A unique prospect to lead, influence and make a difference Few Chief Financial Officer opportunities offer the combination of scale, complexity, strategic influence and purpose presented by The University of Queensland (UQ). As one of Australia's leading research and teaching universities, and a member of the prestigious Group of Eight, UQ is internationally recognised for its contribution to education, research and innovation. With more than 60,000 students, 8,500 staff and a substantial investment and infrastructure portfolio, UQ operates with the financial and organisational complexity of a major corporation, while pursuing a mission to make a genuine difference to society. We are seeking an accomplished, commercially astute Chief Financial Officer who looks beyond the numbers, challenges conventional thinking and can help shape UQ’s future. This is not simply a financial stewardship role, you will become a trusted strategic adviser, who leads a significant finance transformation and will influence decisions that will shape one of Australia's most important institutions for years to come.

The role Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, you will lead a finance function of approximately 275 people, and play an influential role across the University's executive and academic leadership. UQ is in a position of considerable financial strength. However, changing funding models, evolving student markets, significant capital investment, digital transformation and increasing expectations around productivity present important strategic choices. Your challenge will be to ensure Finance is not simply reporting on performance but actively helping the University make better decisions. Your priorities are:

- Strategic influence: Partner with the Vice-Chancellor, Provost, COO and senior leaders to shape financial strategy, investment priorities and long-term sustainability
- Better decision-making: Transform management reporting, planning and forecasting to provide meaningful insights, greater transparency and stronger financial accountability.
- Enterprise-wide partnering: Build a finance function recognised as a valued adviser and collaborative partner across academic and professional portfolios.
- Leadership and culture: Inspire, develop and empower a large and talented finance team, fostering a culture of trust, curiosity, accountability and continuous improvement.
- Financial stewardship: Provide strategic oversight of a substantial balance sheet, significant investment portfolios and major capital and infrastructure commitments.
- Finance transformation: Lead the modernisation of the finance operating model, systems, processes and capabilities, creating a more efficient, responsive and commercially focused function.

Success will be measured not just by financial outcomes,



but by the quality of decisions you influence, the capability you build and the lasting improvements you deliver.

About you

You are an accomplished senior finance executive who has demonstrated the ability to lead, influence and deliver meaningful change within a large, complex organisation. Your strong commercial judgement, technical financial expertise and a track record of improving organisational performance through better financial insight, effective business partnering and transformation will underpin your success. You are intellectually curious, self-confident enough to challenge established thinking and sufficiently grounded to listen and collaborate and build genuine trust with all stakeholders. You translate financial complexity into clear, compelling advice and influence outcomes through the quality of your thinking and relationships.

You must be able to demonstrate:

- Senior leadership experience in a large, complex and multifaceted organisation of a significant sized team
- A successful record of finance transformation, technology enablement and operating-model improvement.
- Strong strategic and commercial acumen, supported by relevant tertiary and professional qualifications.
- Experience leading and developing substantial teams and building high-performing leadership capability.
- Credibility and influence with executive teams, Boards and sophisticated governance stakeholders.
- The communication skills, humility and judgement to engage effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders.
- Experience in higher education is welcome but not essential.

If you are an outstanding finance leaders from major corporations, government and other complex institutional environments who bring fresh perspectives and proven transformation capability, we are interested in hearing from you.

Why consider UQ?

For the right qualified Finance executive, this will allow you to combine the intellectual challenge and commercial complexity of a major enterprise with the purpose and impact of a globally recognised university. You will inherit a financially strong institution with significant resources, an important strategic agenda and be able to genuinely influence how Finance supports its future. Perhaps most importantly, you will have the chance to build something enduring — a high-performing finance function respected for its leadership, valued for its advice and recognised for its contribution to the University's success.





Applications close Sunday 15th November at 6pm.

The University of Queensland (UQ) acknowledges the Traditional Owners and their custodianship of the lands on which UQ is situated. We pay our respects to their Ancestors and their descendants, who continue cultural and spiritual connections to Country. At the University of Queensland, we are proud to be one of Australia’s leading research and teaching institutions, consistently ranking among the top 50 universities worldwide. As a member of the prestigious Group of Eight (Go8) universities, UQ is widely recognised for its intensive focus on research and teaching excellence – evidenced by our numerous accolades including more teaching awards than any other Australian University and reflected in UQ being the number one recipient of ARC Fellowships and Awards nationally across all scheme years (totalling 452 awards worth $339 million). Our state-of-the-art facilities, libraries, and cutting-edge research centres offer unparalleled opportunities for academic and professional growth. With five faculties, a number of globally recognised research institutes, and over 100 research centres, we attract an interdisciplinary community of more than 7000 staff, supporting more than 55,000 current students from over 137 countries. UQ is dedicated to supporting the career aspirations of our students and staff. Our comprehensive career services provide personalized guidance, skills development, and networking opportunities to help you achieve your professional goals. Whether you are a student seeking internships and job placements or a staff member looking for career advancement, UQ is here to support you every step of the way.

UQ values equity, diversity and inclusion and seeks to reflect the broader community by attracting and retaining high-quality staff from a range of backgrounds. Our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion aims to ensure that everyone at UQ feels valued and empowered to achieve their full potential. We are particularly interested to hear from people who bring diversity to UQ – whether that be gender identity, LGBTQIA+, cultural and/or linguistic, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, or people with a disability.

Explore our current job openings, discover our programs, and become part of a community that is dedicated to creating lasting, meaningful impact for the communities in which we live and work.

For more information about working at UQ and our employee benefits (such as generous leave provisions, 17% superannuation, flexible working arrangements, and health and wellness discounts) please visit Why Work at UQ.

- generous leave provisions
- 17% superannuation
- flexible working arrangements
- health and wellness discounts

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📌 Chief Financial Officer (Brisbane)
🏢 The University of Queensland
📍 Brisbane