Chief Financial Officer

Reo Group Executive Search; Sydney; On-site; AUD 250,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

Reo Group Executive Search has been exclusively retained to appoint a Chief Financial Officer for a Sydney-based private law firm entering a growth phase. The CFO will lead financial operations, drive profitability, and partner with founders on growth, acquisitions and strategy, including governance, systems, and AI initiatives to enhance efficiency.

Reporting to the founders, you will build scalable finance functions, manage WIP, billing and cash flow, and oversee risk, compliance and reporting

Qualifications

• Experience leading financial operations in private, founder-led or professional services.
• Strong understanding of fee-based models, WIP, billing, cash flow, profitability.
• Proven ability to build and scale finance functions and systems.
• Experience with M&A lifecycle including due diligence and integration.

Responsibilities

• Partner with founders to develop and execute growth strategy, including acquisitions and client diversification.
• Lead end-to-end M&A lifecycle: sourcing, due diligence, deal execution, integration.
• Own financial operations: budgeting, forecasting, cash flow, reporting, tax, controls.
• Drive profitability by managing WIP, billing, collections, working capital, margins.
• Strengthen governance, risk, regulatory compliance and operational accountability.
• Build scalable financial systems, reporting frameworks, processes and controls.
• Provide commercial insights and financial analysis to inform strategy.
• Oversee technology, systems improvement and AI initiatives to boost efficiency.
• Lead and develop the Finance team and align with strategic objectives.
• Collaborate with leadership to align financial, people and operations priorities.

Job description

Reo Group Executive Search has been exclusively retained to appoint a Chief Financial Officer for an established, privately owned Sydney-based commercial law firm entering an exciting phase of growth.

This newly created senior leadership position offers an opportunity to join a successful, founder-led business with ambitious plans to accelerate growth, strengthen profitability and expand its market presence.

The firm has established a strong reputation for delivering commercially focused legal advice across a broad range of practice areas, supported by longstanding client relationships and a commitment to community through its pro bono initiatives. Led by two entrepreneurial founders, the business is now focused on scaling its operations, diversifying its client base and pursuing strategic acquisition opportunities.

Reporting directly to the founders, the CFO will combine hands‑on financial leadership with strategic commercial oversight. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in driving financial performance, strengthening governance, developing scalable systems and processes, and partnering with the founders to shape and execute the firm's growth strategy.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the founders to develop and execute the firm's growth strategy, identifying opportunities for expansion, acquisitions and client diversification.
• Lead the end‑to‑end M&A lifecycle, including acquisition sourcing, due diligence, deal execution and post‑merger integration.
• Take ownership of financial operations, including budgeting, forecasting, cash flow, management reporting, tax and financial controls.
• Drive profitability and commercial performance through effective management of WIP, billing, debtor collections, working capital and margins.
• Strengthen financial governance, risk management, regulatory compliance and operational accountability.
• Build scalable financial systems, reporting frameworks, processes and controls to support continued growth.
• Provide commercial insights, market intelligence and financial analysis to inform strategic decisions and identify revenue opportunities.
• Oversee technology, systems improvement and AI initiatives to strengthen operational efficiency and business capability.
• Lead and develop the Finance team, building capability, accountability and a high‑performance culture.
• Collaborate with the broader leadership team to align financial, people and operational priorities with the firm's strategic objectives.

Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will be a commercially astute, hands‑on Finance executive with significant experience leading financial operations within a privately owned, founder‑led or entrepreneurial business. You will ideally bring experience from legal, accounting, consulting or other professional services environments, with a strong understanding of fee‑based business models, WIP, billing, cash flow, profitability and working capital management.

You will bring comprehensive financial leadership experience spanning financial control, reporting, tax, governance and risk, alongside a demonstrated ability to build and scale Finance functions, systems and processes within a growing business.

Importantly, you will have proven experience across the M&A lifecycle, including acquisition sourcing, due diligence, transaction execution and integration. You will combine this with strong commercial acumen, strategic thinking and the ability to identify growth opportunities, diversify the client base and influence business direction.

You will be a pragmatic, entrepreneurial and values‑driven leader who thrives in a hands‑on environment. Comfortable moving between strategic decision‑making and day‑to‑day financial management, you will have the credibility, confidence and interpersonal skills to build a trusted partnership with the founders and contribute meaningfully to the firm's long‑term success.

This is an opportunity to join an ambitious, entrepreneurial and values‑led organisation with a strong commercial focus and a collaborative, close‑knit culture.

Working directly alongside two entrepreneurial founders, you will have the opportunity to influence strategic direction, lead meaningful growth initiatives and build the financial and operational foundations of a business entering its next phase of expansion.