Head of Finance

North Melbourne, VIC

Full-time ongoing

About Lort Smith:

Lort Smith is Australia’s largest charitable animal hospital, with over 16,000 animals receiving care every year across veterinary services, adoptions and emergency pet boarding. Our purpose is to keep pets and people together by providing quality, accessible, compassionate care and championing the powerful impact of the human-animal bond.

About the Role

This is a hands-on leadership role in a fast-paced environment. Reporting to the CFO, you’ll translate organisational strategy into robust financial plans, disciplined execution and clear business insight.

You will provide day-to-day leadership of the finance function and ensure the integrity and timeliness of financial operations while providing trusted advice to the CFO and Executive Leadership Team. The role will also report to the CEO, Board and relevant committees in the CFO’s absence.

A central mandate is to lead the next stage of finance transformation including understanding and documenting end-to-end processes, and identifying controls, efficiency, systems and capability gaps. Working with the CFO, you will help design the future finance operating model, including its structure, accountabilities, capability and systems.

About You:

You are an experienced finance leader who combines robust technical and commercial capability with a practical, hands-on approach. You have a proven record of developing teams, improving finance functions and leading people through change.

You thrive in a busy, dynamic environment and can confidently manage several projects, relationships and deadlines at once. You communicate confidently at all levels, exercise sound judgement and bring a resilient, constructive and results-focused approach.

You will bring:

- Tertiary qualification in accounting, finance, commerce or a related discipline, with current CA or CPA membership.

- Substantial senior finance leadership experience, including accountability for financial control, management reporting, budgeting, forecasting and audit.

- Strong commercial and analytical capability, including financial modelling, scenario analysis,



business cases and translating data into practical recommendations.

- Hands-on technical capability and willingness to work in the detail to understand issues, test assumptions and unblock delivery.

- Proven people leadership, including setting standards, developing capability, managing performance and leading teams through uncertainty and change.

- Exceptional communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to constructively challenge senior leaders and explain complex matters clearly.

- The ability to work effectively with a high degree of autonomy and accountability.

- Effectively manages competing priorities, workloads and timeframes while maintaining attention to detail.

- Demonstrates high levels of professional integrity, accountability and resilience.

- Takes a proactive approach to learning and professional development, staying current with contemporary practices.

- Strong organisation, attention to detail and the ability to keep things moving in a fast-paced environment.

Experience in a not-for-profit, healthcare, veterinary, community services or other purpose-led organisation will be highly regarded, as will experience improving financial planning, payroll, reporting or business intelligence systems.

What you’ll do:

- Provide financial leadership and establish a business partnering approach

- Lead budgeting, forecasting, long-term planning and financial modelling.

- Provide forward-looking analysis and clear insights into financial performance, risks and opportunities.

- Own the finance operations and governance functions including the monthly, quarterly and annual finance timetable, including close, reconciliations, management reporting, forecasts,



statutory reporting and audit readiness.

- Drive the transformation of the finance function including developing and managing a prioritised finance improvement plan.

- Simplify and standardise processes; remove duplication and low-value activity; and identify opportunities for automation, systems enhancement and better data governance.

- Maintain effective financial controls, policies and procedures and oversee cash flow, treasury, investments, working capital, taxation and statutory obligations.

- Provide strong leadership to the finance team and ensure ongoing growth and development.

- Act for the CFO on operational finance matters when required.

Why Join Lort Smith:

This is an opportunity to make a difference in the health and wellbeing of pets in need, and through them, the people who love them. Keeping pets and their people together, when times get tough.

You will join a purpose-driven organisation where compassion, collaboration, accessibility, respect and ethical practice are central to how we work. You will have the opportunity to shape the future of the finance function, strengthen organisational decision-making and build the systems, processes and capability needed to support Lort Smith’s long-term sustainability.

At Lort Smith, our values guide us in everything we do. We are Together, C.A.R.E.:

- Collaborating and Communicating

- Accessible and Adaptable

- Responsible and Respectful

- Ethical and Empathetic

If you are an experienced finance leader who enjoys combining strategic influence with hands-on delivery, we would love to hear from you.

How to Apply

Please submit your application, including your resume and a cover letter outlining your experience and suitability for the role.

Lort Smith is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and safe workplace. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences.

A satisfactory Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check will be required for the successful candidate.

Please contact *@lortsmith.com if you would like a copy of the full PD for this role, or more information.

📌 Head of Finance (North Melbourne)
🏢 Lort Smith Animal Hospital
📍 North Melbourne