Head of Financial Performance

Job Description

The Organisation & Role Overview The University of Western Australia (UWA) is a world-class institution, ranked in the top 100 globally, committed to driving excellence in education, research, and community engagement. With a strong focus on innovation and impact, UWA continues to evolve its financial strategy to support long-term sustainability and growth.As the Head of Financial Performance, you will work directly with the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to lead the strategic and operational direction of the University’s Financial Strategy and Performance team. Under broad direction, you will play a pivotal role in partnering with Executive and Senior Management to strengthen financial resilience, enhance performance outcomes, and ensure long-term sustainability.Leading a team of approximately 25 finance professionals, including 4 Business Partners, you will oversee key areas such as Management Accounting, Strategic Commercial and Business Support, Business Partnering, Financial planning and analytics and University budget process. You will drive financial transformation, business partnering, and strategic decision-making, ensuring the University’s financial framework aligns with its strategic goals.Key Responsibilities • Redesign the management reporting suite to improve usability and strategic insights for all stakeholders from governing committees to senior leaders• Introduce agile reporting methodologies and leverage advanced technologies (AI, machine learning, robotics) to improve reporting and financial planning processes.• Driving data driven insight to support decision making.• Responsible for the financial planning and costing processes across the University.• Lead the development of the next finance strategy (2026-2030) which supports ongoing financial sustainability aligned with enabling University wide strategy.• Lead the transition from Hyperion Planning to a cloud-based system.• Enhance activity-based costing models to improve financial planning and analytics.• Drive ongoing transformation of management reporting and budgeting frameworks.• Foster a high-performance culture within the Financial Performance team.• Develop and mentor finance staff, providing clear career progression pathways.• Offer strong, forward-thinking leadership to enhance team capability.• Establish and strengthen finance business partnering across the University.• Deliver advisory, analysis, and strategic support to senior leaders and stakeholders.• Provide insightful financial modelling to drive value and enable strategic investment.To be successful in this role, you will have: • An Accounting qualification with extensive experience in commercial finance, with expertise in financial planning & analysis (FP&A), budgeting, and business partnering.• Proven ability to translate strategy into action, driving financial transformation.• Strong leadership skills, with a focus on coaching and capability-building.• A growth mindset, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive change.• Experience in large, complex organisations—higher education experience is not essential.• Passion for higher education and an understanding of its unique financial challenges.Why Join UWA? • Drive meaningful change in a top-tier university.• Lead a team of high-calibre finance professionals.• Be part of a forward-thinking, strategic finance leadership team.For specific queries please contact Jemma Buckner at referencing job number 32554. #J-18808-Ljbffr