Head of Finance and Commercial

You see the big picture, you’ve always worked on a grand scale, and now you’re ready to re-focus on grand impact.

You’re highly experienced, but this role will surprise you. Get ready to deliver financial and commercial benefits to an organisation that affects millions of passengers.

Lead our Finance & Commercial branch, responsible for overseeing, driving and implementing finance and commercial strategies, activities, and efficiencies across all branches of Sydney Trains. 
 
Reporting to the Chief Executive you will be an integral part of our Leadership Team. In this role you will hold the accountability as Sydney Trains’ Chief Financial Officer and drive a program of financial sustainability across the organisation. You will provide guidance, advice, leadership and vision to the Chief Executive and Executive Leadership Team, driving best practice financial management and sustainability. Sydney Trains is responsible for the largest annual operating budget across the transport portfolio in NSW and we are structured as a Public Non-Financial Corporation (PNFC). In this role you will be responsible for assuring our annual financial accounts.

Some of your key responsibilities will include:

• Providing strategic leadership and expert advice on financial, commercial, procurement, contract management and financial matters.

• Optimising costs and revenue across the business to meet strategic goals.

• Leading the commercial and procurement function.

• Managing commercial risk, finance, and business performance across Sydney Trains and identifying opportunities for improving business performance.

• Leading and empowering branch management teams of Sydney Trains to deliver business outcomes and enhance organisational performance, capability and capacity. 

• Monitoring and analysing financial performance against budget, providing insights into variances and recommending corrective actions.

• Developing and maintaining systems for risk identification, assessment, and mitigation.

• Advising on complex financial and business issues affecting Sydney Trains.

For more information about this position and business unit, please view the role description. 

About You
 
You are a tertiary qualified, experienced finance director looking for an opportunity to build world class financial and commercial management within an organisation that is subject to high levels of public scrutiny:
 

• You will have demonstrated experience at a high reliability organisation developing, leading, and driving finance strategies.

• You will possess strong commercial acumen and have experience designing and implementing business strategies, plans, and programs to drive financial sustainability.

• You have strong experience dealing with senior internal and external stakeholders, as well as the ability to articulate complex concepts and put forward compelling arguments and rationales to all levels and types of audiences.

• You bring strong experience challenging expenditure.

• Proven ability to translate complex financial concepts into practical, actionable solutions.

• You are experienced in building and leading a team of finance professionals, growing maturity and capability.

• You bring experience leading teams through change and setting team culture.

• You are experienced in creating, delivering and maintaining clear outcomes focused finance and commercial governance frameworks across a large scale, operational organisation.

• You bring a strong understanding of the machinery of government and how to get things done in the public sector.

• You will understand the balance of addressing customer requirements whilst adhering to other regulatory, policy, government and operational conditions.

Who we are

Sydney Trains provides train services throughout the Sydney metropolitan area and was established in July 2013.  Our mission is to keep Sydney moving by delivering safe, clean, reliable, customer-focused and efficient rail services.
 

Join us
 

Our workforce is as diverse as the community we serve. If you’d like further information on our inclusion and diversity initiatives, visit Transport careers.

We offer a wide range of employee benefits, like our award-winning flexible and hybrid work options.

This role is hybrid-friendly, meaning you can mix in-person days at your team’s home base location with remote days. 

What are you waiting for…? Connect with us.  Apply now!

Applications close: 11:59 pm Wednesday 28th May 2025.

For more information about this role, please contact ALEX.BURR@TRANSPORT.NSW.GOV.AU.

Aboriginal people and people living with disability are supported throughout the recruitment process and at work, and we encourage you to apply. Visit Supporting Aboriginal people or Supporting people with disability for more info or speak to your talent team member to arrange any adjustments to how you interact with us. 

Need some help with your application? Take a look at our application tips video series.

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