Financial Controller - 19788
Somewhere · United States
- Hybrid
- Full-time
- A$120,000 / year
- United States
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Job highlights
- Manage financial reporting and forecasting for two businesses.
- Improve financial systems, controls, and reporting frameworks.
- Oversee project profitability and cash flow management.
- Partner with leadership on strategic financial initiatives.
- This is a remote, fractional financial controller role.
About the role
Fractional Financial Controller - Remote
Overview
Our client, a group of established Australian trade and service businesses operating across construction, maintenance, and specialist coatings, is seeking a Fractional Financial Controller to support two entities. With teams spanning field crews, project managers, sales, and administration, the businesses are undergoing a modernization of systems, reporting, and financial operations. This role is a critical hire to bring structure, visibility, and strategic financial oversight. This is not a bookkeeping role—it is a hands-on, strategic finance position focused on reporting, forecasting, and process improvement.
Primary Function
The primary function of this role is to own financial reporting, forecasting, and performance analysis, while improving systems, controls, and overall financial visibility across both businesses.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Management & Reporting
- Own month-end and year-end close processes
- Prepare monthly management accounts and reporting packs, including: Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow, KPI dashboards, Project profitability reporting
- Analyze financial performance and identify trends, risks, and opportunities
- Support budgeting and forecasting processes
- Develop and maintain rolling cash flow forecasts
Construction & Project Financial Management
- Monitor project profitability and job costing
- Review margins and investigate variances
- Support Work In Progress (WIP) reporting
- Partner with project managers to provide financial insights
- Improve costing accuracy and operational reporting
- Analyze labor utilization and productivity
Cash Flow & Working Capital
- Monitor and manage cash flow and working capital
- Oversee debtor reporting and collections
- Review supplier payment schedules
- Support inventory and stock reporting
- Identify opportunities to improve cash conversion and efficiency
- Help implement stronger procurement processes
Systems & Process Improvement
- Improve financial processes, controls, and reporting frameworks
- Support implementation and optimization of systems such as: Xero, Simpro, ServiceM8, Reporting/dashboard tools
- Document finance processes and build SOPs
- Identify and implement automation opportunities
Compliance & Governance
- Oversee compliance processes including BAS, payroll tax, and superannuation
- Liaise with external accountants and advisors
- Assist with annual financial statement preparation
- Ensure strong financial controls and governance practices
Business Partnering
- Work directly with the Managing Director on strategic initiatives
- Support pricing and margin analysis
- Contribute to growth and acquisition initiatives
- Provide commercial recommendations based on financial insights
Required Qualifications
- 5+ years of experience in a Financial Controller, Finance Manager, or Senior Management Accountant role
- Strong knowledge of Australian accounting standards and tax requirements
- Advanced experience with Xero
- Strong financial modeling, reporting, and forecasting skills
- Advanced proficiency in Excel / Google Sheets
- Excellent written and verbal English communication skills
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in: Construction, Trades, Field services, Manufacturing, Project-based businesses
- Experience with Simpro and/or ServiceM8
- Experience supporting Australian SMEs
- CPA, CA, or equivalent certification
- Prior experience working remotely with Australian companies
Role Details
- Contractor / Fractional engagement (supporting two businesses)
- Full-time workload (~40 hours/week total)
- Remote role with required overlap to Australian Eastern business hours
- Participation in weekly management meetings required
- Flexible schedule outside of core overlap hours
What This Role Offers
- Opportunity to build and shape a modern finance function across two growing businesses
- High-impact, strategic role working directly with leadership
- Exposure to multi-entity financial operations and project-based environments
- Ability to drive real improvements in reporting, profitability, and decision-making
Who This Role Is Ideal For
- Finance professionals who think commercially, not just technically
- Individuals who enjoy building systems and improving processes
- Self-starters who take ownership and drive outcomes independently
- Strong communicators who can translate financials into actionable business insights
Success Measures (First 6 Months)
- Consistent, reliable monthly reporting delivered on time
- Implementation of accurate cash flow forecasting
- Improved visibility into project profitability and KPIs
- Strengthened financial controls and processes
- Enhanced decision-making through clear financial insights
Key skills/competency
- Financial Controller
- Financial Reporting
- Forecasting
- Process Improvement
- Xero
- Excel/Google Sheets
- Construction Finance
- Cash Flow Management
- Working Capital
- Business Partnering
Skills & topics
- Financial Controller
- Finance Manager
- Management Accountant
- Financial Reporting
- Forecasting
- Budgeting
- Cash Flow Management
- Working Capital
- Xero
- Excel
- Project Accounting
- Construction Finance
- Remote Work
- Fractional CFO
- Strategic Finance
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight your experience with Xero, financial modeling, forecasting, and Australian accounting standards. Quantify achievements in financial reporting and process improvement.
- Craft a compelling cover letter: Emphasize your strategic thinking, commercial acumen, and experience in construction or project-based businesses. Showcase your ability to work independently and improve financial operations.
- Prepare for technical questions: Be ready to discuss your experience with month-end close, P&L, balance sheet, cash flow statements, WIP reporting, and Xero. Familiarize yourself with Australian tax requirements.
- Showcase your business partnering skills: Prepare examples of how you've provided financial insights to leadership and contributed to growth initiatives. Highlight your ability to translate complex financials into actionable recommendations.
- Demonstrate remote work capability: Be prepared to discuss how you manage communication, collaboration, and time zone overlap effectively in a remote setting.
Technical preparation
Master Xero's advanced features.,Develop robust financial models.,Practice KPI dashboard creation.,Refine cash flow forecasting techniques.
Behavioral questions
Describe a time you improved a financial process.,How do you handle conflicting priorities?,Explain a complex financial concept simply.,How do you ensure accuracy in reporting?
Frequently asked questions
- What is the work arrangement for the Fractional Financial Controller role at Somewhere?
- The Fractional Financial Controller position at Somewhere is a remote role, offering flexibility outside of required overlap with Australian Eastern business hours. This arrangement allows for a full-time workload while maintaining a remote work setup.
- What accounting software is primarily used for the Fractional Financial Controller role?
- Advanced experience with Xero is a required qualification for this Fractional Financial Controller position. Experience with Simpro and ServiceM8 is preferred, indicating a focus on cloud-based accounting and operational software.
- Does this Fractional Financial Controller role involve direct interaction with senior leadership?
- Yes, this Fractional Financial Controller role involves direct work with the Managing Director on strategic initiatives. The position is described as high-impact, working directly with leadership to provide commercial recommendations and drive improvements.
- What kind of industries are best suited for this Fractional Financial Controller position?
- The Fractional Financial Controller role is ideal for candidates with experience in construction, trades, field services, manufacturing, and project-based businesses. This specialization is key to understanding the unique financial challenges and reporting needs of the client entities.
- What are the key success measures for the Fractional Financial Controller in the first six months?
- Key success measures for the Fractional Financial Controller in the first six months include delivering consistent and reliable monthly reporting on time, implementing accurate cash flow forecasting, improving visibility into project profitability and KPIs, strengthening financial controls, and enhancing decision-making through clear financial insights.
- Is this a full-time or part-time role for the Fractional Financial Controller?
- This Fractional Financial Controller role is a full-time workload, estimated at approximately 40 hours per week, though it is a contractor/fractional engagement supporting two businesses.
- What specific financial reporting is expected from the Fractional Financial Controller?
- The Fractional Financial Controller is expected to prepare monthly management accounts and reporting packs, including Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow, KPI dashboards, and project profitability reports. Analyzing financial performance and identifying trends are also core responsibilities.
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