Senior Accountant with Leadership Ability
A growing project-based business is seeking an experienced Senior Accountant / Finance Lead to look after its finance function and contribute to the ongoing commercial success of the organisation.
Reporting to the executive leadership team, this role offers a broad remit across financial management, strategic planning, business partnering, and operational leadership. The successful candidate will play a critical role in driving financial performance, strengthening controls, improving systems and processes, and providing commercial insights to support business growth.
This chance would suit a hands-on Senior Accountant who enjoys balancing day-to-day financial operations with strategic financial leadership in a dynamic and evolving environment.
Key Responsibilities
Key selection criteria:
Strong management/project accounting understanding
Someone who is going to grow with the business
CIMA (ACMA/FCMA/CGMA) holders
Hands-on/doer
Confidence to own the finance function
Financial Leadership & Reporting
Lead the end-to-end finance function, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, and financial administration.
Manage month-end and year-end reporting processes, ensuring timely and accurate financial reporting.
Deliver meaningful financial analysis and performance insights to support strategic decision-making.
Maintain strong financial controls, governance, and reporting frameworks across the business.
Budgeting, Forecasting & Commercial Analysis
Lead annual budgeting and regular forecasting processes.
Develop and maintain project pipeline forecasts and business performance models.
Provide strategic financial analysis, profitability reporting, and tax planning insights.
Support executive leadership with commercial recommendations and business performance initiatives.
Cash Flow & Working Capital Management
Manage company-wide cash flow forecasting and liquidity planning.
Monitor working capital performance and identify opportunities to improve cash conversion.




Oversee financial planning to support long-term business sustainability and growth.
Project & Operational Finance
Manage Work in Progress (WIP) reporting, project profitability analysis, and revenue recognition processes.
Monitor project financial performance, cost controls, and margin outcomes.
Partner with operational stakeholders to improve project financial visibility and decision-making.
Compliance & Risk Management
Ensure compliance with all statutory and financial obligations, including payroll, superannuation, payroll tax, and regulatory requirements.
Oversee financial risk areas including insurance programs, bank guarantees, lease obligations, and contractual commitments.
Coordinate external audits and maintain compliance with accounting standards and company policies.
Systems & Process Improvement
Drive continuous improvement across financial systems, reporting tools, dashboards, and business processes.
Support the implementation and optimisation of ERP, accounting, and job management systems.
Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, automation, reporting accuracy, and business intelligence capabilities.
Stakeholder & Commercial Management
Build strong relationships across the business, providing financial guidance and commercial support.
Manage key financial relationships with customers, suppliers, banks, and external advisors.
Review commercial agreements and support contract negotiations from a financial perspective.
Identify and assess grants, incentives, and funding opportunities that support business growth.
About You




You are a commercially astute finance professional who combines strong technical accounting expertise with the ability to influence business outcomes. You are equally comfortable managing day-to-day finance operations and contributing at a strategic level.
Skills & Experience
Demonstrated experience managing accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, and finance operations.
Strong leadership experience managing and developing finance teams.
Experience with accounting systems, ERP platforms, job costing software, and financial reporting tools.
Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
Highly Regarded
Experience within project-based, construction, engineering, trade services, infrastructure, or contracting environments.
Exposure to Work in Progress (WIP) reporting, project accounting, and revenue recognition.
Experience leading finance transformation, system implementations, or process improvement initiatives.
Personal Attributes
Highly organised with exceptional attention to detail.
Commercially minded with a strong focus on business outcomes.
Strategic thinker with a proactive and solutions-focused approach.
Strong problem-solving and decision-making capability.
Ability to build credibility and influence stakeholders at all levels.
Comfortable managing multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Adaptable, resilient, and committed to continuous improvement.
Pre-Screening questions:
How would you account for WIP in an industrial project setting?
What is your approach to recovering overdue invoices?
How would you ensure all Directors were engaged and informed in a multi-director business where they are geographically separated?
What's on Offer
This is an opportunity to join a successful and growing organisation where finance is viewed as a key strategic partner to the business. You will have the opportunity to influence decision-making, improve systems and processes, and contribute directly to the organisation's future growth and success.
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📌 Senior Accountant With Leadership Ability (Melbourne)
🏢 seek.com.au
📍 Melbourne