is now recruiting for

Group Chief Financial Officer

Overview

Mater operates the largest not-for-profit network of public and private hospitals and healthcare services in the state, bringing together our collective expertise across health, education and research, with a shared vision of empowering people to live better lives through improved health and wellbeing.

Our commitment to our Mission, Vision and Values compels us to adapt and transform as the needs of our community and the environment in which we operate continue to evolve. This means moving beyond the hospital, the classroom and the laboratory, being closer to our consumers and delivering new products, programs and services to meet emerging community needs.

Whether you are a patient, a donor, a nurse, a doctor, an educator, a visitor or any one of the millions of other people who share their journey with Mater, we aim to put people at the centre of our services and deliver an experience that meets the needs of the community.

Change is constant in healthcare - and so is our commitment to improvement.

As Queensland’s largest for-purpose network of public and private hospitals, Mater cares for almost 700,000 patients every year, and one in five Queenslanders is born at a Mater hospital.

From world-leading research to life-affirming community programs, and as Queensland’s largest non-government health educator, we’re here to deliver best-in-class care for every stage of life.

Founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1906, our Mission remains the same: to provide compassionate care to those who need it most.

Today, that promise is stronger than ever.

Because good enough is never good enough. We all deserve better. Get better with Mater.

About the Role

Group Chief Financial Officer

Download Position Description

The Group Chief Finance Officer (CFO) is a member of the Group Executive Leadership Team and is accountable for the financial stewardship of Mater, including strategy, budgeting, forecasting, financial and operational performance, financial controls and policies, cash flow, working capital, debt, and the accurate recording of revenue and expenditure.

The role provides financial expertise and guidance across Mater Health, Research, Education and Foundation, ensuring appropriate standards of financial governance and integrity. The role also provides executive leadership for growth and investment, enterprise productivity and business improvement, capital and treasury strategy, sustainability and ESG, and finance-led transformation and innovation.

Position-specific responsibilities

Enterprise Strategy, Growth and Investment

Lead the development and delivery of Mater’s finance strategy, aligned with organisational strategy and long-term financial sustainability.
Provide strategic financial and commercial advice to the Board, relevant Board committees, Group Chief Executive and Group Executive on organisational performance, investment priorities, growth opportunities and significant strategic decisions.
Lead the financial assessment, due diligence and commercial evaluation of mergers, acquisitions, partnerships, greenfield and brownfield developments, and other material growth opportunities.
Ensure financial affordability and sustainability underpin Mater’s strategic and investment priorities.
Embed sustainability and ESG considerations into financial strategy, investment decisions, planning and reporting within the role’s accountabilities.
Provide advice and support to the Group Chief Executive on emerging strategic, financial and commercial issues.

Enterprise Performance, Improvement and Transformation

Develop, analyse and interpret financial, operational and activity information to assess organisational performance, identify emerging trends and support strategic decision-making.
Ensure timely, accurate and decision-useful financial and performance reporting to the Board, relevant Board committees, Group Executive and organisational leaders.
Lead enterprise-wide productivity and business improvement initiatives that deliver sustainable efficiencies, improved value and better consumer and clinician experiences.
Drive continuous improvement of Finance processes, systems, controls and service delivery.
Sponsor enterprise transformation, digital enablement, automation and the responsible use of emerging technologies to improve performance, insight and decision-making.
Develop and maintain financial methodologies that support accurate costing, pricing, contract negotiations and revenue optimisation.

Financial Stewardship, Capital and Funding

Lead the preparation of budgets, forecasts and long-term financial plans, translating strategic priorities into clear financial targets and resource requirements.
Actively manage organisational financial performance against endorsed targets and provide timely intervention where performance is not on track.
Lead Mater’s capital structure, treasury, liquidity and funding strategy, including cash-flow forecasting, debt capacity and financing arrangements.
Oversee Mater’s investment portfolio and relationships with investment advisers, lenders, transactional bankers and other capital partners.
Ensure robust business cases, financial governance and post-investment review of major capital, partnership, project and growth investments.
Ensure effective capital allocation and asset-planning processes support Mater’s strategic priorities and long-term financial sustainability.
Lead financial and commercial input into revenue and funding negotiations with private health funds, governments and other funding partners.

Governance, Risk and Assurance

Maintain an effective financial control environment that safeguards Mater’s assets and supports the integrity, security and reliability of financial systems and records.
Ensure statutory and financial reporting complies with accounting standards, legislation, Mater policies and audit requirements.
Manage external audit and financial compliance requirements for Mater and its subsidiaries.
Support internal audit activity and ensure endorsed audit recommendations are implemented within agreed timeframes.
Ensure taxation matters are effectively managed in accordance with applicable legislation.
Ensure appropriate governance, policies and assurance arrangements apply to significant financial, capital and commercial decisions.

Executive Leadership and Organisational Influence

Actively contribute to the Group Executive Team, organisational strategy, policy and enterprise decision-making.
Represent Mater and the Group Chief Executive in relevant internal and external forums as required.
Influence leaders and stakeholders to make and embed decisions that strengthen Mater’s financial sustainability and organisational performance.
Build influential relationships across Mater and with governments, commercial partners, professional bodies, universities and other external stakeholders.
Provide visible executive sponsorship for enterprise change and build organisational readiness for sustained transformation.
Build enterprise capability by developing finance and commercial leadership, succession depth and strategic business-partnering capability.
Foster effective collaboration across Mater Health, Research, Education, Foundation and Corporate services.
Model Mater’s Mission, Values and expected leadership behaviours in all decisions and relationships.

People Leadership, Capability and Accountability

Lead the Finance function, ensuring clear accountability, effective performance and delivery of organisational priorities.
Build finance and commercial capability, leadership depth, succession and strategic business-partnering capability.
Set clear performance and development expectations for direct reports and ensure these are aligned with Mater’s strategic priorities.
Coach leaders and provide timely, respectful and constructive feedback on performance and behaviour.
Create a collaborative, accountable and improvement-focused culture across the CFO portfolio.
Ensure the Finance function has the capability, capacity, systems and support required to deliver its responsibilities effectively.
Apply Mater’s Values, Code of Conduct and performance frameworks consistently to address behavioural, practice or performance concerns.

For more information on selection criteria the role, please see the Position Description above.

Selection Criteria

Qualifications, skills, knowledge and experience (essential)

Tertiary qualification in a business-related discipline, primarily Accounting or Finance.
Senior finance leadership experience in private hospitals in Australia.
Current membership of a recognised Australian professional accounting body.
Demonstrated technical, financial and commercial acumen in delivering advice and business solutions.
Proven ability to deliver financial and commercial outcomes aligned with organisational strategy.
High-level facilitation, influencing and decision-making skills, with the ability to set and implement priorities.
Significant experience building and maintaining robust internal and external stakeholder relationships.
Demonstrated ability to create collaborative environments where trust, integrity and open communication are valued.
Knowledge of public and private funding and partnerships, taxation, compliance and business risk management.
Demonstrated experience in mergers and acquisitions, major investments, partnerships or complex growth transactions.
Demonstrated experience leading enterprise-wide business improvement, transformation or productivity programs.
Advanced knowledge of treasury, liquidity, capital structure and funding strategy.
Understanding of sustainability and ESG principles and their application to strategy, investment and reporting.
Ability to identify and apply digital, automation and emerging technology opportunities within finance and enterprise decision-making.