Senior Commercial Advisory
Leading Australian University | Strategic Finance & Commercial Advisory
An exciting chance has become available to join the Commercial Advisory function of a leading Australian university, working on complex, high profile initiatives that influence strategic decision making across the institution.
This team operates more like an internal consulting practice than a traditional finance team. You'll work across emerging university priorities, helping senior leaders assess opportunities, challenge assumptions and make well informed commercial and strategic decisions.
This is not a traditional financial modelling or business partnering position. It will suit someone who enjoys solving ambiguous problems, working with senior stakeholders and turning complex information into clear, persuasive recommendations.
The Opportunity
You'll work across a varied portfolio of university wide initiatives. Priorities can shift quickly, meaning you could move from assessing a new strategic initiative to facilitating workshops, developing a commercial case or advising senior leadership on whether an investment should proceed.
You'll be responsible for:
Breaking down complex and poorly defined commercial and strategic problems
Providing commercial analysis and strategic decision support
Challenging assumptions and testing the viability of proposed initiatives
Developing simple to intermediate financial models to support decision making
Turning quantitative and qualitative analysis into clear recommendations
Preparing presentations, papers and advice for senior stakeholders
Facilitating workshops and gathering requirements across diverse stakeholder groups
Leading projects from initial problem definition through to recommendation and delivery
Scoping and managing external consultants and specialist modelling resources
Presenting and defending recommendations to senior stakeholders
The environment is highly consultative, with exposure to Finance Directors, senior executives, Senate level stakeholders and leaders across the broader university.
What We're Looking For
Relevant experience could come from consulting, banking, government, finance, economics, analytics, engineering, sustainability, higher education or commercial strategy.
More importantly, you'll bring:
Strong commercial judgement and quantitative reasoning
Experience structuring complex or ambiguous problems
Confidence working with financial models, without needing to be a specialist modeller
Strong written and verbal communication skills
The ability to influence and constructively challenge senior stakeholders
Excellent listening skills and the ability to adapt your thinking as new information emerges




Strong stakeholder management skills within complex, consensus driven environments
Confidence operating without established processes or predictable BAU cycles
The ability to lead projects and coordinate internal and external resources
Intellectual curiosity, emotional intelligence and a collaborative, low ego approach
An accounting qualification is not required. The university is particularly interested in people who bring a distinctive capability or area of expertise that can add another dimension to the broader team.
Why Consider This Opportunity?
This is an opportunity to build a long term career within a complex and highly respected institution, while gaining exposure to strategic issues well beyond traditional finance.
You'll join a multidisciplinary team where you can develop your commercial advisory and problem solving capability, work directly with senior decision makers and contribute to initiatives with university wide impact.
The role also offers genuine flexibility, with two days per week currently spent in the office and three days working remotely. The team supports sustainable working hours and flexibility around personal and family commitments.
If you enjoy ambiguity, challenging conventional thinking and using commercial insight to influence significant decisions, this is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact within one of Australia's leading university environments.
Desired Skills and Experience
Senior Commercial Advisory | Leading Australian University
An exciting opportunity to join the Commercial Advisory function of a leading Australian university, working on complex, high profile initiatives that influence strategic decision making across the institution.
This team operates more like an internal consulting practice than a traditional finance function. You'll work across emerging university priorities, helping senior leaders assess opportunities, challenge assumptions and make well informed commercial and strategic decisions.
This is not a traditional financial modelling or business partnering role. It will suit someone who enjoys solving ambiguous problems, working with senior stakeholders and turning complex quantitative and qualitative information into clear, persuasive recommendations.
You'll work across a varied portfolio of university wide initiatives, with priorities changing depending on emerging strategic needs.



One project could involve assessing a new investment or initiative, while the next could involve facilitating workshops, developing a commercial case or advising senior leadership on whether an opportunity should proceed.
Key responsibilities include:
Breaking down complex commercial and strategic problems
Providing commercial analysis and strategic decision support
Challenging assumptions and testing the viability of proposed initiatives
Developing simple to intermediate financial models to support decision making
Translating quantitative and qualitative analysis into clear recommendations
Preparing presentations, papers and advice for senior stakeholders
Facilitating workshops and gathering requirements across diverse stakeholder groups
Leading projects from initial problem definition through to recommendation and delivery
Scoping and managing external consultants and specialist modelling resources
Presenting and defending recommendations to senior stakeholders
You'll gain exposure to Finance Directors, senior executives, Senate level stakeholders and leaders from across the broader university.
We're open to candidates from a range of backgrounds, including consulting, banking, government, finance, economics, analytics, engineering, sustainability, higher education and commercial strategy.
More important than your industry background is your ability to think commercially, structure ambiguous problems and confidently influence senior stakeholders.
You'll bring strong commercial judgement and quantitative reasoning, confidence working with financial models without needing to be a specialist modeller, excellent written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to constructively challenge senior stakeholders.
You'll also be comfortable operating in complex, consensus driven environments without established processes or predictable BAU cycles. Strong listening skills, intellectual curiosity, emotional intelligence and a collaborative approach will be important.
Why consider the opportunity?
You'll join a multidisciplinary team where you can develop your commercial advisory and problem solving capability, work directly with senior decision makers and contribute to initiatives with university wide impact.
The role offers genuine flexibility, with two days per week currently spent in the office and three days working remotely. The team also supports sustainable working hours and flexibility around personal and family commitments.
If you enjoy ambiguity, complex problem solving and influencing important strategic decisions, this is an opportunity to build a long term career within a highly respected Australian institution.
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📌 Senior Commercial Advisory (Sydney)
🏢 Talent
📍 Sydney