Job Title: Associate Director, Commercial Finance
Location: Flexible location + hybrid work arrangements
Employment Type: Full-time, fixed term for 5 years – Commencing from 24th February 2025
Salary: An attractive salary package on offer | 17% Superannuation
We are building a new Commercial Finance capability as part of the Finance & Assurance function at Deakin University. This team is pivotal in supporting Deakin's strategic and commercial investments and project decision making.
The Commercial Finance team will independently assess the financial viability of strategic projects and initiatives and commercial activities and partnerships, identifying financial risks along with risk mitigation strategies and ensuring compliance with financial and regulatory requirements.
The team will deliver quality financial modelling with a focus on commercial decision support and investment evaluation to justify potential investment by quantifying benefits and identifying KPIs, providing impactful analysis and return on investment insights and recommendations.
The Commercial Finance team will act as a trusted adviser for the development and execution of effective and efficient practices in the development of business cases including application of sound commercial principles ensuring alignment with university-wide activities.
About the Role: The Associate Director, Commercial Finance brings extensive and specialist knowledge of their area of expertise in commercial finance and an understanding of the complexities of the higher education environment. The role is recognised as a principal specialist in commercial finance and leads and motivates a team of professionals to collaborate and deliver outstanding advice and services to our customers. The role is likely to have interactions with more senior positions, particularly to resolve differences of view on professional or leadership issues. The role leads the enhancement of practices and methodology central planning and reporting and recommends solutions to more complex university-wide issues.
The role reports to the Director, Planning & Performance and leads the Commercial Finance team to support the University in achieving its short-term and long-term strategic and financial goals enabling effective decision-making through implementing structured return on investment frameworks and tools and commercial models.
Responsibilities: Lead, mentor, and inspire a team of financial professionals, fostering a collaborative and high-performance work environment. Provide guidance and support to team members in delivering strategic initiatives, ensuring their growth and development. Develop and implement strategic initiatives that align with Deakin's goals and future needs. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify a vision and strategy for commercial finance to support the needs of the University to enhance insights into financial performance and improve decision making. Establish long-term partnerships with leaders, act as a trusted advisor, change direction in alignment with learnings and offer expert solutions and strategies that best serve the area's needs. Lead the team to provide commercial and financial analysis and support for strategic projects and initiatives. Identify and assess financial risks related to strategic projects and initiatives and commercial activities including risk mitigation strategies and ensure compliance with financial and regulatory requirements. To be Successful, You'll Have: A postgraduate degree in a relevant field, such as finance, accounting, or business administration, and CA/CPA qualification is required. Demonstrated experience in commercial and finance leadership roles, ideally within a matrix structure, with demonstrated expertise in providing commercial decision support and investment evaluation. Proven ability to establish long-term partnerships with leaders, act as a trusted advisor, adapt strategies based on insights, and deliver expert solutions aligned with organisational needs. Strong communication skills, high attention to detail, responsiveness, and the ability to manage non-finance stakeholders effectively while fostering collaboration and teamwork. Exceptional strategic planning, organisational abilities, and analytical skills, including the ability to model and interpret complex data and financial reports to support decision-making. Strong leadership and team management capabilities, with a commitment to delivering excellent internal customer service and building constructive, long-term relationships with stakeholders. How to Apply: Please submit your updated resume and a short cover letter outlining your skills and experience.
For a confidential discussion regarding this role, please contact Clare Lezaja, Chief Financial Officer, Office of the CFO on For a copy of the position description, please see below. Applications close at 11:55 pm on Sunday 8th December, 2024 About Deakin University: Deakin is a leading public university in Victoria, transforming education for over 61,000 students across five campuses: Melbourne Burwood, Geelong Waurn Ponds, Geelong Waterfront, Warrnambool, and our dynamic online campus. As a progressive, open-minded institution, we're proud to deliver the highest student satisfaction in Victoria and to consistently rank in the top 1% of universities worldwide.
Why Work with Us? Deakin aspires to be Australia's most progressive university, with the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion underpinning our approach to education, research, employability, digital delivery, innovation, and partnerships for impact. Our vision is for an inclusive environment where we value and celebrate diversity, embrace difference and nurture a connected, safe and respectful community. We want Deakin to be a place where all staff and students feel included and respected for their unique perspectives and talents.
We value diversity and aim to build an inclusive environment that champions, embraces and respects differences. We support and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and people of all abilities, cultures, sexual orientation, and genders.
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