About the role
Due to continued growth and investment in our finance capability, we have a newly created Financial Controller position within our national Finance team, based in Sydney. This is an exceptional opportunity for an experienced finance professional to join a leading law firm and make a meaningful impact from day one.
Reporting to the Head of Finance, the Financial Controller will be a key member of the firm's finance team, responsible for the operational performance of the finance function.
This is a broad leadership role overseeing core financial governance, financial operations, reporting, compliance, working capital management and business improvement initiatives. You will partner closely with leaders and Partners to provide commercial insights that support strategic decision making and firm growth.
Key responsibilities include:
- Leading and developing multiple finance functions, including Financial Accounting, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Finance Systems and Trust Accounting.
- Ensuring the effectiveness, integrity and efficiency of the firm's financial operations, controls and reporting framework to ensure compliance with legislation and accounting standards
- Leading the month end, quarter end and year end close processes, ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting.
- Preparing board, management and partnership reporting, including analysis, commentary, profitability reporting, cash flow forecasting and performance insights.
- Driving budgeting, forecasting, financial planning and strategic business initiatives across the firm.
- Partnering with business leaders to provide commercial analysis and support informed operational and strategic decision making.
- Managing the annual external audit and trust process and maintaining strong relationships with external auditors, banks, insurers and professional advisers.
- Overseeing ongoing compliance obligations including, taxation compliance, including income tax, BAS, payroll tax, FBT and regulatory reporting obligations.
- Driving working capital performance through debtor management, cash flow optimisation and credit control strategies.
- Ensuring compliance with all legislative, regulatory and trust accounting requirements.
- Leading finance transformation, process improvement and system enhancement initiatives to improve efficiency, scalability and reporting capability.
- Playing a key role in future finance system implementations, upgrades, integrations and organisational change projects.
Supporting the continued development of a high performing finance team through coaching, mentoring and succession planning.
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About you
You are a commercially astute finance leader who thrives in a complex, professional services environment. You combine strong technical accounting expertise and a continuous improvement mindset with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive organisational outcomes.
You will bring:
- CA or CPA qualification.
- Extensive experience as a Financial Controller, Finance Manager or equivalent leadership position.
- Demonstrated people leadership within a professional services, legal, accounting or consulting environment.
- Strong financial governance, reporting, compliance, audit and taxation expertise.
- Experience in managing trust accounts, including the annual trust account audit.
- Experience delivering financial budgets, strategic financial analysis and partnering with executive leaders
- Proven success leading finance transformation projects, system implementations or change initiatives.
- Strong understanding of working capital management, cash flow forecasting and financial controls.
- Exceptional stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence at executive level.
Experience building, mentoring and leading high-performing teams through periods of growth and change.
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About us
We’re passionate about what we do and want you to be too.
We’re one of Australia’s leading law firms, recognised nationally for our legal expertise across insurance, commercial, workplace and government matters. Our teams work with major insurers, corporates, government agencies, SMEs and not for profit organisations across Australia.
With more than 800 people across Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth and Sydney, we combined high quality work with collaborative and supportive culture.
We’re also proud to be recognised by Chambers Asia-Pacific, Legal 500 Asia-Pacific, Best Lawyers and Doyle’s Guide and to have one of the highest percentages of female partners among Australia’s top 50 law firms.
Culture & benefits of working with us
As a national firm with the scale and reputation to attract great clients and high-quality work, every day is different. To support you, we offer a wide range of benefits, including:
- Flexible working arrangements to help you balance your work and personal commitments
- Health and wellness initiatives , including an Employee Assistance Program for you and your family, onsite Mental Health First Aiders, discounts on health insurance, and corporate discounts at 400+ leading fitness and wellbeing brands
- Financial benefits including discounted conveyancing services, financial planning assistance, and our generous employee referral program
- Paid parental leave and accreditation as a Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace
- Continuous learning and development programs to ensure you are always being challenged, engaged, and encouraged to grow and further your career
- Connection and community including office-based social events, sporting events, paid blood donation leave, and a long-standing commitment to pro bono work and community contribution
- Diversity and Inclusion Policy and Employee Reference Groups (LGBTQIA+, Gender, Parents & Caregivers, Mature Workers, and Health & Wellbeing, and Reconciliation Action Plan Working Groups) ensuring that we continue to live our values and encouraging our people to be their authentic selves at work each day
- Dress for your Work Day Policy because we trust our people to make choices which appropriately represent our firm
How to apply
If this opportunity is attractive to you, please submit your cover letter and CV.
We welcome people of all backgrounds and identities to apply for this position, including First Nations people, neurodiverse people and people with disability. If you have questions about the recruitment process or require any adjustments to participate, please let us know in your application.
We do not require recruitment agency assistance with this vacancy. Any applications submitted by recruitment agencies without having been briefed will not be considered a valid introduction.
