FINANCIAL CONTROLLER

SHK Asia Pacific; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

SHK Asia Pacific in Melbourne seeks a Financial Controller to lead and elevate the firm's finance function, reporting to the CFO. You will oversee financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, cost control, working capital, payroll, trust management and compliance, guiding a five-person team toward a high-performance culture.

You bring CA qualification, 10+ years in accounting/finance and at least 5 years in leadership, with experience in partnerships and trusts.

Qualifications

• CA-qualified with 10+ years in accounting or finance.
• Minimum 5 years in a leadership role, preferably in legal or professional services.
• Strong knowledge of partnerships and trusts accounting, tax, and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Oversee financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, cost control and working capital.
• Lead a team of five ( payroll, accounts payable, trust, GL) and develop talent.
• Drive process improvements, automation and finance projects across the firm.

Skills

Leadership

Financial analysis

Stakeholder management

Education

CA qualification

Job description

• Lead and elevate the finance team
• Premier Australian commercial law firm
• Underpin firm-wide financial integrity

About the organisation

The organisation is a premier Australian commercial law firm with offices in Melbourne and Sydney. It provides strategic legal and commercial advice to a diverse range of Australian and international corporations, high-net-worth individuals and large family businesses. The firm is regularly involved in landmark transactions and is known for its innovative, commercially focused advice. It is widely regarded within the profession as a high-performing firm, a quality that permeates every function, not only its legal teams.

About the role

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the Financial Controller leads and elevates the firm's financial management function. The role oversees financial and accounting operations, including financial reporting and analysis, budgeting, forecasting, cost control, working capital, trust management, payroll and compliance. The Financial Controller partners with the CFO on financial insights into client, matter and departmental profitability, and delivers accurate day-one monthly results. The role leads a team of five, spanning payroll, accounts payable, trust and the general ledger, and is responsible for developing that team and driving a high-performance culture. The Financial Controller will also contribute to process improvement, automation and finance projects across the firm. Key to success will be ensuring the common things are done uncommonly well: accurate, trusted and reliable financial operations that the firm can depend on.

About you

CA qualified, you have 10+ years of experience in accounting or finance, including at least five years in a leadership role, ideally from within a legal or professional services environment. You bring strong technical knowledge of accounting, tax and compliance requirements for partnerships and trusts, and are a personable leader who sets clear expectations, works collaboratively, and develops those reporting to you. You communicate well, hold high work standards, and are calm under pressure, ensuring a high standard of accuracy and tight deadlines are met. You are highly organised, commercially minded, and able to interpret what stakeholders are truly asking for and add value to the process. You are confident to challenge the status quo, and you bring a genuine interest in improving processes through technology and automation.