Senior Finance & Operations Manager

Senior Finance & Operations Manager

Location: Sydney Olympic Park
Employment Type: Full Time

Reporting to: CEO

Established in 1917, the Australian College of Physical Education (ACPE) is Australia’s leading specialist higher education provider in sport, health, dance and physical education. We are seeking an accomplished Senior Finance & Operations Manager to join our Executive Leadership Team and play a key role in driving financial sustainability, operational performance and strategic initiatives across the College.

This is an outstanding opportunity for a commercially astute and strategically minded finance leader who thrives in a dynamic environment and is passionate about driving financial performance, operational efficiency, sound governance, and continuous improvement.

Reporting to the CEO, you will lead ACPE's Finance function while providing oversight of Operations, Information Technology and Property services. As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, you will contribute to strategic decision making, organisational performance and continuous improvement initiatives across the College, while supporting Board reporting and governance processes.

About the Role

As a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, you will:

Strategic Leadership & Executive Partnership

• Partner with senior leaders to drive organisational strategy, performance and continuous improvement.

• Provide leadership on commercial, financial, and operational matters.

• Support strategic planning, organisational transformation, and growth initiatives.

• Contribute to executive decision making and institutional governance.

 Finance & Commercial Leadership

• Lead financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, treasury and cashflow management.

• Deliver insightful executive and Board reporting, including scenario modelling and strategic recommendations.

• Drive commercial outcomes through pricing strategy, product profitability analysis, and financial modelling.

• Ensure robust financial controls, governance frameworks, and risk management practices.

Operations, Property & Technology Oversight

• Provide leadership across finance operations, administrative services, real estate management, and IT governance.

• Oversee technology vendors, systems optimisation, digital initiatives and information security practices.

• Drive continuous improvement, automation, and operational efficiency across the organisation.

• Manage organisational assets and property related contracts and vendor performance.

Growth & Continuous Improvement

• Support strategic initiatives that strengthen organisational sustainability and performance.

• Lead finance system improvements, process optimisation and reporting enhancements.

• Identify opportunities to improve operational effectiveness and support future growth.

People Leadership

• Lead, mentor and support the finance and operations team, fostering accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.

 About You

You are a highly accomplished finance and business leader with the confidence and capability to operate at Executive Leadership level.

 You will bring:

Essential Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting, Commerce, or a related discipline.

• Professional accounting qualification (CA, CPA or ACCA).

 Experience

• Minimum five years' experience in a senior finance leadership or finance and operations management role.

• Demonstrated experience in financial strategy, budgeting, forecasting, treasury management, reporting, and governance.

• Strong commercial acumen with experience in pricing, investment evaluation, and profitability analysis.

• Experience in operational improvement, transformation, and digital initiatives.

• Proven track record preparing and presenting executive and Board level reports.

• Experience managing stakeholder relationships.

• Exposure to higher education, regulated industries, not for profit organisations, will be highly regarded.

Personal Attributes

• Strategic thinker with a strong commercial mindset.

• Executive presence and credibility with senior stakeholders.

• Highly developed analytical and problem-solving capability.

• Exceptional communication and influencing skills.

• Resilient, adaptable, and comfortable operating in ambiguity.

• Strong ethical standards, integrity, and sound judgement.

• Passion for driving change, innovation, and organisational performance.

 Why Join ACPE?

This is an opportunity to influence the future direction of a respected higher education institution while working closely with the CEO and contributing to Executive and Board level decision-making.

 You will have the opportunity to:

• Contribute to organisation-wide strategy and decision-making.

• Lead transformation and technology initiatives.

• Influence organisational performance, financial sustainability, and key strategic initiatives.

 How to Apply

 To apply, please submit your curriculum vitae and a cover letter outlining your suitability for the position.

 Applications should be submitted to: ••••@acpe.edu.au

Applications close: Sunday, 13 September 2026

Applications will be assessed on an ongoing basis. ACPE reserves the right to close the advertisement prior to the closing date if a suitable candidate is identified. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

For a confidential discussion regarding the position, please contact Human Resources at ••••@acpe.edu.au.

Australian College of Physical Education is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from candidates of all backgrounds and experiences.