Finance Business Partner - Sales | Private Equity

Sharp and Carter; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Sharp and Carter is working with a well-established PE-backed products group seeking a Finance Business Partner to join the sales team and own forecasting, pricing and profitability decisions. You will shape an evolving FP&A function, challenge forecasts, and drive commercial insight to senior leadership.

This role focuses on building credible forecasts, enhancing board-level commentary, and partnering across commercial finance for growth initiatives in a fast-scaling environment.

Qualifications

• Qualified CA/CPA or near completion; strong accounting credentials.
• Experience in business partnering, FP&A or commercial finance in a product-based business.
• Big 4 / Mid-tier experience preferred but not mandatory.
• Hands-on exposure to sales forecasting, pricing analysis, discounting or rebate structures.
• Strong analytical skills and advanced Excel; ability to tell the story behind the numbers.
• Confident engaging with and influencing sales and senior stakeholders.
• Continuous improvement mindset.

Responsibilities

• Partner the sales team to lift forecasting accuracy and build a forecast the business can rely on.
• Write clear, forward-looking commentary for the board pack that explains what happened and what it means for the months ahead.
• Model pricing scenarios for major quotes to balance margins and winning the work.
• Analyse customer pricing, discounting and rebate structures to ensure acceptable margins on deals.
• Review profitability of service contracts and identify opportunities to drive incremental revenue.
• Improve how sales are reported and analysed, replacing manual processes with smarter ones.
• Contribute to building out S&OP alongside the Operations Finance Business Partner.
• Translate financial detail into practical insight for non-finance stakeholders.

Skills

Business partnering

FP&A

Big 4 experience

Sales forecasting

Pricing analysis

Discounting

Rebate structures

Excel

Analytical skills

Stakeholder engagement

Continuous improvement

Education

CA or CPA

Job description

Finance Business Partner - Sales | Private Equity

Organisation Profile

Our client is a well-established, PE-backed products business with a clear growth agenda, including potential acquisitions. With strong investment behind it and a leadership team focused on scaling quickly, the business is at a turning point. Commercial finance will play a big part in where it goes next.

Role Overview

This is a chance to shape a commercial finance function rather than step into one that’s already built. As a dedicated Finance Business Partner, you’ll sit alongside the sales team and become their go‑to partner for forecasting, pricing and profitability.

Processes are still maturing, and that’s the opportunity. You’ll have genuine room to improve how forecasting is done, how sales performance is reported, and how pricing decisions get made. You’ll report to a hands‑on finance leader who wants your ideas and will back you to run with them.

It’s a great step up for FP&A or commercial analysts ready for their first true business partnering role. It also suits established business partners who’d rather build something than maintain it.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner the sales team to lift forecasting accuracy and build a forecast the business can rely on, even when committing to a number doesn’t come naturally to them
• Write clear, forward‑looking commentary for the board pack that explains what happened, why it happened and what it means for the months ahead
• Model pricing scenarios for major quotes, helping the team strike the right balance between margin and winning the work
• Analyse customer pricing, discounting and rebate structures to make sure every deal delivers an acceptable margin
• Review the profitability of service contracts and spot opportunities to drive incremental revenue
• Improve the way sales are reported and analysed, replacing manual processes with smarter ones
• Contribute to building out S&OP alongside your Operations Finance Business Partner peer
• Translate financial detail into practical insight that non-finance stakeholders can act on

Why This Role Stands Out

• A genuine blank canvas, where your ideas turn into real changes quickly
• PE backing and a growth agenda, so the business and your remit could look very different in a couple of years
• Regular exposure to senior leadership and board reporting
• A supportive leader who values curiosity and gives you room to make the role your own
• Two to three years here will give you a CV full of examples of driving change, not just running processes

Ideal Candidate

You’re curious by nature and always want to understand the why behind the numbers. You’re at your best working with sales people: you can hold them to a number, challenge assumptions constructively and earn their trust.

You’re a self‑starter who’s comfortable with ambiguity, happy to roll up your sleeves and keen to leave things better than you found them. You’ll bring experience in a physical product environment such as retail, wholesale, FMCG or distribution, and you understand how pricing, discounting and rebates really work.

Key Requirements

• CA or CPA qualified (or close to completion)
• Business partnering, FP&A or commercial finance experience in a product-based business
• Big 4 / Mid tier experience desired but not a non negotiable.
• Hands‑on exposure to sales forecasting, pricing analysis, discounting or rebate structures
• Strong analytical and Excel skills, with the ability to tell the story behind the numbers
• Confidence engaging with and influencing sales and senior stakeholders
• A continuous improvement mindset