Finance Business Partner

Sydney Water; Australia; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work environment

Flexible working arrangements

Novated leasing

Subsidised private health insurance

Parental leave (up to 18 weeks)

Wellbeing support (EAP)

Job summary

Sydney Water is seeking a Senior Finance Business Partner to partner with operations, maintenance and customer service groups across Greater Sydney. You will drive budgeting, forecasting and analysis of Opex and Capex, influence executives, and lead the financial input into strategic plans.

You will also support business reforms and provide actionable financial insights. The role requires 7+ years in commercial analysis within a large organisation, with CA/CPA qualifications preferred.

Qualifications

• 7+ years experience in commercial analysis and accounting in a large, complex organisation
• Proven ability to use business and financial data to resolve issues and identify opportunities
• Experience driving financial performance in utilities, construction, manufacturing, FMCG or similar operational partnering roles

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and financial insight and advice to drive commercial performance
• Lead budgeting, forecasting and analysis of Opex and Capex across groups/business units
• Influence a diverse stakeholder set from frontline leaders to senior executives
• Facilitate annual budgeting and translate group targets to operational targets
• Provide financial input into strategic documents and long-term plans
• Prepare feasibility papers and support reforms and restructures
• Drive month-end performance reporting and monitor financial and non-financial targets
• Coach teams in business case development and financial analysis
• Develop financial and commercial literacy across the business

Skills

Commercial analysis

Forecasting

Budgeting

Stakeholder management

Education

Economics/Business/Accounting degree

CA/CPA

Job description

1 Smith St, Parramatta NSW 2150, Australia

• Drive financial performance in Sydney Water's operations, maintenance and customer service groups
• Close partnerships with operations managers to provide consistent commercial and strategic advice
• Support continuous improvement and design of analytics methods, tools and reports visualisation.

About us

At Sydney Water, we're passionate about making a difference to the lives of our customers and communities. Everyday Sydney Water is providing world-class water and wastewater services to the over 5 million people who call Greater Sydney home. We have a proud heritage and a progressive future, providing world class drinking water and beautiful waterways from the mountains to the sea. We see the world is changing so we are changing too. Our people and their jobs are as diverse as the communities we serve.

About the role

Reporting to the Senior Finance Business Partner you will partner with the business in providing strategic and financial insight and advice, driving business and commercial performance and supporting the business with its operational and strategic business decision-making; with your main focus being treatment operations, maintenance and service delivery excellence:

• Drive effective financial management, budgeting, forecasting and analysis of all Opex and Capex at Group and/or Business Unit management levels by conducting effective cost and business driver analysis.
• Influence decision-making of a diverse set of stakeholders ranging from operational frontline leaders to senior executives
• Facilitate the annual budgeting process for group level budgets, including focus on the key costs and risks for long term performance, translating group targets to operational targets
• Lead financial input into and review of key strategic documents, including the Group and/or Business Unit plan, to ensure consistency with corporate operating and capital commitments.
• Prepare feasibility papers and provide advice and support to reforms and restructures.
• Drive the month end performance management reporting including tracking the achievement of financial and where required non-financial targets and objectives
• Coach and guide the Groups with business case development including identifying key inputs, interdependencies, assumptions and methodologies to ensure the validity of financial and commercial analysis and consistency with corporate standards
• Develop the financial and commercial literacy in the business to understand and manage their budgets and use appropriate financial and commercial principles in decision making.
• Role may require site visits from time-to-time as per business needs

About you

To be considered for these opportunities you will need to have 7+ years experience working in commercial analysis and accounting within a large complex organisation.

You will be able to demonstrate previous experience working with corporate business functions, consulting senior managers in financial and commercial advice.

To be considered for this position you will have:

• Relevant degree qualification (e.g. Economics, Business, Accounting) or experience deemed equivalent
• Professional Accounting Qualification (CA/CPA)
• Proven ability to use business and financial data to resolve business issues and questions and identify efficiencies and opportunities for the business
• Hands-on with proven experience driving financial performance in either utilities, construction, manufacturing, FMCG, or similar operational partnering roles
• Able to interpret and leverage commercial, regulatory and funding frameworks, policies and guidelines to produce commentary and insights on their impact on the core business operations
• Builds business understanding and knowledge to provide meaningful, actionable and timely insights to business leaders, communicates opportunities and risk to achieving business strategy.
• Builds business understanding and knowledge to provide meaningful, actionable and timely insights to business leaders; communicates opportunities and risk to achieving business strategy
• Draws on and synthesizes analysis to identify options and take actions that align to SWs short and long term objectives

Why our team like working at Sydney Water:

• Huge multi-billion-dollar program of work which shapes Australia's busiest and largest city. It's rewarding!
• Positive team culture which celebrates wins and binds together to face challenges (have we told you were the No.1 company in Australia for graduates!)
• Flexible working arrangements, to give you fair work/life balance.
• We want your perspective and ideas to help us find better ways to delight our customers, so we encourage you to apply no matter your age, gender, or culture.
• Be part of a committed, highly skilled team who'll appreciate what you bring to the table. You'll set and achieve real goals and make decisions that matter, as together we help shape the lifestyle of greater Sydney.
• Competitive Remuneration: We'll ensure that your skills and contributions are valued and rewarded appropriately.
• Hybrid Work Environment: We offer a hybrid work model that balances remote work and office collaboration, supporting our team's productivity and well-being.
• Continuous Professional Growth: We will invest in your career with leadership and development programs to propel your success.
• 24/7 Wellbeing Support: Access for you and your family to free and confidential mental health and general health support through our EAP portal.
• Subsidised Private Health Insurance: Unlock affordable access to top-tier health coverage with our discounted insurance plans.
• Family First: Prioritise your family with up to 18 weeks of fully paid parental leave and a generous childcare allowance.
• Fitness Passport: Achieve your physical fitness goals using our Fitness Passport, granting you access to a multitude of gyms and pools across NSW.
• Novated Leasing: Get in the driver's seat of your financial future with our novated lease options.

You must be an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident at the time of submitting your application to be considered for this role.

Application close date: Tuesday the 1st of September 2026 11:59pm

At Sydney Water, we are passionate about making a difference to the lives of our customers and communities. We have a proud heritage and progressive future providing world class drinking water and services that are vital to our customers’ quality of life and safeguarding Sydney’s future. We see the world is changing, so we are changing too.

Our vision is to create better lives through world-class services, and we believe that starts with our people. Our people and their jobs are as diverse as the communities we serve. Our diverse skills, mindsets and backgrounds work together on exciting and challenging projects that make a difference and help ensure Sydney remains one of the most iconic and liveable cities in the world.

We welcome and encourage applications from diverse backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, LGBTQIA+, people with disability, people with caring responsibilities, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and veterans.