Finance Officer

Finance Officer

Sydney Polytechnic Institute is seeking an experienced and proactive Finance Officer to contribute to the daily financial operations across several educational entities. This full-time, onsite position is based in Sydney, NSW.

The successful candidate will report to the Finance Manager and will undertake a wide array of accounting and finance duties. These include managing accounts payable, accounts receivable, student finance administration, performing reconciliations, providing payroll support, and contributing to month-end reporting. This role is suitable for an individual who is highly organised, pays close attention to detail, and can manage their tasks independently with appropriate guidance.

Visa sponsorship may be considered for a candidate with suitable qualifications, contingent on business needs and the candidate meeting Australian immigration requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage accounts payable, including processing invoices and executing weekly payment runs.
• Manage accounts receivable, encompassing student payment allocation, account follow-up, and the collection of outstanding fees.
• Conduct bank, balance sheet, and other month-end reconciliations.
• Assist with month-end close procedures and the preparation of management reports.
• Support budgeting, cash flow reporting, and revenue recognition processes.
• Process student refunds, payment plans, and instalment arrangements.
• Maintain student financial records within the applicable student management systems.
• Assist with payroll administration, including leave balances and employee entitlement calculations.
• Prepare audit supporting documents, reconciliations, and working papers.
• Maintain accurate accounting records across multiple entities.
• Liaise with internal teams concerning finance and student account matters.
• Identify avenues for enhancing finance processes, controls, and reporting.

Skills and Experience

• Essential
• A tertiary qualification in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• A minimum of two years of relevant accounting or finance experience.
• Proficient working knowledge of Xero.
• Intermediate to advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Experience with accounts payable, accounts receivable, and reconciliations.
• The ability to work independently and assume responsibility for assigned tasks.
• Strong attention to detail and organisational capabilities.
• Capacity to manage competing priorities and adhere to deadlines.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.

• Highly Desirable
• Experience within the education sector.
• Familiarity with student management systems such as Meshed.
• Professional-level proficiency in Mandarin Chinese, with the capacity for effective written and spoken communication in Chinese.
• Experience utilising financial reporting and management reporting tools, such as Fathom or comparable platforms.
• Experience with student fees, refunds, instalment plans, or revenue recognition.
• Currently undertaking or holding a CPA or CA qualification.

What We Offer

• A supportive and collaborative work environment.
• Exposure to a wide spectrum of accounting and finance functions.
• The opportunity to engage with multiple educational entities.
• Prospects for professional development and career advancement.
• A role offering genuine responsibility and the chance to contribute to process improvements.

Salary: $78,000 per year including superannuation, plus an annual bonus.

Application Instructions: Please submit your application.