Senior Manager, Financial & Capital Accounting in Sydney

University of New South Wales, Australia

About University of New South Wales

At UNSW, we take pride in the broad range and high quality of our teaching programs. Our teaching gains strength and currency from our research activities, strong industry links and our international nature.

Location: UNSW Kensington Campus

About UNSW

UNSW isn’t like other places you’ve worked. Yes, we’re a large organisation with a diverse and talented community, a community doing extraordinary things. Together, we are driven to be thoughtful, practical, and purposeful in all we do. Taking this combined approach is what makes our work matter. If you want a career where you can thrive, be challenged and do meaningful work, you’re in the right place.

Why Your Role Matters

The Financial Control & Compliance function is accountable for the University-wide financial control environment and associated compliance policies and processes, including statutory financial reporting and external audit, controlled entity accounting and reporting, technical accounting advisory, infrastructure and asset accounting, and tax management and advisory.

The Senior Manager, Financial & Capital Accounting provides high-quality, specialised and complex asset management in accordance with UNSW policies, procedures and processes, with an objective of maintaining and improving the financial control and compliance environment across the University. This position works across all teams within the Financial Control & Compliance function.

Responsibilities Summary

• Oversee the timeliness, accuracy and data integrity of the General Ledger, ensuring alignment with the fixed asset register, project accounting, revaluations and operational records and compliance with Australian Accounting Standards, NSW Treasury and NSW Audit Office requirements.
• Oversee statutory reporting for capital accounting, including annual financial statements and internal and external audits, ensuring high-quality working papers, supporting documentation and timely responses to audit requests.
• Strengthen governance and documentation across capital-related accounting, and lead the development, implementation and review of policies, guidelines and procedures covering property, plant and equipment, leasing, service concessions and asset revaluations.
• Lead the end-to-end accounting revaluation process, working with external valuation experts, auditors and Estate Management stakeholders, and provide expert technical accounting advice on the recognition, measurement and treatment of asset-related balances.
• Oversee analysis and commentary on asset utilisation, disposals, write-offs and impairments, and drive continuous improvement across capital accounting, controls and reporting, including automation and data quality enhancements.
• Lead, develop and empower a high-performing Financial and Capital Accounting team, managing performance, building capability and fostering continuous improvement and proactive risk management.

Skills and Experience Summary

• Tertiary qualifications in accounting, finance or a related discipline, with extensive knowledge and practical application of accounting standards, finance management practices and statutory reporting.
• Accredited membership with a professional accounting body in Australia (CPA Australia or CA ANZ).
• Demonstrated experience of more than 10 years in financial and capital accounting within a large, complex organisation or accounting firm.
• Demonstrated experience in managing comprehensive and interim revaluations of a large, complex asset portfolio.
• Proven leadership capability, with a demonstrated track record of developing high-performing finance teams.
• Highly advanced communication, stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills, with a collaborative working style and strong service-oriented mindset.
• Proven skills in driving continuous improvement in an accounting function.

Benefits and Culture

People are at the core of everything we do. We recognise it is the contributions of our staff who make UNSW one of the best universities in Australia and the world. Our benefits include:

• 17% Superannuation contributions and additional leave loading payments
• Additional 3 days of leave over Christmas period
• Discounts and entitlements (retail, education, fitness)

Applications close 11:30pm on the 11th of October.

Get in Touch

For queries regarding the recruitment process, contact Lucy Gerondis, Talent Acquisition Partner.

Aligned with UNSW’s focus on cultivating a workplace defined by safety, ethical conduct, and strong integrity preferred candidates will be required to participate in a combination of pre-employment checks relevant to the role they have applied for.

UNSW is committed to evolving a culture that embraces equity and supports a diverse and inclusive community where everyone can participate fairly, in a safe and respectful environment. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and encourage applications from people of diverse gender, sexual orientation, cultural and linguistic backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background, people with disability and those with caring and family responsibilities. UNSW provides workplace adjustments for people with disability, and access to flexible work options for eligible staff.