Financial Accounting Lead in Newcastle

Company: Australian Red Cross Lifeblood

We’re looking for a Financial Accounting Lead to lead Lifeblood’s financial accounting, month-end and year-end reporting processes, ensuring accurate, timely and compliant financial outcomes. Reporting to the Financial Governance Manager, you will provide technical accounting leadership across complex accounting matters, balance sheet integrity, financial reporting and audit readiness.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead accurate and timely month-end, year-end and financial accounting processes, including the review of journals, accruals, adjustments and supporting analysis.
• Oversee general ledger integrity and financial reporting outputs, ensuring information is complete, accurate and consistent.
• Support the preparation of statutory financial statements and provide technical advice and accounting judgements on complex matters and emerging accounting requirements.
• Oversee key balance sheet reconciliations, ensuring issues are investigated, resolved and escalated appropriately.
• Maintain strong financial controls across accounting processes, supporting data integrity, reconciliation quality and compliance.
• Coordinate financial accounting inputs for internal and external audits, including reconciliations, supporting papers, accounting analysis and responses.
• Lead, coach and develop the Senior Financial Accountant, particularly through peak reporting periods.
• Provide technical guidance to finance stakeholders and help strengthen financial accounting, reporting and control practices.
• Drive improvements that simplify accounting processes, enhance reporting quality and make better use of financial systems.
• Contribute to broader Financial Governance and finance transformation initiatives.

Sound interesting? Here’s what we’re looking for:

• A tertiary qualification in Accounting, Finance, Commerce or a related discipline.
• A completed CA, CPA or equivalent professional accounting qualification.
• Demonstrated experience leading financial accounting, month-end and year-end reporting processes within a complex organisation.
• Strong knowledge of accounting standards, financial reporting requirements, general ledger processes and balance sheet management.
• Experience managing audit deliverables, resolving audit queries and supporting the preparation of statutory financial statements.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and technical accounting capability, with the ability to interpret complex information and provide clear advice.
• Experience maintaining internal controls, enhancing accounting processes and protecting reporting integrity.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
• Demonstrated people leadership capability, including the ability to coach and develop team members.
• Experience within a highly regulated environment such as healthcare, NFP or government, and exposure to Oracle or a similar ERP system, would be advantageous.

We place our employee's well-being at the forefront and express gratitude and care for one another. As an Australian Workplace Equality Index recognised employer and one of Australia’s menopause-friendly organisations, we celebrate diversity and support all our people.

In addition to being a part of an organisation that is the heartbeat of the Nation, you will have access to the following:

• Ability to purchase additional annual leave.
• Access to salary packaging with an option to package up to $15,900 for living expenses and $2,650 for meals and entertainment.
• 14 weeks paid parental leave - no waiting period for either parent.
• Our dedicated employee assistance program - Sonder that you can access 24/7 from an app on your phone.
• Plus, many more!

We’re proud to be a Circle Back Initiative Employer for 2026 and commit to respond to every applicant. You’ll hear from us once your application has been reviewed. In the meantime, if you have questions about this role, or need support or adjustments during any stage of the recruitment process, please contact us.