Financial Controller

About Foundation Education 

Foundation Education is one of Australia’s largest private education providers, delivering nationally recognised qualifications through flexible and innovative learning solutions. With continued growth and system investment, the business is focused on strengthening financial governance, reporting capability, and commercial insight across the organisation. 

This is a key leadership role within the finance function, partnering closely with the CFO and senior stakeholders. 

The Opportunity 

We are seeking a technically strong and commercially astute Financial Controller to lead financial reporting, compliance, and control frameworks across the business. 

This role will suit a confident communicator who can operate at board level while also maintaining hands-on oversight of the finance function. 

Key Responsibilities 

Financial Reporting & Control 

• Lead month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close processes 

• Oversee preparation of consolidated management and board reporting 

• Ensure integrity of the general ledger and balance sheet 

• Manage statutory financial reporting requirements 

• Lead external audit process 

• Prepare accurate monthly board reports 

Governance & Compliance 

• Oversee tax compliance including BAS, FBT and corporate tax coordination 

• Ensure compliance with relevant accounting standards and regulatory obligations 

• Maintain and strengthen internal controls and financial policies 

• Identify and mitigate financial risk across the organisation 

Budgeting & Commercial Support 

• Lead annual budgeting and forecasting processes 

• Oversee cash flow management and working capital optimisation 

• Provide financial modelling and performance insights to support strategic decision-making 

• Partner with operational leaders to improve financial accountability 

Leadership & Team Management 

• Lead and develop the finance team 

• Drive accountability, performance, and professional development 

• Foster a collaborative and high-performing finance culture 

Systems & Process Improvement 

• Optimise ERP and reporting systems 

• Drive process automation and reporting efficiencies 

• Strengthen reporting frameworks across revenue recognition and prepaid income 

Experience/Skills 

Qualifications 

• CA or CPA qualified (ideally practice trained – Big 4 or mid-tier background highly regarded) 

• Degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field 

Knowledge and / or Experience 

• 7+ years’ progressive accounting experience, including senior finance leadership exposure 

• Strong technical accounting capability with experience in complex, multi-entity environments 

• Proven experience leading month-end, year-end and consolidated reporting processes 

• Demonstrated ownership of external audit and statutory reporting obligations 

• Experience overseeing tax compliance (BAS, FBT, corporate tax coordination) 

• Strong understanding of revenue recognition principles (education / prepaid income exposure advantageous) 

• XERO and advanced Excel capability essential 

Business Skills and Competencies 

• Strong financial reporting expertise with high attention to detail 

• Commercially astute with the ability to support strategic decision-making 

• Experience leading budgeting, forecasting and cash flow management processes 

• Confident communicator, able to translate technical financial matters to non-finance stakeholders 

• Proven ability to lead, mentor and develop finance team members 

• Ability to operate both strategically and hands-on in a growing environment 

Personal Competencies 

• High level of accountability and professional integrity 

• Proactive and improvement-focused mindset 

• Strong leadership presence with collaborative approach 

• Resilient and adaptable in a dynamic, evolving organisation 

• Comfortable partnering directly with CFO and executive stakeholders