Finance Manager

Michael Page Australia; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Michael Page Australia is representing a PE-backed Australian organisation seeking a Finance Manager to own key financial reporting, accounting and operational finance activities in Melbourne. You will work with senior finance leadership across the business, overseeing month-end close, budgeting, cash flow management and financial analysis, while driving improvements to systems and controls.

The role requires strong technical accounting, a commercial mindset, and experience with audit processes,

Qualifications

• 5–8+ years of relevant accounting and finance experience.
• CA or CPA qualification with a strong technical accounting foundation.
• Experience with month-end close, statutory accounts and audits.
• Exposure to budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management and financial analysis.
• Strong analytical, communication and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the month-end and year-end close processes, ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting.
• Prepare and review monthly management accounts, financial statements and supporting analysis.
• Manage balance sheet reconciliations, general ledger integrity and financial controls.
• Support the preparation of annual budgets, forecasts and ongoing financial performance analysis.
• Provide meaningful commentary on financial results, identifying key trends, risks and opportunities.
• Coordinate statutory reporting requirements and manage relationships with external auditors and advisers.
• Ensure compliance with Australian Accounting Standards and relevant regulatory requirements.
• Partner with senior finance leadership to support cash flow management, working capital optimisation and financial planning.
• Support the preparation of financial information and reporting for executive leadership and private equity stakeholders.
• Identify opportunities to improve financial systems, reporting processes, automation and operational efficiencies.
• Contribute to finance transformation initiatives, including the development of scalable processes and stronger internal controls.
• Work closely with operational and commercial stakeholders to provide financial insights that support business decisions.
• Support strategic projects, including potential acquisitions, integrations and other business improvement initiatives.
• Lead, mentor and develop finance team members where appropriate.

Skills

Financial reporting

Month-end close

GAAP/Accounting standards

Stakeholder management

Budgeting & forecasting

Education

CA or CPA qualification

Big 4 or complex corporate environment experience

Job description

About Our Client

This is an opportunity to join a large, PE-backed Australian organisation where the finance function plays an important role in supporting growth, operational performance and strategic decision-making

Job Description

Working closely with senior finance leadership and stakeholders across the business, the Finance Manager will take ownership of key financial reporting, accounting and operational finance responsibilities while contributing to the ongoing development of the finance function.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Oversee the month-end and year-end close processes, ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting.
• Prepare and review monthly management accounts, financial statements and supporting analysis.
• Manage balance sheet reconciliations, general ledger integrity and financial controls.
• Support the preparation of annual budgets, forecasts and ongoing financial performance analysis.
• Provide meaningful commentary on financial results, identifying key trends, risks and opportunities.
• Coordinate statutory reporting requirements and manage relationships with external auditors and advisers.
• Ensure compliance with Australian Accounting Standards and relevant regulatory requirements.
• Partner with senior finance leadership to support cash flow management, working capital optimisation and financial planning.
• Support the preparation of financial information and reporting for executive leadership and private equity stakeholders.
• Identify opportunities to improve financial systems, reporting processes, automation and operational efficiencies.
• Contribute to finance transformation initiatives, including the development of scalable processes and stronger internal controls.
• Work closely with operational and commercial stakeholders to provide financial insights that support business decisions.
• Support strategic projects, including potential acquisitions, integrations and other business improvement initiatives.
• Lead, mentor and develop finance team members where appropriate.

The Successful Applicant

The successful candidate will combine strong technical accounting capability with a commercial mindset and a genuine interest in improving how a finance function operates.

You may currently be working within a Big 4 or leading Chartered Accounting firm and looking to make your first move into industry, or already operating within the finance function of a large private or corporate business.

Ideally, you will bring:

• Approximately 5-8+ years of relevant accounting and finance experience, although capability and potential will be considered ahead of tenure.
• CA or CPA qualification, with a strong technical accounting foundation.
• Experience gained within Big 4, a leading Chartered Accounting firm or a complex corporate environment.
• Strong knowledge of Australian Accounting Standards, financial reporting and accounting principles.
• Experience managing month-end reporting, statutory accounts, financial controls and audit processes.
• Exposure to budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management and financial analysis.
• A commercial mindset with the ability to interpret financial information and contribute to broader business outcomes.
• Demonstrated interest in process improvement, automation, financial systems and innovation.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify inefficiencies and implement practical solutions.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to engage with senior leadership.
• The ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, evolving and commercially driven environment.
• A proactive, hands-on approach and willingness to take ownership of responsibilities beyond traditional financial reporting.
• Importantly, the organisation is open to candidates who may not have held a Finance Manager title previously but demonstrate the technical capability, leadership potential and commercial acumen to succeed in the role.

What's on Offer

The successful candidate will benefit from:

• Genuine ownership and accountability across key financial reporting and accounting activities.
• Direct exposure to senior finance leadership and broader commercial stakeholders.
• The opportunity to contribute to finance transformation, systems improvement and process automation.
• Exposure to the commercial and financial priorities of a private equity-backed business.
• A dynamic environment where initiative, innovation and continuous improvement are encouraged.
• The opportunity to develop broader commercial finance capabilities and progress into more senior finance leadership positions as the business continues to grow.