Senior Finance Manager

GDG on Campus | University of Sydney; Sydney; On-site; AUD 152,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Sydney seeks a Senior Finance Manager to lead relationship management and provide decision support across complex portfolios. The role partners with senior stakeholders to deliver strategic financial management and robust reporting in a large university setting.

You will drive budgeting, forecasting and KPI analysis, interpret financial policies, and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives. mentoring and staff development within Financial Services are also part of the role.

Qualifications

• Ability to interpret and apply complex financial policies and external requirements.
• Advanced Excel for financial reporting, budgeting and KPI analysis.
• Proven ability to provide strategic financial insights and decision support.
• Experience navigating a matrix, large enterprise environment.
• Membership in CPA Australia or the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day relationship management and business partnering for complex portfolios.
• Strategically manage portfolio activities and budgets with advanced reporting.
• Interpret and implement University financial policies and guidelines.
• Support the University’s strategic plan and objectives.
• Ensure financial governance and compliance with timely, customer-focused service.
• Mentor, coach or supervise Financial Services staff.

Skills

Excel

Financial analysis

Budgeting & forecasting

Strategic insights

KPI reporting

Education

CPA Australia or Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia

Tools

Job description

• Full time continuing role
• Influence strategic outcomes through financial partnering with senior stakeholders
• Base Salary $152,045 - $160, 430 + 17% superannuation

About the opportunity

The Senior Finance Manager focuses on relationship management and business/decision support partnering. The incumbent is responsible for relationships with complex primary stakeholders and works collaboratively with other Financial Services staff to provide effective, efficient and integrated strategic and day to day operational financial management and accounting services. The position advises a range of senior stakeholders across the the University’s central portfolios for financial matters, and contributes to continuous improvement and new initiatives within both wider Financial Services and across operating portfolios.

Your key responsibilities will be:

• provision of day-to-day relationship management and business partnering for complex portfolios
• strategic and operational management of portfolio activities/budgets; advanced accounting and management reporting using a variety of financial and non-financial Key Performance Indicators (KPIs
• interpreting, applying and implementing University financial policies, procedures and guidelines
• advocating and supporting the University strategic plan and objectives
• accountability for general financial governance, related compliance and services in a customer focused and timely manner
• provide mentoring, coaching and/or supervision contributing to skills and professional development for Financial Services staff.

About you

• demonstrated ability to interpret, apply and integrate complex financial policies and procedures, external requirements and accounting standards
• the ability to adapt and utilise complex Excel spreadsheets for financial reporting and analysis, budget and forecast preparation and analysis, KPI reporting, ad-hoc analysis etc
• demonstrated ability to provide strategically aligned financial insights, sound financial management, decision support, advice, analysis and support to client group and finance team, including strategic business case development,
• proven expertise to navigate across a complex (matrix reporting) enterprise
• Membership of CPA Australia or the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia or equivalent.

Sponsorship / work rights for Australia

You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this employment to be eligible to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment.

Pre-employment checks and declarations

Your employment is conditional upon the successful completion of all pre-employment or background checks required for the role in terms satisfactory to the University. Also, to meet the University’s obligations under the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Eliminate Gender-Based Violence you will be asked to declare if you have been investigated for, or found to engaged in, sexual harm or gender-based violence in the course of previous employment or in a legal process. Similarly, your ongoing employment is conditional upon the satisfactory maintenance of all relevant clearances and background check requirements. If you do not meet these conditions, the University may take any necessary step, including the termination of your employment.

EEO statement

At the University of Sydney, our shared values are trust, accountability and excellence and we strive to be a place where everyone can thrive. We are committed to creating a University community that thrives through diversity and reflects the wider community that we serve. We deliver on this through our commitment to diversity and inclusion, evidenced by our people and culture programs, as well as key strategies to increase participation and support the careers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people living with a disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and those who identify as LGBTQIA+. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds.

We are proud to be recognised as an Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Platinum Employer. Find out more about our work on diversity and inclusion.

Applications Close

Wednesday 16 September 2026 11:59 PM