Chief Financial Officer - Vertical Farming

Costa Group; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 260,000 - 380,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid parental leave

Novated leasing

Employee discount

Employee recognition

Job summary

Costa Group in Melbourne seeks a commercially astute Chief Financial Officer to lead the Vertical Farming finance operations across mushroom production and glasshouse businesses. This role balances hands-on leadership with long-term strategic planning and partners with operational leaders to drive profitability and growth.

The successful candidate will oversee budgeting, forecasting, reporting, capital planning, risk management and governance, and manage a high-performing finance team in a

Qualifications

• A relevant degree and professional accounting qualification (CA, CPA or equivalent).

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic financial leadership across Costa’s Vertical Farming operations, including mushrooms and glasshouses.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, financial planning and performance reporting to support business decision-making.
• Partner with operational and commercial leaders to identify opportunities to improve profitability, efficiency and growth.
• Oversee capital investment evaluation, financial controls, risk management and governance activities.
• Lead, mentor and develop a high-performing finance team while fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Financial leadership

Budgeting

Forecasting

Team leadership

Education

Relevant degree and professional accounting qualification (CA, CPA or equivalent)

Job description

Chief Financial Officer - Vertical Farming

Costa is a global leading grower, packer, and marketer ofpremium quality fresh fruit and vegetables. Our success is built on acommitment to excellence, innovation, and sustainability across every part ofour business.

Within Costa, our Vertical Farming category is amarket-leading business unit encompassing both mushroom production andprotected cropping operations. We are Australia's largest grower and pre-packerof mushrooms, operating farms across Victoria, Western Australia and SouthAustralia, including our Monarto facility, one of the most advancedmushroom-growing sites in the Southern Hemisphere.

Our Vertical Farming category also includes some ofAustralia's largest and most sophisticated glasshouse operations located inGuyra, NSW, producing premium tomatoes and capsicums year-round throughinnovative, technology-driven growing systems. Together, these world-classoperations reflect Costa's commitment to quality, sustainability, anddelivering fresh produce to customers across Australia every day.

Why Join Costa?

• Opportunity to grow your career throughlearning, development and internal opportunities.
• Access to paid parental leave (up to 14 weeksfor primary carer and up to 6 weeks for secondary carer) and EmployeeAssistance Program (EAP) support.
• Benefit from novated leasing and employeediscount programs.
• Be recognised through service awards andemployee recognition initiatives.
• Work in an innovative, sustainable business thatfeeds communities across Australia and overseas.

What we are looking for:

We’re seeking a commercially astute Chief Financial Officer tolead our Vertical Farming finance operations. This is a full-time position basedat our newly renovated office in Docklands, Victoria, operating on a hybridmodel of four days in the office and one day working from home.

As a key member of the Vertical Farming leadership team, youwill partner closely with operational leaders across our mushroom andglasshouse businesses to drive financial performance, support strategicdecision-making, and identify opportunities for sustainable growth. This is ahighly visible role that combines hands-on leadership with long-term commercialplanning.

You will lead all aspects of financial management, includingbudgeting, forecasting, reporting, capital investment analysis, riskmanagement, and business partnering. Your ability to translate complexfinancial information into actionable insights will be critical in helping thebusiness achieve its operational and commercial objectives.

We are looking for a proven finance executive who thrives infast-paced and complex operational environments and can balance strategicthinking with execution and not afraid to roll their sleeves up to support theteam. Experience within horticulture, agriculture, agribusiness, foodproduction, fresh produce, dairy, other short-life products, or FMCG industrieswill be highly regarded, particularly where forecasting, planning, inventorymanagement and margin optimisation are critical to success.

What you'll do:

• Provide strategic financial leadership acrossCosta’s Vertical Farming operations, including mushrooms and glasshouses.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, financial planningand performance reporting to support business decision-making.
• Partner with operational and commercial leadersto identify opportunities to improve profitability, efficiency and growth.
• Oversee capital investment evaluation, financialcontrols, risk management and governance activities.
• Lead, mentor and develop a high-performingfinance team while fostering a culture of accountability and continuousimprovement.

What you'll bring:

• A relevant degree and professional accountingqualification (CA, CPA or equivalent).
• Experience in horticulture, agriculture,agribusiness, food production, fresh produce, dairy, other short-life productsor FMCG environments will be highly regarded.
• Significant senior finance leadershipexperience, ideally at CFO, Finance Director or Head of Finance level.
• Demonstrated experience leading budgeting,forecasting, financial planning and commercial decision support within complexoperational businesses.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with theability to influence and partner effectively across executive and operationalteams.

Applicants must hold full Australian working rights to be considered for this role.