Head of Finance
Perigon Group is proud to be partnering again with our valued client,
Jacaranda Finance
, to appoint a critical and newly created
Head of Finance
.
The Company
Jacaranda Finance is not your average lender or workplace. A founder-led digital lender, they've been helping Australians access fast, fair, and affordable credit for over a decade, specialising in the non-prime market. Their innovative approach to assessing risk, using alternative data such as bank transaction history, helps say "yes" more often when traditional lenders say "no."
With a team of over eighty employees, (and three very popular office dogs), Jacaranda is one of Australia's highest-rated consumer lenders and a Great Place to Work certified company known for a positive, supportive culture.
The Opportunity (Operational Leadership)
Reporting to the CEO, this is a hands-on, operational leadership role accountable for the end-to-end finance function and the day-to-day integrity of numbers, controls, cash, reporting and compliance. You'll execute the financial plan and operating cadence set by the Executive Team and contribute data-driven insight, while ensuring the finance engine runs reliably at pace.
You will also bring structure and standardisation to existing frameworks and processes in preparation for a planned automation and transformation program commencing January 2026.
You'll lead a capable finance function, including a strong Financial Controller and Finance Team who report to you.
What you'll do
* Own the daily finance rhythm: cash flow, treasury, bank covenants, AP/AR, payroll, GL integrity, and month-end close.
* Deliver accurate, on-time management reporting, board packs and KPI dashboards; drive variance analysis and action tracking.
* Lead budgeting and forecasting cycles; ensure the operational plan aligns with exec-set strategy and funding requirements.
* Maintain robust controls, policies and compliance (tax, audit, regulatory) and continuously lift governance maturity.
* Standardise and document processes to enable scale; ready the function for automation/technology uplift in 2026.
* Partner cross-functionally (Credit, Collections, Product, Technology) to improve margin, loss ratios and unit economics.
* Lead, coach and develop a high-performing FC and finance team; set clear SLAs and quality benchmarks for service delivery.
* Support funding and lender reporting requirements with timely, accurate data and clear narratives.
About you
* CA/CPA qualified; bachelor's degree in commerce/finance or related.
* Several years across finance operations/controllership and team leadership, ideally within financial services or tech-enabled businesses.
* Proven ownership of month-end, cash, controls, audit/tax, and reporting in a fast-paced environment.
* Track record building structure and improving processes; comfortable preparing teams for systems automation/transformations.
* Commercially sharp with excellent communication—able to translate numbers into clear actions for non-finance stakeholders.
* Hands-on, "roll-up-your-sleeves" leadership style; calm under pressure and energised by scale-up pace.
Why Jacaranda
* Impactful work at a mission-driven digital lender.
* Strong team already in place (including a high-calibre Financial Controller).
* Career growth, learning opportunities, hybrid flexibility, and a vibrant, supportive culture.
Please contact
Sarah Kennedy at Perigon Group
to discuss this opportunity in confidence.