Operational Finance Manager

Australian National Maritime Museum; Sydney; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous leave

Flexible working arrangements

Training and development opportunities

Rewards and recognition initiatives

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Wellbeing initiatives including flu v

Staff Regatta – Sailing on the Harbour

Job summary

The Australian National Maritime Museum seeks an Operational Finance Manager to provide strategic leadership for its operational finance and procurement functions. You will drive financial governance, reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and strategic analysis to support sustainable decision-making.

You will influence senior leaders, strengthen controls, and guide continuous improvement across financial processes while collaborating with diverse teams to steward public resources and deliver

Qualifications

• Strategic financial leadership to support organisational objectives.
• Governance, procurement and risk management within complex environments.
• Influence senior leaders and external agencies on financial matters.
• Develop and lead high‑performing finance teams.
• Drive continuous improvement in financial systems and processes.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership across the Museum's operational finance and procurement functions.
• Deliver high‑quality financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting and analysis to support decision‑making.
• Influence executive leadership to allocate resources effectively and manage risk.

Skills

Strategic financial leadership

Governance & risk management

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership & people management

Continuous improvement

Education

Tertiary accounting/finance degree

CPA/CA or equivalent

Tools

CBMS

Job description

About the Australian National Maritime Museum

The Australian National Maritime Museum is where Australia’s stories meet the sea.

As one of the nation’s leading cultural institutions and one of Sydney’s most visited museums, we ignite curiosity, inspire discovery, and connect people with the powerful stories that have shaped Australia’s relationship with the ocean, rivers, and waterways.

Through world class exhibitions, iconic vessels, education programs, research, events, and digital experiences, we bring maritime history, culture, science, and innovation to life for millions of people across Australia and around the globe.

Located on the spectacular waters of Darling Harbour, the Museum welcomes more than 2.5 million visitors each year and is supported by a passionate community of employees, volunteers, members and supporters who are united by a shared purpose: to create meaningful experiences that inspire a deeper understanding of our maritime heritage and future.

At the Museum, you will have the opportunity to contribute to work that matters, collaborate with talented and dedicated professionals, and help shape the future of one of Australia's most respected cultural organisations.

About the Role

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key leadership role at one of Australia's leading national cultural institutions, helping to shape the financial sustainability and operational success of the Australian National Maritime Museum.

As the Operational Finance Manager, you will provide strategic leadership across the Museum's operational finance and procurement functions, ensuring strong financial stewardship, sound governance, and the effective management of public resources. Working closely with senior leaders across the organisation, you will influence decision-making, drive continuous improvement, and strengthen financial capability to support the Museum's strategic priorities and long-term sustainability.

This is more than a finance role. It is an opportunity to contribute directly to the Museum's future direction by providing trusted financial advice, leading complex financial and procurement activities, and ensuring the organisation has the financial frameworks, insights and controls needed to deliver on its objectives. You will play a critical role in supporting executive decision-making through the delivery of high-quality financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and strategic analysis. Your expertise will help ensure resources are allocated effectively, risks are appropriately managed, and organisational priorities are supported through robust financial planning and governance.

The role offers significant scope to drive innovation and improvement across financial and procurement practices, identifying opportunities to strengthen systems, enhance processes and deliver greater organisational efficiency. You will work across all areas of the Museum, building strong partnerships and fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and informed decision-making.

Selection Criteria

• Strategic Financial Leadership: Demonstrated experience leading finance functions and delivering strategic financial advice that supports organisational objectives, business performance and informed decision-making.
• Financial Governance, Compliance and Risk Management: Proven ability to manage complex financial operations, governance frameworks, procurement activities and internal controls, ensuring compliance with legislative and whole-of-government requirements while effectively managing financial risk.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Influencing: Highly developed stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build effective relationships and influence senior leaders, auditors, government agencies and external stakeholders on complex or sensitive financial matters.
• Leadership and People Management: Demonstrated capability to lead, develop and inspire high-performing teams through effective coaching, performance management, workforce planning and capability development.
• Continuous Improvement and Operational Excellence: Proven ability to drive innovation and continuous improvement in financial systems, processes and service delivery, delivering efficient, customer-focused and outcome-driven business solutions.
• Mandatory:
  • Relevant tertiary qualifications in Accounting, Finance, Commerce, Business or a related discipline, with membership of a recognised professional accounting body (CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, or equivalent).
  • Demonstrated experience leading finance, procurement and financial management functions within a complex organisation, including responsibility for financial reporting, budgeting, governance and compliance.
  • Demonstrated experience managing and developing staff, including performance management, capability development and leading high-performing teams.
  • Strong knowledge of financial governance, internal controls, risk management and relevant legislative frameworks, including the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability (PGPA) Act, Commonwealth Resource Management Framework and Commonwealth Procurement Framework.
  • Proven ability to provide authoritative financial advice to senior executives and stakeholders, influencing decision-making and supporting organisational outcomes.
  • Experience working within the Australian Public Service (APS), a Commonwealth entity, or a similarly regulated environment.
  • Experience managing external audit processes and liaising with oversight agencies including the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) and the Department of Finance.
  • Experience with Financial Management Information Systems (FMIS), budgeting and reporting systems, including CBMS or similar government reporting platforms.
  • Advanced analytical and reporting skills, including a high level of proficiency in Microsoft Excel and financial modelling tools.
  • Experience leading business improvement, system implementation or financial transformation initiatives.

What we offer you

• Generous leave and flexible working arrangements
• Great training and development opportunities
• Rewards and recognition initiatives
• Our Employee Assistance Program (EAP – a free counselling service for you and your family).
• Wellbeing initiatives including free flu shots and reimbursement for optical
• Staff Regatta – Sailing on the Harbour

This position is open to all eligible members of the community, and we welcome and encourage applications from people with disability, the LGBTIQ+ communities, from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. To be an eligible member of the community, you must be an Australian citizen.

All employees will be required to satisfactorily complete an Australian Federal Police National Police Check and obtain and maintain a NSW Working with Children Check registration