Finance Manager / Financial Controller

Introduction

Red Earth is seeking to appoint a capable and commercially minded Finance Manager / Financial Controller to join our growing team. This is a pivotal role for the organisation, responsible for ensuring Red Earth has accurate financial information, disciplined controls, reliable cash-flow visibility, and useful reporting across all areas of finance and accounting.

The successful candidate will work closely with the CEO, CFO, COO, external accountants, bookkeeper / finance administration support and operational teams. The role is suited to someone who enjoys the detail of clean accounts, but also wants to help build a stronger finance function for a growing, purpose-led organisation.

Organisation Outline

Red Earth is a social enterprise focused on connecting school students to remote Indigenous Australia. We create immersive educational programs in remote Indigenous communities and homelands where students learn from Elders, visit cultural sites and participate in service projects in partnership with community. As a growing organisation, all employees work closely with one another and contribute to the strength, culture and success of the whole team.

Role Outline

The Finance Manager / Financial Controller will sit above the day-to-day bookkeeping layer and own the accuracy, control and usefulness of Red Earth’s financial information. The role will combine hands-on finance management with process improvement, internal controls and management reporting.

• Oversee accounts payable, accounts receivable, bank reconciliations and transaction processing, ensuring work is completed accurately and on time.

• Supervise and support bookkeeping / finance administration activities, providing review, guidance and escalation where required.

• Own the month-end close process, including general ledger review, balance sheet reconciliations, accruals, prepayments and management reporting.

• Ensure transactions are recorded in the correct accounting periods and accounts, with particular attention to school deposits, deferred revenue, program delivery costs and supplier payments.

• Maintain strong data integrity across Xero, Microsoft Dynamics and related finance / operating systems.

• Prepare clear monthly finance reports for management, including profit and loss, balance sheet, cash position, AR / AP ageing, deferred revenue and key financial risks.

• Develop and maintain a short-term cash-flow forecast, including visibility over school receipts, supplier commitments, tax obligations and program delivery cash requirements.

• Work with the CEO , COO and CFO to improve financial controls, approval processes, payment runs and finance-related workflows.

• Support program and region-level margin reporting, including ground costs, flight revenue / costs and gross margin visibility.

• Coordinate with external accountants and tax advisers on BAS / IAS, payroll, superannuation, statutory reporting, tax compliance and year-end accounts.

• Support budgeting, forecasting and scenario analysis as Red Earth scales toward future growth and sale-readiness.

• Respond to finance-related queries from Red Earth staff, suppliers and external advisers in a timely, professional and practical manner.

Key Outcomes

• Accurate, timely and reliable monthly management accounts.

• A controlled and well-documented month-end close process.

• Clear visibility over cash flow, working capital, customer deposits and upcoming obligations.

• Improved discipline around AR, AP, supplier payments and finance approvals.

• Reliable reporting that helps management make better commercial decisions.

• Reduced key-person risk through documented processes, controls and clean handover trails.

About You

• You take pride in accurate, timely and well-controlled accounts.

• You are detail-oriented, organised and calm under pressure.

• You are commercially minded and enjoy turning financial information into useful management insight.

• You can work independently, but also collaborate well with a busy and fast-moving team.

• You communicate clearly with both finance and non-finance stakeholders.

• You are comfortable improving processes, not just maintaining the status quo.

• You enjoy working in a purpose-led organisation where finance supports real-world educational and community outcomes.

Desired Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Proven experience as a Finance Manager, Financial Controller, Senior Accountant or similar role in a small to medium business.

• Strong understanding of financial controls, month-end close, balance sheet reconciliations and management reporting.

• Experience with Xero is strongly preferred.

• Experience with Microsoft Dynamics, Power BI and the Microsoft 365 suite is highly regarded.

• Strong Excel skills and comfort working with financial data.

• Experience with cash-flow forecasting, AR / AP oversight and supplier payment processes.

• Experience in travel, education, programs, events, project-based delivery or seasonal revenue businesses is advantageous.

• Ability to work with external accountants and advisers to ensure compliance obligations are met.

• High attention to detail, sound judgement and strong organisational skills.

• CPA / CA qualification or equivalent experience preferred, but not essential for an exceptional candidate.

Systems and Tools

• Xero

• Microsoft Dynamics 365

• Microsoft 365, including Excel, Outlook, Teams and SharePoint

• Power BI or other reporting tools, desirable

• Banking, payroll and expense management systems as required

How to Apply

To apply for this position, email your CV and a cover letter to:

Stuart Gregg: stu•••@redearth.edu.au

Arthur Alla: art•••@redearth.edu.au

Rob Hutchinson: ro•@redearth.edu.au

Please address the Desired Knowledge, Skills and Experience and Role Outline in your cover letter.

Red Earth is an equal opportunity employer. In particular, we encourage people who identify as Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander to apply.

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Employer questions

Your application will include the following questions:

• Which of the following statements best describes your right to work in Australia?
• How many years’ experience do you have as a financial controller?
• How many years’ experience do you have in a Finance Role?
• Have you completed a qualification in accounting?
• Do you have experience using Xero?
• Have you worked in a role where you were responsible for budget management & forecasting?

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