Finance Manager

Stella Maris College; Manly; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Stella Maris College in Manly, NSW, a Catholic secondary school for girls, invites applications for a Finance Manager who will lead the College’s finance function and support its mission of high-quality education.

You will drive budgeting, reporting, payroll governance, and internal controls, manage risk, coordinate procurement and payroll, and provide strategic financial analysis to support sustainable, values-based schooling for Years 7–12.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in Accounting, Commerce, Finance or a related field.
• CA or CPA qualification, or substantial progress toward qualification.
• Significant senior finance or financial-control experience.
• Experience in management reporting, budgeting, forecasting, controls, payroll oversight, accounts receivable, accounts payable, audit coordination and team leadership.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel; strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and leadership for mentoring staff.

Responsibilities

• Leadership and team development
• Financial management and reporting
• Budgeting, forecasting and financial analysis
• Payroll governance and compliance
• Accounts receivable, accounts payable and procurement controls
• Insurance and property financial administration
• Financial Governance, risk and internal controls
• Strategic and governance support
• Financial systems, privacy and information management

Skills

Advanced Microsoft Excel

Analytical thinking

Leadership and mentoring

Interpersonal skills

Professionalism and ethics

Education

Tertiary qualification in Accounting, Commerce, Finance or related field

Tools

Sage Intacct

Micropay

ConnX

Compass

Job description

Stella Maris College, Manly, is a Catholic secondary school for girls in Years 7 to 12, inspired by the Good Samaritan Benedictine tradition. As one of ten schools nationally, that form the Good Samaritan Education (GSE) network, the College upholds a holistic and inclusive approach to education, grounded in the values of stewardship, mutuality, prayer, hospitality, humility, discernment, justice, and peace.

Informed by the Good Samaritan Philosophy of Education, Stella Maris is committed to fostering a learning environment that promotes innovative pedagogy across all areas of the curriculum while nurturing the personal, social, and spiritual growth of each student. At the heart of this commitment is a strong focus on pastoral care, which seeks to ensure that every student is known, valued, and supported to flourish.

The Finance Manager is responsible for the leadership, management and continuous improvement of the College's finance function. The role supports accurate financial reporting, effective financial controls, payroll governance, regulatory compliance and efficient financial operations.

Reporting to the Director of Business Services, the Finance Manager provides timely financial analysis and advice to support informed decision-making, effective stewardship and the College's long-term financial sustainability.

Role accountabilities include:

• Leadership and team development
• Financial management and reporting
• Budgeting, forecasting and financial analysis
• Payroll governance and compliance
• Accounts receivable, accounts payable and procurement controls
• Insurance and property financial administration
• Financial Governance, risk and internal controls
• Strategic and governance support
• Financial systems, privacy and information management

Essential criteria for the role:

• Tertiary qualification in Accounting, Commerce, Finance or a related field
• CA or CPA qualification, or substantial progress towards qualification
• Significant senior finance or financial-control experience
• Demonstrated experience in management reporting, budgeting, forecasting, controls, payroll oversight, accounts receivable, accounts payable, audit coordination and team leadership
• Advanced Microsoft Excel
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills with strong attention to detail
• Accomplished leadership skills pertaining to mentoring staff
• Excellent inter-personal skills
• A role model for staff, demonstrating professionalism and a commitment to the College’s values and mission

Highly desirable criteria for the role:

• Independent school, Catholic education or comparable not-for-profit experience
• WGEA or equivalent workforce reporting experience
• College Board or governance committee reporting experience
• Experience improving finance, payroll and reporting systems
• Understanding of school funding administration and education-sector finance
• Experience using Sage Intacct, Micropay, ConnX and/or Compass

For more details on the role, please see the Role Description.

The Finance Manager is appointed on a permanent full-time basis.

Preferred applicants will be screened in accordance with Child Protection Legislation.

The appointee must hold a current Working with Children Check.

Stella Maris College is committed to ensuring that all those engaged in the College promote the fundamental right of children and young people to be respected in a safe school environment.

Stella Maris College reserves the right to fill the position prior to this date should a suitable candidate be appointed.