Finance Business Partner

Perm Recruitment RF/BDT; Mildura; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Perm Recruitment RF/BDT is seeking a commercially minded Finance Business Partner for a major horticultural operation based in Mildura, Victoria. You will lead budgeting, forecasting and capital planning across farming assets, delivering actionable financial insights to farm managers and senior executives.

The role emphasizes robust modelling, cost control and strategic commercial support, with regular travel across the Sunraysia region and a close partnership with operational leadership to

Qualifications

• CA or CPA qualification with a degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics or related discipline.
• Five years' post-qualification experience, including at least two years in a finance business partnering role within a multi-site operating environment.
• Strong financial modelling skills to independently develop detailed business cases and investment proposals.
• Demonstrated track record of delivering measurable cost reduction and operational improvement initiatives.
• Advanced Excel capability and experience working with ERP, financial reporting and business intelligence systems.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence non-financial stakeholders.
• Experience within agriculture, horticulture, fresh produce, food manufacturing or related industry is highly regarded.
• Willingness to travel regularly throughout the Sunraysia region as part of a hands-on business partnering role.

Responsibilities

• Developing detailed profitability models by block, variety and planting age, tracking costs across farming operations.
• Identifying underperforming assets and building financial business cases for asset decisions.
• Managing biological asset reporting, inventory reconciliations and capital expenditure accounting.
• Monitoring labour productivity, input costs and operational performance metrics for efficiency gains.
• Owning annual budgets, rolling forecasts, cash flow forecasts and capex plans.
• Preparing robust financial models and investment analyses for strategic initiatives.
• Leading month-end close, management reporting and stakeholder updates.
• Advising operational leaders with commercial analysis and scenario modelling.

Skills

Financial modelling

Cost optimisation

Stakeholder mgmt

Business partnering

Education

CA/CPA

Accounting degree

Tools

ERP systems

Excel

BI tools

Job description

The Company

Our client is a premier, large-scale horticultural business with extensive operations spanning across farming, state of the art packing facilities, cold storage, and a multi-channel domestic and export distribution network. Operating across a national multi-season footprint, the business is dedicated to operational excellence, sustainable produce supply and continuous growth.

The Opportunity

Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer, this high-impact Finance Business Partner position is based in Mildura, Victoria. The role provides strategic financial leadership, commercial insight and operational support across a portfolio of horticultural assets.
You will partner closely with farm managers, operational leaders and senior executives, translating financial information into practical business insights that drive performance, improve profitability and support strategic decision-making. The position supports multiple production operations and requires regular engagement with stakeholders across the Sunraysia region and broader business.
Key responsibilities include:

• Developing detailed profitability models by block, variety and planting age, tracking growing, harvest and post-harvest costs across farming operations.
• Identifying underperforming assets and building financial business cases to support orchard removal, replanting, retention and capital investment decisions.
• Managing biological asset reporting, inventory reconciliations and the treatment of capitalised operating expenditure to provide transparent financial and cash flow insights.
• Monitoring labour productivity, input costs and operational performance metrics to identify opportunities for efficiency improvements and cost optimisation.
• Owning annual budgets, rolling forecasts, cash flow forecasts and capital expenditure plans across multiple farming operations.
• Preparing robust financial models and investment analysis to support strategic initiatives, operational improvements and long-term planning.
• Leading month-end close activities, management reporting, forecasting reviews and stakeholder reporting processes.
• Acting as a trusted adviser to operational leaders by providing commercial analysis, scenario modelling and constructive challenge to improve business outcomes.

About You

The ideal candidate will be a commercially minded finance professional who enjoys working closely with operational teams and influencing business decisions through high-quality financial insight.

To be successful in this role, you will bring:

• CA or CPA qualification with a degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics or a related discipline.
• A minimum of five years' post-qualification experience, including at least two years in a finance business partnering role within a multi-site operating environment.
• Strong financial modelling skills, with the ability to independently develop detailed business cases and investment proposals.
• A demonstrated track record of delivering measurable cost reduction and operational improvement initiatives.
• Advanced Excel capability and experience working with ERP, financial reporting and business intelligence systems.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence non-financial stakeholders and translate complex financial data into practical recommendations.
• Experience within agriculture, horticulture, fresh produce, food manufacturing or a related industry will be highly regarded.
• Willingness to travel regularly throughout the Sunraysia region as part of a hands-on business partnering role.

Why This Role

This is a highly visible commercial finance opportunity offering direct exposure to senior leadership and the chance to influence performance across a substantial horticultural operation. You will play a critical role in supporting asset performance, capital allocation, operational decision-making and long-term value creation within a growing agribusiness.

Additional information

• High-impact commercial finance role
• Drive performance across a growing agribusiness
• Located in Mildura