About the role

An established privately owned childcare group operating multiple centres across Sydney is seeking an experienced and commercially minded Finance Director to take ownership of the Group's finance function. Reporting directly to the business owners, this is a hands-on senior finance role combining day-to-day financial management with commercial and strategic responsibility. The successful candidate will lead a small finance team and be responsible for financial reporting, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, banking and finance relationships, and analysis of individual centre performance.

Key responsibilities

- Take overall responsibility for the Group's finance function and lead a small finance team.

- Prepare and oversee monthly management reporting across individual centres and the consolidated Group.

- Manage budgeting, forecasting and financial modelling.

- Take ownership of cash-flow forecasting, working capital and funding requirements.

- Manage relationships with banks and other financiers, including new finance facilities and refinancing.

- Analyse and compare the financial performance of individual childcare centres.

- Monitor key performance drivers including occupancy, revenue, labour costs, operating costs and centre profitability.

- Identify areas of underperformance and recommend practical actions to improve financial outcomes.

- Provide commercial and financial advice to the business owners to support decision-making.

- Maintain appropriate financial controls and oversee accounts payable, receivables,



payroll-related financial processes and balance sheet management.

About you

- A tertiary qualification in Accounting, Finance or Commerce.

- CA ANZ or CPA Australia qualification, or equivalent, strongly preferred.

- Experience in a senior finance position such as Finance Director, Financial Controller, Head of Finance or senior Finance Manager.

- Robust financial and management accounting experience.

- Demonstrated experience with cash-flow management, banking and financing arrangements.

- Strong budgeting, forecasting and financial modelling capability.

- Experience managing and developing a small finance team.

- Strong commercial judgement and the ability to translate financial information into clear recommendations.

- Excellent communication skills and confidence dealing directly with business owners, operational management, banks and professional advisers.

- A willingness to remain hands-on and work through detailed financial matters when required.

This role will suit someone who enjoys operating at both a strategic and hands-on level.

You will be comfortable moving from reviewing the detailed accounts and cash-flow forecast to discussing funding requirements with a bank, analysing why one centre is outperforming another, or advising the owners on the financial implications of a major business decision.

The successful candidate will be proactive, commercially minded and comfortable taking responsibility. Rather than simply identifying a financial issue, you will be expected to understand its cause, assess the alternatives and recommend an appropriate course of action.

📌 Finance Director (Sydney)
🏢 Nameless
📍 Sydney