Associate Director – Finance (Higher Education)
đź“Ť Sydney | $200K-$240K + Super (flexible for the right candidate)
A leading higher education client is seeking an Associate Director – Finance to oversee a major operational portfolio and provide strategic financial leadership across a large, complex organisation. This newly created senior leadership role reflects growth in demand and offers a clear pathway to step into an Acting Finance Director position.
About the Role
Reporting to the Finance Director, this role will lead a $200-300M operational portfolio as part of a wider corporate function managing $1-$1.5B portfolio.
You’ll partner with executives, program leaders, and project managers to shape financial strategy and governance, while guiding a team of 8 (dotted line) and building out direct reports over time.
Key Responsibilities
* Providing strategic financial advice across operations and program portfolios
* Leading and mentoring a high-performing finance team
* Partnering with project managers to oversee multi-stream programs of work
* Managing expectation-setting and value delivery for senior stakeholders
* Overseeing financial planning, governance, and reporting at portfolio scale
* Engaging with senior executives, including Vice Chancellor, Chancellors, and Principals
What You’ll Bring
* CA or CPA (essential); MBA highly regarded
* 10+ years’ finance leadership in large, complex organisations
* Prior higher education or government sector experience is beneficial
* Strong technical foundations with proven success in portfolio management ($150M+)
* Exceptional leadership and ability to inspire and mentor teams
* High EQ, political awareness without political behaviour, and credibility built on integrity
* Excellent communication skills; articulate, clear, and influential at senior levels
* Demonstrated tenure and loyalty (minimum two years per role in career history)
Why Join
* Lead a $300M+ operational portfolio with significant institutional impact
* Opportunity to step into the Acting Finance Director within 12 months
* High visibility with senior leadership and governance bodies
* Fast-paced, complex environment where quality matters more than quantity
Interview Process
* Pre-screen with a recruiter
* Panel interview with 3 senior stakeholders (onsite)
* Final discussion with Finance Director and CFO (if required)
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