Chief Financial Officer

Lead the funding & financial management and funding strategy for Australia's first high speed rail network.

About the High Speed Rail Authority

The Australian Government is planning a future high speed rail network to connect Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and regional communities across the east coast of Australia. 

The High Speed Rail Authority (the Authority) is an independent corporate Commonwealth entity governed by an independent board, established to lead the development and delivery of high speed rail.

High Speed Rail – Line 1 connects Newcastle to Sydney in around one hour on a dedicated high speed railway. From the Central Coast it will take around 30 minutes to get to Newcastle or to Sydney. With funding now committed to progress Line 1, HSRA are forming an executive team to develop and deliver this generational program.

High speed rail will contribute to key Australian Government priorities, including increased economic productivity, new housing options, regional economic and tourism development and contributing to net zero. 

About the role

The purpose of this role is to uphold and strengthen the financial health and integrity of the Authority as it transitions through the Development Phase, ensuring all funding and execution obligations are effectively met.

The role is responsible for overseeing the financial management and control functions, directing the financing and funding strategy, and establishing the maturation of corporate services across enterprise governance, security and information technology.

What you'll lead

• Direct financial administration including treasury, tax and payroll, ensuring compliance with accounting standards, public sector financial frameworks and industrial agreements.

• Oversee statutory accounting and reporting; maintain robust financial controls and own the Authority's operating budget, including its interface with the Project budget.

• Lead the design and development of the Project's funding and financing strategy, including overseeing federal funding agreements, equity transactions and investments, managing debt and facilitating partnerships between public and private entities.

• Executive sponsor for enterprise-wide systems and data governance implementations, including the management of information assets, upholding data quality, accessibility, and cybersecurity requirements, along with the rollout of financial systems.

• Lead organisational planning and performance reporting, delivering timely and accurate financial reports to the Board, the Audit and Risk Committee and external stakeholders.

• Oversee corporate services, including accommodation, facilities and office management.

About you

We are seeking a senior financial executive with the expertise to lead the Authority's financial management and funding strategy.

Specifically, you bring:

• Senior finance leadership at scale; managing complex budgets, statutory accounting and reporting, organisational planning and performance and financial risk effectively.

• Treasury and corporate finance experience; overseeing equity transactions and investments, negotiating and managing debt, and facilitating partnerships between public and private entities.

• Proven leadership in the development of funding strategies for major projects, with direct engagement across banks, private capital investors and other financial institutions.

• Information technology and security leadership; establishing cybersecurity frameworks, digital transformation of PMO and the development of IT transition strategies.

• Expert knowledge of payroll legislation and agreements, with governance over payroll systems and frameworks.

Eligibility

Employment with the Authority is subject to the conditions prescribed within the Public Service Act 1999. To be eligible, you must:

1. Be an Australian citizen & hold a degree or equivalent working experience.

1. Hold or be able to obtain a Baseline security clearance & satisfy a National Police check (mandatory pre-employment screening).

Next Steps

Applications close on Thursday 28th May at 5pm AEST.

To apply, please submit your CV together with a suitability statement to our recruitment partners, Robert Walters, via email to HSRAExecutive@robertwalters.com.au

A full position description is available to download on www.robertwalters.com.au/hsra.html or via request at HSRAExecutive@robertwalters.com.au

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples are encouraged to apply.
To apply please click apply or call Hamish Smith on 02 8289 3199 for a confidential discussion.