Group Head of Finance

Position Summary

This role provides end-to-end financial leadership across Focus Partners Australia & Escala Partners with responsibility for shaping financial strategy strengthening governance and driving operational and commercial performance. As a key partner to the Leadership Team the Group Head of Finance plays a critical role in enabling sustainable profitable growth while ensuring strong financial discipline and regulatory compliance. The role aligns Australian business requirements with global standards including US GAAP and leads the continued development of a high-performing scalable finance function that supports the organizations long-term strategic objectives.

Primary Responsibilities

Group Financial Leadership

• Develop the multi-entity finance vision operating model and roadmap; across FPA.
• Lead coach and develop the finance team to enhance capability and a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Provide financial insights and recommendations to support strategic decision-making.
• Provide clear insight-led advice to the Executive Committee and Board; translate strategy into financial plans and measurable outcomes.
• Accountable for developing and maintaining Focus Partners Australia financial and accounting policies financial reporting systems and consistent processes across FPA and overseeing the adherence to these with support from Focus Corporate finance and accounting team.

FP&A Budgeting & Performance

• Own the annual budgeting process and rolling forecasts and partner with business units and Focus Corporate (NY) to ensure accurate financial planning. Implement driver-based models and scenario analysis.
• Monitor financial performance against budget and deliver variance analysis to Executive leadership and Focus Corporate
• Run monthly performance cadence: consolidated management packs variance analysis KPIs and actionable recommendations.
• Monitor financial performance against budget and provide variance analysis for Executive leadership.

Financial Reporting & Consolidation

• Deliver timely and accurate consolidated financial statements and management reports for local leadership and global stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with Australian Accounting Standards and alignment to US GAAP (with support from Focus Corporate team).
• Oversee month-end and year-end processes ensuring quality and timeliness.
• Produce management reports and executive dashboards with actionable insights.
• Prepare and deliver timely accurate financial reports for local management and internationally.

Accounts Payable Accounts Receivable & Payroll

• Oversee accounts payable and receivable functions ensuring efficient processing and strong controls
• Monitor ageing cash flow impact and working capital metrics implementing strategies to improve payment cycles and collections.
• Undertake payroll processing and ensure compliance with Fair Work and superannuation requirements.
• Ensure accurate reporting and timely payments for employee entitlements including Escala grid payments
• Drive automation and process improvement across AP AR and payroll workflows.

Treasury Cash & Capital

• Optimise cash flow liquidity and working capital; oversee banking relationships and covenant compliance.
• Support capital allocation decisions (investments technology talent) and return-on-investment tracking.

Tax Compliance & Governance

• Oversee direct and indirect tax planning lodgments (BAS IAS payroll tax WorkCover) and reporting across entities; liaise with external tax advisers.
• Ensure compliance with ASIC ATO AUSTRAC and group reporting requirements.
• Maintain strong internal controls and risk management frameworks.
• Oversee the audit process ensuring the timely outcome for all audit requirements.

Systems Data & Process Excellence

• Work with the Head of Technology & Data and counterparts in Focus Financial Partners to drive the finance technology roadmap (ERP reporting automation) in Australia to improve data integrity and cycle-time.
• Champion process simplification and digitisation across accounts payable accounts receivable payroll and reporting.
• Establish a single source of truth for key financial data and metrics enabling real-time analytics and dashboards for the Leadership Team
• Champion the Focus Workday implementation including assessment of local platforms and integration with Workday

Commercial Partnering & Growth

• Partner with business leaders to evaluate pricing product mix client profitability and growth initiatives.
• Lead financial due diligence and integration planning for strategic projects/M&A as required.
• Provide financial modelling and investment cases for new services partnerships and scaling opportunities.

Qualifications

• CA or CPA qualified is required.
• Extensive experience in financial leadership across controls tax risk management treasury FP&A and commercial financeideally within global financial services organisations.
• Strong understanding of Australian tax and compliance requirements.
• Advanced proficiency in financial systems and Excel.
• Demonstrated experience in data-driven decision-making.
• Expertise in FP&A and business partnering to support executive-level planning and decision-making.
• Strong financial and management reporting skills.
• Strategic thinker with strong analytical skills.
• Ability to drive change innovate and deliver results in a fast-paced environment.
• Proven leadership and people development skills.
• High attention to detail and commitment to compliance.
• Skilled in engaging and influencing diverse stakeholders including executives business units vendors and auditors.

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About Focus Financial Partners

Focus is a leading financial services firm comprised of integrated wealth management family office and business management services. Blending deep expertise and expansive resources with a boutique client-first fiduciary philosophy Focus helps individuals families and institutions navigate complex financial situations with highly personalized solutions tailored to their unique needs. To learn more about Focus visit follow the company onLinkedIn.

Focus is an equal opportunity employer and bases its employment decisions on the employee or candidates skillset and without regard to an employee or candidates race color religion sex (including pregnancy) gender identity sexual orientation national origin age disability genetic information veteran status or any other characteristic protected by local state and/or federal law.

Focus complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process to perform essential job functions and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment please contact .

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