Job title: Financial Accounting Lead – Australia & New Zealand
Location: Sydney
Reports to: Financial Controller ANZ
Business Function: Finance
Role Purpose
The Financial Accounting Lead ANZ leads the delivery of high‐quality financial accounting, statutory reporting, financial accounting compliance, and governance across the ANZ business. The role ensures full compliance with IFRS, Group Accounting Policies and local regulatory requirements, while strengthening ANZ's financial control environment. As a WL2 leader, the role shapes direction, influences senior stakeholders, drives simplification and ensures the integrity of financial outcomes across the market. You will be the 2IC to the Financial Controller.
The role focuses on three areas:
* Internally on group reporting and compliance
* Externally to meet legal and fiscal requirements
* Projects
Key Responsibilities
Financial Accounting, Month‐End Close & RTR Governance
* Oversee month‐end performance, Trial Balance integrity, Balance Sheet reconciliations and journal governance.
* Ensure timely reporting aligned with IFRS and Group Accounting Policies.
* Oversee AUC, depreciation, lease accounting.
Statutory, Regulatory & Audit Compliance
* Lead preparation and delivery of statutory financial statements, notes and technical accounting positions.
* Manage external audit interactions.
* Ensure compliance with local regulations incl. tax and payroll-related accounting.
* Oversee TB‐to‐FS mapping, discontinued operations, impairment modelling, demerger/disposal accounting and carve‐out reporting requirements.
Controls, Governance & Risk Management
* Act as senior custodian for Unilever's Financial Controls Framework across ANZ, ensuring strong documentation, evidence standards and remediation of issues.
* Lead balance sheet governance and issue remediation.
Treasury, Banking & Cashflow
* Govern banking approval structures, treasury compliance, cashflow workings and oversight of funding/overdraft requirements.
* Provide managerial judgement on treasury risks and manual payment approvals.
* Key point of contact for Global Treasury on all matters.
Technical Accounting & Advisory
* Lead impairment assessments, valuation analysis and technical accounting papers for complex transactions.
* Advise leadership on accounting implications of restructures, separations and strategic decisions.
Leadership, Transformation & Capability
* Relationship management with RTR OC and 3rd party service providers to ensure strong governance and compliance with the agreed operating model.
* Drive R2R simplification, hub transitions and automation opportunities.
* Build capability across Controllership and OC (Operating Centre) teams, coaching managers and offshore teams.
* Lead 1 direct line report and indirectly manage 2 offshore reports.
Experience & Qualifications
* Significant experience (5+ years) in financial accounting, statutory reporting and audit management in complex multi‐entity environments.
* Strong technical expertise in IFRS, impairment, leases, demergers/disposals and financial controls.
* Proven manager level leadership: influencing senior stakeholders, driving governance and navigating ambiguity.
* Excellent engagement and communication skills.
* High proficiency in SAP/ Blackline and financial control platforms; strong analytical and problem‐solving skills.
* Demonstrated ability to coach talent and uplift team capability.
Unilever Behaviors
* Deliver with excellence: We deliver everything we do with excellence and pace. We take personal ownership and hold each other to account to deliver what we said we will do.
* Stay three steps ahead: We are always curious and confident. Building for the future AND delivering today.
* Care Deeply: We care about our performance, to a point where it hurts when we don't win.
* Focus on what counts: We ruthlessly prioritise what really matters. We set clear and stretching goals and recognize maximum performance impact.
What awaits you at Unilever?
The core of Unilever's culture is captured as Human, Purposeful, Accountable. You will be joining a dynamic, flexible, and inspiring work environment that truly cares about your wellbeing, values what you do and celebrates your success.
This is your opportunity to be part of a purpose‐led business and a global community where you can progress your career both locally and internationally. You will also benefit from amazing discounts on external company products, attractive employee referral reward program amongst other benefits.
Make no mistake we expect a lot from our people as they do of us. So, if you can rise to the challenge, don't waste any time - apply now!
We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to provide a positive, barrier‐free recruitment journey. Should you require additional information or reasonable adjustments to allow you to present your best self during this process, please contact anz.talent@unilever.com.
Unilever is an organization committed to equity, inclusion and diversity to drive our business results and create a better future, every day, for our diverse employees, global consumers, partners, and communities. We encourage people with all backgrounds to apply, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, Māori and Pacific Peoples, and people with disabilities.
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