• Manage the ongoing development of a highly capable team
• Initiate business improvement processes
• Organisational wide engagement 

Colac Otway Shire Council has an exciting opportunity for an experienced finance professional to provide leadership, shape financial strategy, and influence positive outcomes across Council and the community, as their Manager Financial Services.

Why join Colac Otway?

Located just two hours south-west of Melbourne and one hour from Geelong, Colac Otway offers a unique lifestyle, combining career opportunity with the natural beauty of the Great Ocean Road, Otway rainforests and northern lakes. With a strong economy built on primary industries, tourism, and community services, it's a fantastic place to live, work, and grow your career.

What we offer:

• Excellent career growth opportunities
• Flexible work arrangements, including hybrid options
• A values-driven and supportive culture
• A high performing, collaborative and welcoming finance team

About the role

Reporting to the General Manager Corporate Services, this role offers the opportunity to be a key member of a high-performing senior leadership team, and to lead the delivery of robust financial services across the organisation. You will guide strategic financial planning, provide expert advice on policy and resource management, and support the Council, Executive Leadership Team, CEO, and the wider organisation, with the support of a committed and capable team.

Key responsibilities for this role include:

• Monitoring and reporting on Council's financial sustainability, including the development of the Long-Term Financial Plan.
• Embrace a culture of innovation, continuous improvement and business partnering.
• Ensure the Council meets all audit and statutory compliance requirements with respect to financial management.
• Ensure high quality financial reports are prepared on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis to Council, the Executive Management Team, and Audit and Risk Committee.
• Review and development of Council's financial policies and processes.
• Ensure Council's Revenue (including rates) and Payroll functions are achieving organisational objectives and meeting legislative requirements.

About you

You are a motivated, highly experienced finance professional, who thrives on accuracy, integrity, and delivering outcomes that will support both Council and the community. Alongside your deep technical expertise, you are confident in building strong relationships across all levels of the organisation. You lead with warmth, clarity, and professionalism, ensuring your team and stakeholders feel supported and engaged.

Your combination of financial acumen, leadership and people skills - will enable you to influence, guide and build trust across Council.

To be successful, you will bring:

• Extensive experience in senior finance roles, ideally in complex organisations or local government.
• Strong expertise in financial management, including reporting, forecasting, budgeting and compliance.
• In-depth knowledge of accounting standards and statutory requirements.
• Proven ability to lead and develop a team, building a collaborative and high-performing culture.
• Excellent communication skills, with confidence engaging executive leaders, councillors and stakeholders.
• A strategic and solutions-focused approach, with a track record of improving systems, processes and outcomes.
• The ability to lead staff in maximising the use of technology, including the Civica Authority system, to deliver greater insight for Council.

Tertiary qualifications in Finance, Accounting, or a related discipline are essential, as is a necessary CA /or CPA qualification. You will have a proven track record in delivering financial strategies and policies that enable the business to make sound business decisions.

This is a fantastic career opportunity to grow your career, whilst working in a supportive and progressive organisation. If you're ready to bring your leadership, knowledge, and passion for financial excellence to Colac Otway Shire Council, we'd love to hear from you.

For a candidate pack or to apply, please visit McArthur here

For a confidential conversation, please contact Danielle Jupp on (03) 9828 6565 or 0403 398 242.

 Applications close: Sunday 12th October 2025

Please do not use the "Application Form" tab above or the "Apply Now" button below to submit your application.  All applications must be submitted to McArthur directly via the link above.