Financial Controller

About Emergence

Emergence is an award-winning specialist underwriting agency focused on protecting businesses against technology and cyber risks.

With operations across Australia, New Zealand and the United States, we are entering an exciting period of growth and building the capability needed to support an increasingly international business.

We are now looking for our first Financial Controller to establish and lead our internal finance function. This is an opportunity to build something meaningful, work closely with senior decision-makers and grow your scope as Emergence continues to evolve.

About the role

Reporting to the CEO, you will take ownership of Emergence’s financial control, reporting, planning and governance, transitioning the finance function from its current outsourced model into a capable and scalable in-house function.

You will work closely with leaders across the business, bringing the numbers to life, identifying what matters and helping people make better commercial decisions.

The role can be structured as full-time or part-time for the right person and offers the opportunity to build a broader finance team over time.

Key responsibilities

In this role, you will:

• Establish Emergence’s in-house finance function, transitioning knowledge and processes from our external finance and bookkeeping partners;

• Design scalable financial processes, controls and reporting disciplines for a growing, regulated business;

• Own core financial operations, including month-end close, management accounts, payroll, accounts payable, reconciliations and general ledger integrity;

• Prepare clear, decision-ready reporting for the executive team and Board, translating financial results into meaningful commercial insights;

• Lead budgeting, forecasting, cash-flow management and financial modelling, including scenario analysis for strategic initiatives and growth opportunities;

• Partner with leaders across the business to strengthen financial accountability and support investment, cost and performance decisions;

• Manage tax, statutory reporting, audit readiness and compliance with relevant accounting and governance requirements, supported by external advisers where required; and

• Improve finance systems and processes through effective controls, documentation and automation, while managing relationships with auditors, banks and professional advisers.

About you

You are a commercially minded finance professional who combines strong technical capability with energy, curiosity and sound judgement.

You will be engaging and credible, with the ability to build effective relationships across the business. You know how to translate financial information into a clear story, ask the right questions and constructively challenge others when the numbers point to a different conclusion.

You will be equally comfortable working through the detail yourself and stepping back to advise on the bigger commercial picture.

To be successful, you will bring:

• CA, CPA or an equivalent professional qualification;
• Approximately 6–10 years’ experience across financial control, accounting, audit or commercially focused finance roles;
• Strong technical accounting, reporting and financial-control capability;
• Experience within insurance, financial services or another regulated industry, which would be highly regarded.
• Experience leading budgeting, forecasting, cash-flow management and performance analysis;
• The ability to interpret complex financial information and communicate the implications clearly to non-finance stakeholders;
• A confident and collaborative business-partnering style, including the judgement to know when to support, question or challenge;
• A practical, hands-on approach and the willingness to build processes as well as operate them;

Experience in a scaling or founder-led business, or within a Big Four or mid-tier accounting firm, would be advantageous but is not essential.

Why join Emergence?

This is a rare opportunity to establish a finance function rather than inherit a finished one. You will have the autonomy to shape how finance operates and the visibility to make a meaningful contribution to business decisions.

You will also benefit from:

• Direct access to the CEO and senior leadership team, with the opportunity to influence decisions across the business;
• Genuine ownership of the finance function, systems and operating model;
• Exposure to an international business operating across Australia, New Zealand and the United States;
• A potential pathway toward a future CFO role as the scale and complexity of the business develops;
• Hybrid working and a working-from-home technology allowance;
• Short and long-term incentive opportunities, subject to eligibility and plan terms;
• Up to 14 weeks of paid parental leave;
• Regular social events and a welcoming Sydney CBD office with snacks and refreshments.

If you are a commercially curious finance professional who wants to build, influence and grow alongside the business, we would love to hear from you.