Location: Castlemaine
Rate:$70 per hour + super
Contract: Maternity leave cover – ASAP start through to October 2026
Sector: Local Government
An opportunity exists for an experienced Finance leader to join a local government organisation on a maternity leave cover contract through to October 2026. Based in Castlemaine, this role plays a critical part in ensuring the effective delivery of Council’s financial services, financial reporting, and governance obligations.
The role sits within the Finance Unit, which encompasses Financial Services (payables, reporting and accounting), Revenue Services (rates, valuations and debtors), and Procurement, and focuses on maintaining the financial viability and effective operation of corporate services across Council.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the Manager Finance in the delivery of Council’s financial services and strategic objectives
- Lead and oversee the preparation of statutory financial reports, annual financial statements, and external audit processes
- Ensure accurate and timely management accounting, reporting and analysis for Executive and Council
- Oversee the integrity of the general ledger, accounts payable function, and corporate card processes
- Contribute to the preparation of the annual budget, Long‑Term Financial Plan and capital works budget
- Supervise Council’s investment and loan portfolios, including funding negotiations
- Maintain and oversee Council’s asset registers(excluding infrastructure assets) and support asset accounting practices
- Lead and support continuous improvement of finance systems, policies, controls and procedures
- Participate in system upgrades and implementations, and liaise with software providers as required
- Supervise, coach and develop finance staff including Financial Accounting and Management Accounting roles
- Lead team performance, engagement and development activities
- Support recruitment and workforce planning within the Finance Unit
- Provide financial guidance and support across the organisation
You are a confident and capable finance professional with strong leadership capability and experience operating in a complex, service‑driven environment.
You will bring:
- Proven leadership experience within a finance or accounting function
- Strong knowledge of Australian Accounting Standards, statutory reporting and local government financial requirements
- High level capability in management accounting, budgeting and financial reporting
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and experience working with financial systems
- Strong stakeholder engagement skills with the confidence to support Executives, Councillors and senior leaders
- Ability to operate autonomously and manage competing priorities within tight timeframes
- Degree qualification in Accounting, Finance or Business, or equivalent demonstrated experience
- Demonstrated financial management and leadership experience
- Current Australian Driver’s Licence
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
At Chandler Macleod, we are committed to fostering a diverse workforce where everyone is welcome. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, women, neurodiverse, people living with a disability and the LGBTIQA+ community.
You can read more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion at https://www.chandlermacleod.com/diversity-and-inclusion.
