Senior Research Finance Partnering Lead – Flexible Work

University of Melbourne; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 146,000 - 152,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

17% superannuation

Salary packaging

Health and wellbeing programs

Professional development

Discounted services

Parental leave

Job summary

The University of Melbourne is seeking a senior leader to head Research Finance Partnering within the Research, Innovation and Commercialisation division. You will guide researchers through complex funding rules while driving shared services innovation and systems improvements.

You will maintain advisory relationships on budgeting, forecasting and financial management for major Faculty portfolios, lead a high-performing finance team, and optimise day-to-day operations across the unit with

Qualifications

• Hold a relevant business degree plus CA, CPA or equivalent professional accounting qualification.
• Bring extensive experience managing research funding from multiple agencies, ensuring compliance and sector best practice.
• Lead professional finance teams, applying contemporary leadership, coaching and performance management to build capability.
• Demonstrate strong financial modelling skills and the ability to interpret complex data for senior stakeholders.
• Adapt effectively within complex matrix structures, championing business improvement initiatives and continuous process enhancement.
• Manage diverse stakeholders with excellent organisational skills, prioritising competing deadlines while delivering responsive client service.

Responsibilities

• Maintain trusted advisory relationships with senior researchers and Faculty leaders on budgeting, forecasting and research financial management.
• Lead and coach Research Finance Partnering staff, fostering high performance, continuous improvement and strong client service.
• Coordinate day-to-day research finance operations, optimising resource allocation, processes, and enabling technologies across the team.
• Provide specialist faculty-level research finance advice, including reporting, forecasting and budgeting for complex project portfolios.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of people, processes, systems and performance within the finance shared services model.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Financial modelling

Strategic thinking

People management

Education

Business degree

CA/CPA or equivalent

Job description

The University of Melbourne is seeking a senior leader to head Research Finance Partnering within the Research, Innovation and Commercialisation division. You will guide researchers through complex funding rules while driving shared services innovation and systems improvements.

You will maintain advisory relationships on budgeting, forecasting and financial management for major Faculty portfolios, lead a high-performing finance team, and optimise day-to-day operations across the unit with