Financial Controller

Cairns Airport Pty Ltd; Cairns Regional; On-site; AUD 130,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive remuneration

Generous leave and wellness entiments

Free 24/7 airport parking

Professional development and training

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Exclusive employee discounts

Job summary

Cairns Airport Pty Ltd in Cairns seeks a seasoned Financial Controller to lead our Finance Team and safeguard the organisation's financial integrity and value creation. Reporting to the CFO, you will oversee financial management, reporting, and internal controls, delivering accurate results and driving operational excellence.

You will mentor a team, partner with the Board and Audit & Risk Committee, and drive process improvements while aligning with Cairns and Mackay Airport’s core values.

Qualifications

• Degree-qualified in Finance or Accounting.
• CA/CPA qualified (or equivalent).
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in a Financial Controller or senior finance leadership role.
• Strong communication, stakeholder engagement, and decision‑making skills.
• Organised, solutions-focused, and calm under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Lead the financial reporting and transaction processing functions.
• Manage, mentor, and empower a team of finance professionals to foster high performance and collaboration.
• Ensure accurate and timely monthly and year-end financial reporting in line with accounting standards.
• Oversee cash flow management and optimise the Group’s working capital.
• Strengthen internal controls, maintain financial policies and procedures, and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Partner with the CFO to manage relationships with the Board and Audit & Risk Committee.
• Drive process improvement and support the transition to new finance and procurement systems.
• Collaborate with the business on pricing, security charges, and recoveries.

Skills

Financial leadership

Team leadership

Process improvement

Stakeholder engagement

Financial reporting

Education

Degree in Finance or Accounting

CA/CPA qualified

Job description

Location: Cairns | Team: Finance Team

Join North Queensland Airports Group (NQA) — the operator of Cairns and Mackay Airports — and help shape the financial future of one of the region’s most dynamic organisations. We are seeking a highly experienced and strategic Financial Controller to lead our Finance team and support NQA’s long-term value creation for shareholders.

Role Highlights

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the Financial Controller plays a key leadership role within the Corporate Services Function. You will oversee all aspects of financial management, reporting and internal controls, ensuring accurate and timely financial outcomes and driving operational excellence across the business.

This role combines strategic financial leadership with hands‑on execution — ideal for a leader who thrives in a collaborative, fast-paced environment and takes pride in building capability and continuous improvement.

Key Accountabilities

• Lead the financial reporting and transaction processing functions.
• Manage, mentor, and empower a team of finance professionals to foster high performance and collaboration.
• Ensure accurate and timely monthly and year-end financial reporting in line with accounting standards.
• Oversee cash flow management and optimise the Group’s working capital.
• Strengthen internal controls, maintain financial policies and procedures, and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Partner with the CFO to manage relationships with the Board and Audit & Risk Committee.
• Drive process improvement and support the transition to new finance and procurement systems.
• Collaborate with the business on pricing, security charges, and recoveries.

What We Are Looking For

• A collaborative team player with a proactive approach.
• Strong alignment with Cairns and Mackay Airport’s core values Safety Every Day/ Do The Right Things/ Strengthen Community/ Create Value/ Care Always/ Think Ahead

About You

• Degree-qualified in Finance or Accounting.
• CA/CPA qualified (or equivalent).
• Strong financial technical skills and management capabilities.
• Proven ability to lead teams and deliver process improvements.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in a similar Financial Controller or senior finance leadership role.
• Strong communication, stakeholder engagement, and decision‑making skills.
• Organised, solutions-focused, and calm under pressure.

Eligibiility

• You need unrestricted rights to work in Australia.
• You must be able to obtain and maintain an Aviation Security Identification Card.

We Offer

• Competitive remuneration with annual reviews.
• Generous leave and wellness entitlements.
• Free 24/7 airport parking for personal and business use.
• Professional development and training opportunities.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Access to social events, airport tours, and exclusive employee discounts.

Cairns Airport is dedicated to building a diverse team that mirrors the community we serve. We value inclusivity and diversity and welcome people who support and model the behaviours we promote in our workforce. We actively encourage applications from First Nations people, candidates from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, members of the LGBTQI+ community, and people with disabilities. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at time of application to assist your participation in the recruitment process.

If you’re a detail-oriented, collaborative, and strategic leader ready to make an impact, we’d love to hear from you.