Head of Finance

Black Dog Institute; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work

Flexible hours

9-day fortnights

Salary packaging

Pet-friendly workplace

Wellbeing leave

Job summary

Black Dog Institute is seeking an accomplished Head of Finance to drive financial transformation and strengthen capability across the organisation. Reporting to the COO, you will shape financial strategy, modernise processes, and build a commercially focused function to support sustainable growth and impact.

You will partner with the Executive Team to improve performance, deliver insightful reporting, and enable better decision-making across the business, with a focus on governance and

Qualifications

• CA or CPA qualification required with significant senior finance leadership experience.
• Experience leading budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and financial planning.
• Strong commercial acumen with business case development and investment evaluation.
• Experience presenting complex financial information to Boards and governance committees.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
• Track record of leading and developing teams in a positive culture.
• Advanced financial systems and reporting experience, including Excel.

Responsibilities

• Lead budgeting, forecasting, financial planning and reporting.
• Develop financial models and insights to support decisions.
• Oversee revenue forecasting, expenditure monitoring and working capital management.
• Ensure governance, controls, risk management and compliance.
• Partner with leaders to enable workforce planning and growth.
• Provide trusted financial advice to Executive Leadership Team and Board.
• Oversee audits, statutory reporting and financial acquittals.
• Lead and develop a high-performing finance team.

Skills

CA/CPA

Senior leadership

Financial strategy

Business partnering

Board reporting

Stakeholder engagement

People management

Education

Accounting/Finance degree

Tools

Excel

Job description

About the InstituteLocated on the lands of the Bidiagal Clan of the Dharawal Nation (Randwick, NSW), Black Dog Institute is the only Medical Research Institute in Australia to investigate mental health across the lifespan, our aim is to create a mentally healthier world for everyone. For the past 20 years, we have been at the forefront of mental health research.Leveraging our own research, we have developed an image and workplace that is reflective of our values and mission. Our work is used to distributed through the public and is used to drive evidence informed change across the mental health sector, setting the foundation for a brighter and healthier future for all.

• Hybrid work, 1-2 days per week in office (choose your days, consistent team collaboration days where possible)
• 35 hour work week,flexible hours agreements & 9-day fortnights
• Salary Packaging: $15,900.00 of your base salary tax free & up to $2650.00 meal & entertainment
• Family first, people first culture, we put our research into action at work to make sure we maintain mental health and wellbeing at work
• Pet friendly workplace
• Leave benefits including public holiday swap, gifted annual leave, and wellbeing leave

The Role

Black Dog Institute is entering a significant period of organisational transformation, creating an exciting opportunity for an accomplished finance leader to help shape the future of the organisation. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Head of Finance will play a critical role in driving financial transformation, strengthening financial capability, enhancing reporting and forecasting, and ensuring the organisation has the financial infrastructure required to support sustainable growth and impact.

This is more than a traditional finance leadership position. You'll be a strategic partner to the Executive Leadership Team, leading initiatives that improve financial performance, modernise finance processes, support organisation-wide change, and build a commercially focused finance function that enables better decision-making across the business

Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead the organisation's budgeting, forecasting, financial planning and reporting activities.
• Develop financial models and insights that support strategic and operational decision-making.
• Oversee revenue forecasting, expenditure monitoring, working capital management, and investment activities.
• Ensure effective financial governance, internal controls, risk management, and regulatory compliance.
• Partner with leaders across the organisation to enable workforce planning, transformation initiatives, and business growth.
• Provide trusted financial advice to the Executive Leadership Team, Finance & Audit Committee, and Board.
• Oversee annual audits, statutory reporting, and financial acquittals.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing finance team

Skills & Experience Required

We’re interested in hearing from candidates who bring a combination of strategic leadership, technical expertise, and collaborative engagement.

You will ideally have:

• CA or CPA qualification and significant senior finance leadership experience.
• Demonstrated success leading financial strategy, planning, budgeting, and business partnering functions.
• Strong commercial acumen, including business case development, investment evaluation, and financial decision-making.
• Experience presenting complex financial information to Boards, Executive teams, and governance committees.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, influencing, and communication skills.
• A track record of leading and developing teams while fostering a positive, inclusive, and high-performing culture.
• Strong analytical, planning, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Advanced financial systems and reporting expertise, including strong Microsoft Excel capability.
• Experience implementing financial improvements, systems, or business transformation initiatives.

Experience within research, higher education, healthcare, not-for-profit, grant-funded, or complex funding environments will be highly regarded

Application Deadline

We’re excited to hear from talented candidates for this opportunity. Applications close Thursday, 30 October 2026, although we may close the advertisement earlier if a high volume of strong applications is received.

Inclusion at BDI

We are committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible recruitment experience where all candidates can fullyparticipatein the process.

We warmly encourage applications from First Nations peoples, culturally and raciallydiversecommunities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people with disabilities, and others from underrepresented backgrounds.

We recognise that not everyone has had equal access to opportunities, and valuable skills and perspectives can be gained through diverse life experiences.

If this role excites you but youdon’tmeet every listed requirement, we still encourage you to applyasyourlived experienceand insights are important to us.

Accessibility

If you have accessibility requirements or require information in an alternative format, pleaseemail ***************@blackdog.org.auorphone02 9382 4***

Privacy

We respect your privacy and confidentiality. We only provide information to other staff where it is needed to arrange workplace adjustments.

Commencement of employment with the Institute is subject to the completion of relevant pre-employment checks, include reference checks, a National Criminal History Check, and other role-specific requirements.These checks are conducted in line with the Institute’s commitment to providing a safe, respectful and inclusive environment for all employees, and check outcomes are reviewed and applied fairly and in accordance with the inherent requirements of the role