Financial Strategy Manager

SMA Australia; North Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

5 days Xmas leave

Hybrid working environment

Job summary

SMA Australia is seeking a Financial Strategy Manager for its Large-Scale team. This full-time, hybrid role sits in Sydney and focuses on FP&A, forecasting, and financial control to support global sales and finance strategies.

You will lead budgeting, modelling, and KPI reporting while guiding a lean finance team. The role requires Australian tax knowledge and cross-time-zone collaboration with European HQ.

Qualifications

• 8-10 years in senior finance.
• Leadership experience in FP&A/finance manager roles.
• Strong FP&A, cash forecasting and modelling.
• Inventory management, cost accounting, project-based analysis.
• Experience with project-based funding structures.
• ERP systems and modelling tools.
• Australian tax and statutory frameworks.
• Experience in B2B project-based renewables/engineering.
• Able to work across time zones and report to European HQ.

Responsibilities

• Lead budgeting, forecasting, long-range planning and financial performance analysis.
• Deliver scenario modelling and financial analysis for profitability, cash flow, investment and risk.
• Develop, monitor and report KPIs, dashboards and financial metrics.
• Partner with leadership and cross-functional teams to provide financial insights.
• Improve working capital via cash collection, inventory, procurement, payments and capex.
• Oversee daily finance ops: accounting, payroll, AP/AR, cash flow, controls.
• Ensure compliance with Australian tax, accounting and regulatory requirements and audits.
• Deliver timely monthly, quarterly, and statutory financial reporting.
• Lead finance systems and reporting; ERP governance and process improvement.
• Coach and mentor the finance team fostering accountability and continuous improvement.

Education

Degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field

CPA Qualified

Tools

ERP systems

Financial modelling tools

Job description

SMA Australia has a full-time opportunity for a talented Financial Strategy Manager, working in our Large-Scale team. This position is office-based & hybrid ie, a mix of working from home and working at our Sydney Office.

About The Role

The Financial Strategy Manager is responsible for all aspects of financial planning, reporting and analysis, alongside statutory compliance and financial control at the subsidiary level. This is a hands-on role in a lean team, with particular emphasis on forward-looking Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), to support both the Managing Directors locally to execute the sales and finance strategy globally, supported by and leading team members whose focus is primarily on Accounting & Tax matters.

It requires balancing financial discipline with agility, enabling timely decision support in a dynamic, project-driven B2B environment. The Financial Strategy Manager is responsible for overseeing all financial aspects of the business. This role ensures financial sustainability, supports strategic growth, and drives operational efficiency in a fast-paced engineering environment focused on renewable energy solutions.

Responsibilities Include, But Are Not Limited To, The Following

• Lead budgeting, forecasting, long-range planning, and financial performance analysis, providing insights on risks, opportunities, and business improvement initiatives.
• Deliver scenario modelling and financial analysis to support strategic decisions, including profitability, cash flow, investment, and risk management.
• Develop, monitor, and report on KPIs, dashboards, and financial metrics to support local management and group reporting.
• Partner with executive leadership and cross-functional teams to provide financial insights, evaluate commercial opportunities, and support decision-making.
• Drive working capital improvements through effective management of cash collection, inventory, procurement, supplier payments, and capital investments.
• Oversee day-to-day finance operations, including accounting, payroll, accounts payable/receivable, cash flow management, and financial controls.
• Ensure compliance with Australian tax, accounting, and regulatory requirements, while managing audits and external stakeholder relationships.
• Deliver accurate and timely monthly, quarterly, and statutory financial reporting to local and global stakeholders.
• Lead finance systems, reporting, and process improvement initiatives, including ERP governance, digital tools, and operational optimisation.
• Coach and mentor the finance team and key business users, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and innovation.

Experience & Skills

• A career in senior finance would be expected, of 8-10 years.
• First-hand Experience in financial leadership, ideally in a subsidiary of a multinational or in a stand-alone FP&A/finance manager role.
• Strong background in FP&A, cash forecasting, and financial modelling.
• Strong understanding of inventory management, cost accounting, and project-based financial analysis.
• Familiarity with project-based commercial funding structures.
• Experience with ERP systems and financial modelling tools.
• Knowledge of Australian statutory and tax frameworks.
• Proven experience with B2B, project-based industries (renewables, engineering, industrial equipment) preferred.
• Comfortable working across time zones and reporting to European HQ.

Qualifications

• Degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field.
• CPA Qualified

What's In It For You

• We offer a competitive salary and great company benefits and perks, such as an annual bonus and an additional 5 days paid leave at Xmas.
• As a supportive organisation, we understand the importance of offering a flexible working environment to support your own creativity, wellbeing and balance.
• We offer a hybrid working environment ie a mix of work from home / work from office.
• We offer global resources and on site, we offer staff benefits such as a ping-pong and relax room as well as a staff kitchen for healthy breaks and gatherings.

This position is open to all Australian citizens or Permanent Residents. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.