just hire talent; we invest in it - with support that accelerates your success in every way.

Why Join Us?

• Professional Development: Expert mentorship, tailored training via KordaMentha Business School, study support, and our Accelerate program for Analysts to Associate Directors — build your brand, expand your network, and gain strategic insights from senior leaders

• Flexibility: We champion work/life integration with options that fit your lifestyle.
• Career Growth: Merit-based promotions, secondments, and opportunities to work alongside senior leaders on impactful projects.
• Leave That Works for You: Buy extra leave and access volunteer, generous parental leave and career break options.
• Culture & Connection: Social events, cultural celebrations, and our bi-ennial black-tie ball.
• Family Support: Flexible parental leave, return-to-work support through our partner GracePapers, and resources for every stage of family life.
• Health & Wellbeing: Inclusive wellness initiatives and confidential and industry leading EAP for you and your family. This isn’t just a job — it’s a place where your ambitions are nurtured, your wellbeing is valued, and your contributions celebrated. Ready to shape your future with us?