Chief Financial Officer

About This Role

This executive leadership role is responsible for shaping the University's long-term financial sustainability, revenue strategy, and broader institutional direction. The Chief Financial Officer will lead a significant program of finance transformation and process improvement, driving contemporary financial practices, system enhancements, and operational efficiencies across a complex and geographically dispersed organization. The role provides high-quality financial analysis, advice, and strategic options to support University-wide decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Lead a significant program of finance transformation and process improvement
• Drive contemporary financial practices, system enhancements, and operational efficiencies
• Provide high-quality financial analysis, advice, and strategic options to support University-wide decision-making
• Engage confidently with key internal and external stakeholders
• Support the Vice-Chancellor, Executive Leadership Team, and the University Council on finance-related matters and presentations

Requirements

• Proven track record of leading finance-system transformation and delivering genuine operational efficiencies
• Strong financial and commercial acumen
• Ability to act as an effective enterprise business partner
• Experience working across complex, multi-site or geographically dispersed organizations
• Ability to lead, engage, and develop a distributed finance team
• Sound judgment
• Clear communication
• Collaborative leadership
• Credibility to influence across an institution
• Equally comfortable operating at both strategic and operational levels

Nice to have:

• Experience in Higher education

Important Details

• Contract: Fixed Term - Full Time
• Locations: Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Dubbo, Orange, Port Macquarie, Wagga Wagga
• Application deadline: 16 November 2026 11:00 PM - AUS Eastern Daylight Time

About the Company

Charles Sturt University is deeply connected to the land, people, and communities of regional Australia. It develops capable, forward-thinking graduates and professionals who create meaningful impact, helping their communities thrive today and into the future. Through strong regional foundations and enduring partnerships, it builds connections that extend across Australia and resonate globally. The Wiradjuri phrase yindyamarra winhanganha means "the wisdom of respectfully knowing how to live well in a world worth living in" and lies at the heart of the University, shaping its values, culture, and purpose. The University harnesses technology and innovation to bring people together across locations, communities, and disciplines, with an ambition to be Australia's leading regional university, renowned for research excellence and for delivering regional outcomes with global impact.