Financial Accounting Lead

Australian Red Cross Lifeblood; Australia; Remote; AUD 166,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Additional annual leave

Salary packaging up to $15,900 for L&E

Salary packaging up to $2,650 for M&E

14 weeks paid parental leave

Employee assistance program Sonder

Diversity and wellbeing initiatives

Job summary

Australian Red Cross Lifeblood is seeking a Financial Accounting Lead to steer the organisation’s financial accounting, month-end and year-end reporting. You will provide technical leadership on complex accounting matters, protect balance sheet integrity and assist audit readiness while guiding a Senior Financial Accountant.

You will drive controls, streamline processes and strengthen reporting quality, collaborating with stakeholders across finance and contributing to broader finance

Qualifications

• A tertiary qualification in Accounting, Finance, Commerce or a related discipline.
• CA, CPA or equivalent professional qualification.
• Experience leading financial accounting, month-end and year-end reporting in a complex organisation.
• Strong knowledge of accounting standards, financial reporting and balance sheet management.
• Experience managing audit deliverables and responding to audit queries.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability with clear advisory skills.
• Experience maintaining internal controls and reporting integrity.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
• Demonstrated people leadership, coaching and development ability.
• Experience in highly regulated environments; Oracle/ERP exposure is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead financial accounting, month-end and year-end processes with journal reviews and analysis.
• Oversee general ledger integrity and production of financial reporting outputs.
• Support statutory financial statements and provide technical accounting guidance.
• Oversee balance sheet reconciliations and ensure issue resolution.
• Maintain strong controls across accounting processes and data integrity.
• Coordinate inputs for internal and external audits with supporting papers.
• Lead, coach and develop the Senior Financial Accountant during peak periods.
• Provide technical guidance to finance stakeholders on complex matters.
• Drive process improvements and better use of financial systems.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership

Analytical thinking

Technical accounting

Communication skills

Education

Tertiary qualification in Accounting/Finance/Commerce

Tools

Oracle ERP

Job description

Company: Australian Red Cross Lifeblood

• Lead Lifeblood’s financial accounting, month-end and year-end reporting processes
• Provide technical accounting leadership and strengthen financial controls, reporting integrity and audit readiness
• Coach and develop a Senior Financial Accountant while contributing to broader finance transformation initiatives
• Permanent opportunity, flexible location, salary from $166,000 base plus superannuation

About the role

We’re looking for a Financial Accounting Lead to lead Lifeblood’s financial accounting, month-end and year-end reporting processes, ensuring accurate, timely and compliant financial outcomes. Reporting to the Financial Governance Manager, you will provide technical accounting leadership across complex accounting matters, balance sheet integrity, financial reporting and audit readiness.

Leading and developing a Senior Financial Accountant, you will set clear expectations, provide technical guidance and support high-quality delivery during critical reporting periods. You will also identify opportunities to strengthen controls, simplify accounting processes and improve the way financial systems and reporting are used.

Key responsibilities

• Lead accurate and timely month-end, year-end and financial accounting processes, including the review of journals, accruals, adjustments and supporting analysis
• Oversee general ledger integrity and financial reporting outputs, ensuring information is complete, accurate and consistent
• Support the preparation of statutory financial statements and provide technical advice and accounting judgements on complex matters and emerging accounting requirements.
• Oversee key balance sheet reconciliations, ensuring issues are investigated, resolved and escalated appropriately
• Maintain strong financial controls across accounting processes, supporting data integrity, reconciliation quality and compliance
• Coordinate financial accounting inputs for internal and external audits, including reconciliations, supporting papers, accounting analysis and responses
• Lead, coach and develop the Senior Financial Accountant, particularly through peak reporting periods
• Provide technical guidance to finance stakeholders and help strengthen financial accounting, reporting and control practices
• Drive improvements that simplify accounting processes, enhance reporting quality and make better use of financial systems
• Contribute to broader Financial Governance and finance transformation initiatives.

Sound interesting? Here’s what we’re looking for:

• A tertiary qualification in Accounting, Finance, Commerce or a related discipline
• A completed CA, CPA or equivalent professional accounting qualification
• Demonstrated experience leading financial accounting, month-end and year-end reporting processes within a complex organisation
• Strong knowledge of accounting standards, financial reporting requirements, general ledger processes and balance sheet management
• Experience managing audit deliverables, resolving audit queries and supporting the preparation of statutory financial statements
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and technical accounting capability, with the ability to interpret complex information and provide clear advice
• Experience maintaining internal controls, enhancing accounting processes and protecting reporting integrity
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills
• Demonstrated people leadership capability, including the ability to coach and develop team members.
• Experience within a highly regulated environment such as healthcare, NFP or government, and exposure to Oracle or a similar ERP system, would be advantageous.

We place our employee's well-being at the forefront and express gratitude and care for one another. As an Australian Workplace Equality Index recognised employer and one ofAustralia’s menopause-friendly organisations, we celebrate diversity and support all our people.

In addition to being a part of an organisation that is the heartbeat of the Nation, you will have access to the following:

• Ability topurchaseadditionalannual leave
• Access to salary packaging withan optionto package up to $15,900 for living expenses and $2,650 for meals and entertainment
• 14 weeks paid parental leave - no waiting period for either parent
• Our dedicated employeeassistanceprogram - Sonder that you can access 24/7 from an app on your phone
• Plus, many more!

We’re proud to be a Circle Back Initiative Employer for 2026 and commit to respond to every applicant. You’ll hear from us once your application has been reviewed.

In the mean time if you have questions about this role, or need support or adjustments during any stage of the recruitment process, please contact us at [e-mail] . Our AI careers assistant can help with common questions and connect you with our Talent Acquisition team if required.

This vacancy is being managed directly by Lifeblood’s Talent Acquisition team. We won’t accept candidates from external recruitment agencies on this occasion.