Clifton Lifestyle is seeking an experienced and astute Financial Controller to join an award-winning brand shaping the future of Australia's over 55s lifestyle communities.

About the role

Reporting to the CFO, you'll own the integrity, timeliness and technical quality of the Group's financial accounting, statutory reporting and financial controls across a growing portfolio of property development projects and entities.

You will lead a small, capable accounting team and act as a trusted partner to the CFO, Directors and the development, sales and operations teams, while driving continuous improvement through automation.

This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who enjoys getting the accounting right, building strong controls, and coaching others to do the same.

Key Responsibilities

Prepare and review management and statutory financial statements in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards

Own the month-end and year-end close process, delivering an accurate 5 business-day close supported by proper balance sheet reconciliations and analysis

Oversee accounts payable and accounts receivable, including supplier payment runs, contractor progress claims, site rental billing and debtor collections, ensuring aged balances are actively managed

Manage consolidation and intercompany eliminations across ~40 companies and trusts

Oversee property development and community accounting, including inventory and work-in-progress (AASB 102), borrowing cost capitalisation (AASB 123), revenue recognition at settlement and community fixed assets (AASB 116)

Document significant accounting judgements in technical accounting papers and maintain group accounting policies, keeping the Group audit-ready at all times

Identify,



assess and mitigate financial risk, escalating key issues to the CFO and Directors

Funding & Treasury Administration

Oversee development and corporate debt facility accounting, debt registers, amortisation schedules and financing fee accounting

Test covenants monthly and escalating any risk of breach immediately, issue timely lender compliance reporting, support drawdowns, and manage day-to-day banking and lender relationships

Develop and own a 12-week rolling cash flow forecast across projects and entities to manage short-term liquidity across bank accounts and entities

Tax, Audit & Compliance

Lead the future external audit, including audit file preparation and management of auditor queries

Ensure GST compliance for community and property development transactions, including the margin scheme

Coordinate income tax and tax effect accounting with external advisors

Oversee BAS, PAYG, payroll tax, land tax, FBT and stamp duty obligations and ASIC lodgments across the Group's entities, and maintain the compliance calendar

Maintain delegations of authority and segregation of duties, with robust controls over accounts payable, supplier master data, accounts receivable, settlement accounting, journals and the general ledger

Own finance systems access, data integrity and interfaces, and support finance system implementations and upgrades





Drive process improvement through automation and AI (e.g. Power Query, Power Automate, RPA)

Document and maintain finance processes and procedures

Team Leadership & Business Partnering

Manage, coach and review the work of the Senior and Assistant Accountants, allocating work and managing the close timetable and deadlines

Recruit, develop and manage the team, building capacity through efficiency and automation where possible

Partner with non-finance teams across development, sales, operations and community management, and advise the CFO and Directors on commercial and strategic decisions

About you

CPA or Chartered Accountant qualified, with 10+ years' experience in financial accounting, including a senior controllership or financial management role

Robust technical knowledge of Australian Accounting Standards and statutory reporting, with consolidation experience across multi-entity structures

Experience in property development, construction, or other project-based businesses, including AASB 102 and AASB 123, highly regarded

Proven track record of delivering a fast, accurate month-end close, year-end close, external audit and lender covenant reporting

Practical experience using Xero, Excel, Power Query/Power Automate and AI tools to improve finance processes, and the curiosity to adopt new tools quickly

Demonstrated ability to recruit, lead, coach and develop a small team

Explicit and articulate communicator through both verbal and written communication skills

A strong ownership mindset: you work autonomously, anticipate issues, flag risks early, bring practical, commercially sound solutions and take accountability for deadlines

What we

📌 Financial Controller (Australia)
🏢 Clifton Lifestyle
📍 Australia