Fractional CFO

Curatif; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 207,000 - 344,000; Part time

Job summary

Curatif, a rapid-growth beverage producer in Port Melbourne, seeks a hands-on Fractional CFO to own the finance function for two days per week. You will manage the books, close monthly, oversee cash, payroll, tax returns and R&D incentives, and partner with the MD and board on commercial decisions.

You will drive budgeting, forecasting, and year-end processes with external accountants, shaping capital plans and strategic initiatives.

Qualifications

• CA or CPA with senior finance experience in founder-led or owner-operated businesses.
• Background in FMCG, beverage or manufacturing preferred.
• Strong financial modelling and forecasting, including capital raise support.
• Working knowledge of Australian alcohol excise, GST, payroll tax, FBT and the R&D Tax Incentive.
• Experience with Xero and e-commerce accounting integrations (Shopify or similar).
• Comfortable doing the work yourself on two days a week, from transaction-level entries through to board reporting.
• Direct, concise communicator who builds durable processes rather than manual workarounds.

Responsibilities

• Run the monthly close in Xero and issue management reports to the Managing Director and board.
• Prepare the monthly excise calculation and lodgement.
• Manage accounts payable, cash position, treasury and the 13-week cash flow forecast.
• Build and maintain the annual budget, reforecasts and variance reporting.
• Process payroll, commissions and bonuses.
• Reconcile sales channels (Shopify, Amazon, wholesale) to the ledger and own the e-commerce to Xero integration.
• Prepare year-end with our external accountants, including the R&D claim.
• Provide finance input on commercial deals, pricing, new initiatives and capital raising.
• Attend board meetings and prepare the finance section of board papers.

Skills

CA/CPA

Senior finance experience

FMCG/beverage/manufacturing

Financial modelling

Australian tax knowledge (excise, GST,

Education

null

Tools

Xero

Shopify

Job description

Fractional CFO | Curatif | Port Melbourne | Part-time, 2 days per week

Curatif makes world-class, ready-to-serve cocktails and is four-time IWSC Global RTD Producer of the Year (2022 to 2025). We produce at our own Melbourne facilities and sell through our online store, national retail, on-premise venues, travel retail and export markets. We are a small, fast-moving team backed by an experienced board and a highly engaged shareholder community.

We are looking for a fractional CFO to own the finance function two days a week.

The role

This is a hands-on senior finance role with no team underneath it. You will run the books, close the month, report to the board and the Managing Director, manage cash and payments, prepare the monthly alcohol excise return, build the budget and forecast, and work with our external accountants on tax, year-end and the R&D Tax Incentive claim. You will also sit at the table on commercial and capital decisions.

What you will do

• Run the monthly close in Xero and issue management reports to the Managing Director and board
• Prepare the monthly excise calculation and lodgement
• Manage accounts payable, cash position, treasury and the 13-week cash flow forecast
• Build and maintain the annual budget, reforecasts and variance reporting
• Process payroll, commissions and bonuses
• Reconcile sales channels (Shopify, Amazon, wholesale) to the ledger and own the e-commerce to Xero integration
• Prepare year-end with our external accountants, including the R&D claim
• Provide finance input on commercial deals, pricing, new initiatives and capital raising
• Attend board meetings and prepare the finance section of board papers

What we are looking for

• CA or CPA with senior finance experience in founder-led or owner-operated businesses
• Background in FMCG, beverage or manufacturing preferred
• Strong financial modelling and forecasting, including capital raise support
• Working knowledge of Australian alcohol excise, GST, payroll tax, FBT and the R&D Tax Incentive
• Experience with Xero and e-commerce accounting integrations (Shopify or similar)
• Comfortable doing the work yourself on two days a week, from transaction-level entries through to board reporting
• Direct, concise communicator who builds durable processes rather than manual workarounds

The details

• Part-time permanent employee, 0.4 FTE (two days per week, Tuesday and Thursday in our Port Melbourne office), with additional hours paid as needed around month-end and board cycles
• Reports to the Managing Director
• Other professional engagements welcome, subject to conflict disclosure
• Professional membership and CPD supported