Manager Financial Accounting and Reporting

Manager Financial Accounting and Reporting

Location: Frankston Australia

Job Description:

Who are we?

We’re here to help people live well and create a better and more sustainable future. We support healthy and liveable communities by delivering water, sewerage and recycled water services to 1.77 million people who rely on us every day and every night. At South East Water, we innovate with purpose and act with care to deliver healthy water for life. Fresh thinking and collaboration are at the heart of our organisation. We are constantly learning, embracing the challenges of today and excited by the opportunities that tomorrow will bring.  

The role

This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced finance leader to play a pivotal role in ensuring the integrity, compliance and strategic direction of South East Water’s financial accounting and reporting function. Reporting to the Financial Controller, the Manager, Financial Accounting & Reporting leads a small, high-performing team responsible for delivering statutory reporting, technical accounting advice, tax compliance, treasury operations and financial controls.

Balancing operational excellence with continuous improvement, you will drive the delivery of key financial obligations while identifying opportunities to enhance systems, processes and controls to meet future business needs. You will also provide trusted technical expertise to stakeholders across the organisation and support the development of emerging finance talent.

Key accountabilities include:

• Leading the preparation and delivery of annual financial and performance reports.
• Providing expert technical accounting and tax advice across the business.
• Managing statutory, government and taxation reporting obligations.
• Overseeing treasury, banking, debt management and fixed asset accounting activities.
• Driving robust internal controls, compliance frameworks and audit outcomes.
• Identifying and implementing process, system and reporting improvements.
• Leading and developing a high-performing Financial Accounting team.
• Building strong relationships across Finance and the broader organisation to ensure consistent and high-quality financial practices.
• Who are you?

You are a technically strong and commercially minded finance professional who thrives on delivering high-quality financial outcomes in a complex environment. With extensive experience in financial accounting, statutory reporting and compliance, you bring a hands-on leadership style and the ability to translate complex accounting requirements into practical business solutions. You are equally comfortable managing critical reporting deadlines, partnering with stakeholders and driving continuous improvement initiatives.

To be successful, you will bring:

• CPA or CA qualification with a tertiary qualification in Accounting, Finance or a related discipline.
• Significant experience in financial accounting, statutory reporting and tax compliance.
• Strong knowledge of accounting standards, technical accounting and taxation principles.
• Proven experience managing general ledger, month-end and year-end reporting processes.
• Experience leading audits and maintaining effective financial controls and governance.
• Strong people leadership skills with the ability to coach, mentor and develop team members.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, communication and influencing capabilities.
• Highly developed analytical and problem-solving skills with strong attention to detail.
• Experience working with finance ERP systems and reporting tools, including advanced Excel skills.
• A proactive mindset with a passion for continuous improvement and delivering business value.
• What's in it for you?

Working at South East Water means you can enjoy a wealth of benefits, starting with the chance to be part of an organisation deeply committed to environmental initiatives and sustainability; one who has been recognised as one of the top 101 Workplaces for Women in Australia by Work180 for the past two consecutive years and a 2026 Finalist in the Work180 Equitable Workplace Awards ‘Flexible Working’ category.   

South East Water cultivates a dynamic culture that emphasises collaboration and strong work ethics, supported by career-focused learning and development opportunities.   As a SEW employee, you can enjoy the following offerings from our benefits package: 

• Access to My Fitness Passport, an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), annual flu shots, and health checks.  
• Work-life balance with flexible working arrangements, including hybrid work options and leave purchasing. 
• Additional leave offerings, such as cultural and ceremonial leave and study leave.  
• Head office with modern facilities and panoramic beachfront views, a separate parents' room, a prayer and meditation room and an onsite cafe.
• Limited free onsite and offsite car parking available, as well as pay-as-you-go parking options nearby.
• Opportunity to be part of great initiatives involving the local community.  
• We're for everyone

Our people are as diverse as the communities we serve. It makes us better learners, thinkers and collaborators, helping create better outcomes for our customers.  

We are deeply committed to Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging, and we encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, LGBTIQ+ individuals, people with disability and jobseekers of all ages and cultures. We aim to provide an inclusive, accessible workplace where everyone is welcome, safe, and celebrated.