Financial Controller in Sydney

At the heart of a fast-moving, creative business sits a finance function that makes everything possible. As Financial Controller, you will bring precision, pace and a genuine sense of ownership to the transactional finance operations of the Aje Collective. Reporting to the Chief Commercial Officer, you will lead a capable team, keep our financial foundations strong and ensure the numbers, processes and controls behind our brands run seamlessly. This is an opportunity for a hands-on finance leader who takes pride in getting the detail right, loves improving the way things work and knows that exceptional execution creates room for the business to grow.

TRANSACTIONAL FINANCE & TEAM OPERATIONS

• Take ownership of the engine room of Finance: accounts payable, accounts receivable, general ledger, banking, reconciliations and the transactional processes that keep the Collective moving.
• Oversee invoice processing, approvals, payment runs, supplier statements, expense claims and timely resolution of discrepancies.
• Lead customer invoicing, receipts allocation, credit control, debtor ageing reviews, collections and escalation of overdue wholesale accounts.
• Ensure accurate daily and periodic reconciliation of bank accounts, merchant settlements, retail takings and payment platforms.
• Oversee appropriate recording and reconciliation of intercompany transactions and balances across domestic and international entities.
• Build a finance team known for its accuracy, responsiveness and pride in delivery; coach, prioritise and set clear standards for great execution.

MONTH-END CLOSE & FINANCIAL INTEGRITY

• Drive a disciplined, well-orchestrated month-end and year-end close, with timely journals, accruals, prepayments, balance-sheet reconciliations and supporting schedules.
• Maintain integrity of the general ledger and chart of accounts, investigating variances and correcting errors promptly.
• Oversee inventory-related accounting, stock movements, stock adjustments, cost of goods sold and reconciliations in partnership with Retail, Wholesale, Production and Operations.
• Prepare accurate monthly management accounts and financial reporting packs for review by the Chief Commercial Officer.
• Maintain robust audit trails, supporting documentation and clear accounting policies and procedures.
• Maintain daily visibility of cash balances, payment commitments and near-term liquidity requirements.
• Prepare and maintain short-term cash flow forecasts, flagging timing risks and cash constraints to the Chief Commercial Officer.
• Oversee supplier payment scheduling and working capital discipline in line with approved commercial priorities.
• Monitor wholesale customer exposure, credit limits, payment terms, aged debt and escalation of at-risk accounts.
• Coordinate supplier credits and claims associated with production issues, returns and faulty goods.

COMPLIANCE, CONTROLS & AUDIT

• Oversee timely preparation and lodgement of BAS/GST, payroll tax and other applicable statutory returns, working with external advisers where required.
• Ensure payroll accounting, payroll-related reconciliations and superannuation liabilities are accurately reflected in financial records, partnering with Payroll and People & Culture.
• Maintain and strengthen approval controls, delegations, segregation of duties, reconciliations and fraud-prevention measures.
• Coordinate annual audit requirements and statutory financial statement preparation with auditors and external tax advisers.
• Ensure appropriate treatment of foreign currency transactions, international payments and exchange differences.

SYSTEMS, PROCESS IMPROVEMENT & BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP

• Bring fresh thinking to the everyday: simplify processes, embrace smart automation and strengthen controls to make transactional finance faster, clearer and more reliable.
• Maintain data quality and controls across finance systems and their interfaces with POS, ecommerce, inventory and payroll systems.
• Be a trusted, solutions-focused partner to Retail, Ecommerce, Wholesale, Production and the wider business, helping teams resolve issues and improve how work flows end to end.
• Provide clear reporting on close timeliness, overdue debt, payment processing, reconciliation completion and other operational finance KPIs.
• Escalate material financial risks, control failures and emerging issues promptly to the Chief Commercial Officer.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE & CAPABILITIES

• CA/CPA qualified or equivalent relevant accounting qualification and substantial financial accounting experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading a transactional finance function and month-end close in a multi-channel retail, fashion, wholesale or similarly complex environment.
• Strong technical accounting knowledge, including reconciliations, GST, statutory compliance and internal controls.
• Hands-on experience managing AP, AR, cash flow processes, inventory accounting and multi-entity transactions.
• Strong systems capability, advanced Excel skills and experience improving accounting processes and controls.
• A grounded, hands-on leadership style, an eye for detail, sound judgement and the energy to deliver consistently in a fast-paced environment.
• An approachable, collaborative style and a genuine commitment to making Finance an exceptional partner to the business.

SUCCESS MEASURES

• Accurate and timely month-end close with reconciled balance-sheet accounts.
• Consistent, accurate processing of supplier payments, customer receipts and bank / merchant reconciliations.
• Effective management of overdue debt, cash visibility and working capital reporting.
• Timely statutory lodgements, clean audit outcomes and effective financial controls.
• A capable, accountable team and measurable improvements in transactional efficiency.

AJE VALUES

Earn & Attract Respect Celebrate Our Customer Strive for the Extraordinary Act with Agility Hone Our Craft Impact with Purpose

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