Financial Controller

Bao&Co; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Bao&Co is seeking a Financial Controller to reshape the finance function of a growing business in Sydney. You will automate management accounts, budgets and KPI tracking, using AI where appropriate, while maintaining ISO-certified systems.

You’ll report to the GM and work with the Governance Board Chair on board matters, influencing tender decisions, pricing and growth, with hands-on leadership across finance and IT.

Qualifications

• CA or CPA qualified.
• 7+ years in finance, including 2+ years as Financial Controller or senior finance lead in an SME.
• Expert Xero user with strong spreadsheet skills.
• Experience automating finance work, ideally with AI-based solutions.
• Experience reporting to a board and handling governance matters.

Responsibilities

• Own month-end close, management accounts, cash flow, budgets and year-end obligations.
• Lead project costing from tender pricing to profitability by contract.
• Automate manual finance tasks and build live dashboards with Xero, Monday, and Metronome.
• Co-own strategic initiatives with the GM and build financial and IT skills in the team.
• Prepare board papers and report on cash, solvency, tax and compliance.
• Oversee HR matters including employment contracts and Fair Work compliance.

Skills

Xero

Spreadsheets

Automation

Board reporting

Education

CA or CPA

Tools

Monday

Metronome

Xero

Job description

We are seeking a Financial Controller to reshape the finance function of a growing business.

Reporting to the GM, with a direct line to the Governance Board Chair on board matters, you’ll lead finance, rebuild how it works using AI where appropriate, and use the time saved to help transform the business. Your initial focus will be automating the manual work behind management accounts, budgets, metric tracking and invoice checks.

This isn’t a role that sits behind the numbers. Your input will shape our big decisions, from which tenders we bid on to how we price and grow, while maintaining our ISO-certified systems and delivery excellence.

Key responsibilities

Finance and compliance: Own month-end close, management accounts, cash flow, budgets, year-end and ATO obligations, managing our accountant, bookkeeper and auditor

Commercial: Lead project costing from tender pricing to profitability by contract, and give input on tenders, supplier contracts and pricing

Systems and AI: Automate manual work, build live dashboards from Xero, Monday and Metronome, and co-lead a systems review with the GM

Leadership: Co-own strategic initiatives with the GM, act as second-in-command, and build financial and IT skills across the team

Governance: Prepare board papers with the GM, report on cash, solvency, tax and compliance, and present to our Governance and Advisory Boards

Legal and HR: Run first-pass contract reviews and oversee HR matters, including employment contracts, policies and Fair Work compliance

About you

You’re an experienced Financial Controller who is genuinely progressive with technology, would rather automate a process than repeat it, and wants to be part of the whole business, not just the numbers. You’ll bring the seniority and judgement to work closely with the GM and our boards, and the hands‑on approach that suits a small, ambitious team.

CA or CPA qualified

7+ years in finance, including 2+ as Financial Controller or senior finance lead in an SME

Expert Xero user and strong spreadsheet skills

A track record of automating finance work, ideally using AI to build automations and connect systems, with examples to share

Understands business systems and IT, and has led or co‑led a systems implementation

Broad commercial and operational experience

Experience reporting to a board, with the discretion that board and shareholder matters require

Working knowledge of commercial contracts and Australian employment law, and knows when to call in a lawyer

Hands‑on and in the business: works alongside the team day to day, not just on the numbers

Ideally, a combined finance and IT background

Ideally, experience in a product, import or supply chain business, or with government contracts and tenders

About us

Since 2008, Bao&Co has curated and delivered bundles for pioneering initiatives that create maximum impact. We achieve this through two streams:

State government early‑learning & health programs, including initiatives such as the NSW and Victorian Baby Bundles and the Victorian Kinder Kit

BaoBag - Australia's premium sampling program for new parents, with over 1.4 million bags delivered into Australian households.

We're involved in bringing 390,000 bags, kits, and bundles to Australian families each year. Every year we purchase millions of products from Australian SMEs, including over half a million books - all by Australian authors. One third of the products we source are proudly made in Australia. We deliver to over 4,000 distributors Australia-wide.

We are a values‑led organisation in growth mode, with a core team of 10 in Brookvale, and a turnover of around $20 million.

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