Associate Finance Director (Higher Ed)

  • Australia
  • Sydney
  • Permanent
  • Negotiable

Associate Director – Finance (Higher Education)

📍 Sydney | $200K-$240K + Super (flexible for the right candidate)

A leading higher education client is seeking an Associate Director – Finance to oversee a major operational portfolio and provide strategic financial leadership across a large, complex organisation. This newly created senior leadership role reflects growth in demand and offers a clear pathway to step into an Acting Finance Director position.

About the Role

Reporting to the Finance Director, this role will lead a $200-300M operational portfolio as part of a wider corporate function managing $1-$1.5B portfolio.

You’ll partner with executives, program leaders, and project managers to shape financial strategy and governance, while guiding a team of 8 (dotted line) and building out direct reports over time.

Key responsibilities include:

  • Providing strategic financial advice across operations and program portfolios

  • Leading and mentoring a high-performing finance team

  • Partnering with project managers to oversee multi-stream programs of work

  • Managing expectation-setting and value delivery for senior stakeholders

  • Overseeing financial planning, governance, and reporting at portfolio scale

  • Engaging with senior executives, including Vice Chancellor, Chancellors, and Principals

What You’ll Bring

  • CA or CPA (essential); MBA highly regarded

  • 10+ years’ finance leadership in large, complex organisations

  • Prior higher education or government sector experience is beneficial

  • Strong technical foundations with proven success in portfolio management ($150M+)

  • Exceptional leadership and ability to inspire and mentor teams

  • High EQ, political awareness without political behaviour, and credibility built on integrity

  • Excellent communication skills; articulate, clear, and influential at senior levels

  • Demonstrated tenure and loyalty (minimum two years per role in career history)

Why Join

  • Lead a $300M+ operational portfolio with significant institutional impact

  • Opportunity to step into the Acting Finance Director within 12 months

  • High visibility with senior leadership and governance bodies

  • Fast-paced, complex environment where quality matters more than quantity

Interview Process

  1. Pre-screen with a recruiter

  2. Panel interview with 3 senior stakeholders (onsite)

  3. Final discussion with Finance Director and CFO (if required)

Apply now

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