The Finance Performance and Analysis (FPA) Analyst is responsible for driving insight into the company's financial performance through rigorous balance sheet review, cash flow management, advanced Excel modelling and high-quality FP&A reporting packs. The role partners closely with operations and finance to support decision-making, ensure compliance with relevant accounting standards, and enhance the quality of financial planning, forecasting and reporting. This role is a 6-month Fixed Term Contract with a potential option to move permanent.
Job Description
Key Responsibilities
Financial Performance, Reporting & Packs
Develop and prepare monthly FP&A reporting packs for Executive and Board including P&L, balance sheet and cash flow, with clear trend analysis, variances, bridges and key KPIs.
Coordinate inputs from finance and operational stakeholders for budgeting, forecasting and month-end packs, ensuring assumptions are robust, documented and aligned.
Produce rolling forecasts and budget packs, including summary decks, detailed schedules and sensitivity analysis to support planning cycles.
Perform variance analysis against budget, forecast and prior year, and provide clear, actionable commentary for management.
Develop and maintain KPI dashboards for operational and financial performance, including working capital, cash conversion and return metrics.
Perform detailed monthly balance sheet reviews, including reconciliations of key accounts
Challenge the robustness of balances, identify misstatements or ageing issues, and work with Financial Accounting to resolve them on a timely basis.
Support preparation for external audit by ensuring balance sheet supporting documentation is complete, accurate and compliant with accounting standards.
Review short-term and medium-term cash flow forecasts, including scenario and sensitivity analysis over revenue, margin, capex and working capital.
Monitor daily and weekly cash positions, highlight emerging liquidity risks, and recommend actions to optimise cash. Ensuring the cashflow forecast accuracy with within +/- 5% each month
Provide cash impact analysis for major projects, contract bids and commercial decisions.
Build, maintain and improve robust Excel-based financial models to support budgeting, forecasting, capital appraisals and various scenario analysis.
Ensure models are clearly structured, transparent and fit-for-purpose, including appropriate version control, documentation and sensitivity functionality.
Provide ad-hoc financial analysis for operational leaders.
Apply a sound understanding of Australian accounting standards (AASB/IFRS) in assessing balance sheet positions, revenue recognition, provisions and leases.
Work with the finance team to ensure that management reporting, forecasts and FP&A packs are aligned with statutory accounting policies.
Ensure the group accounting policies are in line with the Accounting Standards and where deviations apply or subjective positions are taken that these positions are supported by a position paper that references the relevant accounting standard.
Partner with operational and functional leaders to explain financial performance, build financial literacy and support delivery of budget and forecasts.
Translate complex financial analysis into clear recommendations, including risks, opportunities and practical actions.
Identify and implement improvements in reporting, forecasting processes, data quality and systems, particularly around working capital, cash visibility and FP&A pack efficiency.
Desired Skills and Experience
Qualifications & Experience
Degree in Accounting, Finance, Commerce or related discipline.
CA/CPA (or working towards) preferred.
3–7 years' experience in finance, FP&A, commercial finance or financial analysis, ideally in an industrial, manufacturing, engineering or similar environment.
Demonstrated experience in: balance sheet reviews and reconciliations, cash flow forecasting and working capital analysis, building and maintaining complex Excel models, and preparing FP&A reporting packs and performance analysis.
Advanced Excel skills, including complex formulas, data modelling, pivot tables and scenario analysis; experience with Power BI or similar tools advantageous.
