Chief Financial Officer

The company:

Our client is a substantial, privately held agribusiness group and a recognised leader in its sector. What began as a single family enterprise, now spans multiple production sites across several states, together with vertically integrated processing, cropping and manufacturing operations and significant joint venture interests.

A genuinely diversified group across primary production, the company has built a reputation for professionalism, commercial discipline and innovation. The current Chief Financial Officer is retiring after a significant contribution to the business, so the group is seeking a successor with the drive and expertise to take over full ownership of the function, and lead the team in supporting the growth of the operation.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the CEO and forming a key part of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), you will lead the Finance and Administration functions and act as a trusted commercial adviser to the CEO and Board of Directors.

You will oversee a portfolio spanning intensive livestock production, feed milling, broadacre cropping, cattle farming, value-added manufacturing and joint venture interests; each with its own economics, capital profile and risk characteristics. Bringing all data points into a single coherent view, and using insightful reporting to sharpen decision-making, is the heart of the job.

The role:

• Contribute to the strategic direction of the business as a member of the ELT;
• Provide trusted commercial and financial advice to the CEO and Board to support major decisions, capital investment and growth;
• Lead annual budgeting, forecasting, long-term financial planning and monthly management reporting across all divisions;
• Manage treasury, working capital, banking relationships and covenant compliance;
• Develop and manage commodity price risk strategy for feed grain and other key inputs, alongside foreign exchange and interest rate exposures;
• Provide financial oversight of the group's joint venture and equity interests;
• Maintain robust governance, internal controls and statutory compliance across all group entities and states;
• Drive continuous improvement across financial systems, reporting processes and digital transformation;
• Lead, mentor and develop a capable finance team, building accountability, capability and succession depth.

The Person:

You are a commercially minded finance leader who is as comfortable on farm as you are in the boardroom; someone who wants to understand how value is actually created before advising on how it should be measured.

You will bring:

• Tertiary qualifications in Accounting, Finance or Commerce, ideally with CA qualification;
• A minimum of ten years' experience in accounting-related roles, including significant senior finance leadership within a complex, multi-entity organisation;
• Demonstrated experience leading finance teams through growth and organisational change;
• Proven experience working within Executive Leadership Teams and reporting to Boards;
• Strong commercial acumen and the ability to translate financial information into business decisions;
• Experience supporting major capital projects;
• Strong knowledge of Australian taxation, financial reporting standards and corporate governance;
• Demonstrated experience managing commodity pricing, foreign exchange or comparable input cost exposures, including hedging instruments an advantage.

Highly regarded:

• Experience in agribusiness, food production or other primary industries environment;
• Exposure to joint ventures, associates or minority equity interests;
• Familiarity with the valuation of biological assets under Australian Accounting Standards;
• Exposure to Australian climate-related financial disclosure requirements;
• Experience in a family-owned or privately held business.

What's on Offer:

• A genuinely influential executive role in a substantial, growing Australian agribusiness;

• Direct access to the CEO and Board, and real input into strategic direction;

• A supported transition with a comprehensive handover;

• A competitive executive remuneration package;

• The lifestyle benefits of the Darling Downs.

How to Apply:

To apply, please submit your CV and a brief covering letter outlining your suitability for the role via our website https://careers.bluhat.com.au/caw/en/job/973227/chief-financial-officer.

For a confidential discussion, please feel free to contact us on [1300 802 661](tel:1300 802 661). This appointment is subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks, including a National Police Check, credit history check.

All applications and enquiries will be treated in the strictest confidence.