Coordinator Financial Accounting and Business Partnering

Dean & Ling Executive; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Central Highlands Regional Council is seeking a seasoned finance leader to join as Coordinator Financial Accounting and Business Partnering. You’ll lead financial accounting, governance, budgeting and forecasting, and mentor a high-performing team to drive performance and resilience across the organisation.

You’ll partner with the Manager Finance to shape strategy, deliver statutory reporting, external audit coordination and insightful financial analysis for senior executives and committees.

Qualifications

• Senior finance leadership with strong accounting and governance expertise.
• Experience in budgeting, forecasting and statutory reporting.
• Proven ability to lead and mentor finance professionals.
• Ability to influence decision-making and provide strategic insights.
• Local government experience is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership across financial accounting, reporting and business partnering.
• Partner with the Manager Finance to shape financial strategy and performance.
• Lead budgets, long-term forecasts and reporting to executives and committees.
• Manage statutory financial statements and coordinate external audit.
• Deliver insightful financial analysis and risk-based recommendations.
• Foster continuous improvement and financial governance throughout Council.
• Develop and mentor finance professionals and build leadership capability.
• Act as Finance 2IC and represent Council on financial matters.

Skills

Leadership

Financial accounting

Budgeting

Forecasting

Governance

Business partnering

Strategic thinking

Mentoring

Communication

Job description

Coordinator Financial Accounting and Business Partnering

• Make a Lasting Impact on the Financial Sustainability of Local Communities
• Lead and Mentor Finance Professionals
• Partner with Leaders to Drive Financial Performance

At Central Highlands Regional Council, you'll have the opportunity to make a genuine and lasting impact on the communities, infrastructure and services that support one of Queensland's most diverse and significant regions.

Central Highlands Regional Council spans approximately 60,000 square kilometres, from Arcadia Valley in the south to the Peak Ranges in the north, and from Boolburra in the east to Bogantungan in the west. Managing more than $1.9 billion in community assets, Council delivers a diverse range of services through libraries, aquatic centres, customer service centres, 4,632 kilometres of roads, extensive parks and recreational facilities and a regional airport.

Central Highlands Regional Council is well positioned financially, with low debt levels, healthy cash balances, mature financial governance frameworks, and a long-term financial strategy already in place. This provides a strong platform for the successful candidate to contribute to the ongoing financial sustainability of the organisation and support Council's strategic priorities. We are seeking an accomplished finance professional to join Council as the second-in-command to the Manager Finance. The Coordinator Financial Accounting and Business Partnering is a key Finance leadership position combining financial control, governance, business partnering and team leadership, while providing strategic support across the organisation. You will play a pivotal role in shaping financial performance, driving continuous improvement and contributing to the long-term sustainability of Council's operations and services.

Your work will include:

• Providing leadership and strategic direction across Council's financial accounting, reporting and business partnering functions.
• Partnering with the Manager Finance to shape financial strategy, organisational performance and long-term financial sustainability.
• Leading the preparation and presentation of budgets and long term forecasts and reporting on financial performance outcomes to senior executives, Council and Audit and Risk Committee.
• Manage the preparation of the statutory financial statements and coordination of external audit.
• Influencing organisational decision-making through the provision of insightful financial analysis, commercial advice and risk-based recommendations.
• Driving a culture of financial accountability, enabling leaders across the organisation to make informed and financially sustainable decisions.
• Championing continuous improvement, systems optimisation and modern financial practices that enhance operational effectiveness and service delivery.
• Developing and mentoring finance professionals while building leadership capability, succession readiness and team performance.
• Acting as the Finance 2IC, providing leadership of the function and representing Council on financial matters in the absence of the Manager Finance.

Bring executive-calibre finance leadership

You understand that effective finance leadership extends beyond technical excellence. It requires the ability to influence decision-making, strengthen governance, manage risk and build capability across an organisation.

You are a trusted advisor who can translate complex financial information into meaningful strategic insights for executives and stakeholders. Equally comfortable in the boardroom and with operational leaders, you bring the judgement, credibility and commercial acumen to guide sound financial outcomes and support organisational performance.

You will bring significant experience in financial management, statutory reporting, budgeting, forecasting, internal controls and financial governance within a complex organisation. Your ability to lead people, challenge thinking constructively and drive continuous improvement will be highly valued.

While local government experience is advantageous, we welcome applications from accomplished finance professionals from the public or private sectors who have operated in senior finance leadership, Financial Controller, Finance Manager or equivalent roles.

Application will close at midnight on the 20 November 2026

For further information on Central Highlands Regional Council, please visit www.chrc.qld.gov.au

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