Head of Finance Job at Portable

Job Description

Portable is a growing, ambitious design and technology consultancy. We do work that matters across government, justice, health, and social policy and we are now in the most commercial phase of our history: scaling revenue, lifting margins, and building the group through expanded capability, AI and acquisition. We are looking for a Head of Finance to own the financial engine of that plan and to sit on our Senior Leadership Team as we build it.

Job Responsibility

Group finance: consolidated financial management across the Portable group, including five to seven trading entities, subsidiaries, and the integration of newly acquired businesses
monthly reporting and forecasting to the CEO, SLT, and Board, with the analytical depth to drive decisions rather than just record outcomes
cash and working capital management through a period of acquisition activity, integration cost, and revenue scaling
statutory compliance and year-end in partnership with our external accountant, including ATO relationship management and audit-readiness
Acquisitions and banking: financial support for the buy-and-build plan: preparing and analysing the numbers for due diligence, helping assess valuation and deal economics, and leading the finance integration once deals complete
banking and facilities including managing the day-to-day banking relationship, facility and covenant compliance, and debt servicing, working with the CEO on the structuring of acquisition finance
integration finance for acquired businesses: chart of accounts, financial reporting, working capital harmonisation, and the commercial check on whether each acquisition is delivering against its case
Commercial partnership: operating economics in partnership with the Director of Delivery including studio margins, utilisation, sell rates, project economics
pricing and commercial structure for major proposals, particularly non-standard and commercially complex deals
Leadership: Senior Leadership Team membership as an operating leader, not just a finance head
finance team leadership across our offshore finance operations and the external accountant relationship, with the discretion to reshape the function as the group grows
coaching and commercial partnership with the Director of Delivery as they grow into full operating P&L ownership over the next 12 to 18 months

Requirements

Senior finance experience in a services, agency, consultancy, or professional services business — ideally $15M+ in revenue — as a financial controller, finance manager, finance director, or head of finance
Group consolidation, statutory reporting, and ATO experience in the Australian context
Commercial fluency — you can read a P&L for what it says about pricing, utilisation, margin, and team economics, not just compliance
Strong or emerging people leadership with the foundations in place to lead people directly and in a range of context
Some exposure to M&A — diligence, completion accounts, or integration — or the commercial foundation and a clear appetite to grow into it
Confidence managing a banking relationship — facilities, covenants, and reporting — or the readiness to take it on
CA or CPA qualified, working toward it, or equivalent experience

Nice to have

A background in working in an agency or consulting environment and the dynamics that drive it
Technical exposure to our industry and the type of work we deliver
R&D Tax Incentive experience, particularly in software or AI

What we offer

Flexible working environment whether from home or the office or a cafe
Family-friendly company with parental leave and part-time arrangements
Feedback-friendly culture
Mental health days as personal leave without explanation or medical certificate
Employee Assistance Program with The Mindroom
Twice-yearly salary reviews with no minimum service period
Structured career pathways, generous professional development allowance and hands-on learning opportunities
Ongoing leadership coaching and development for leaders in the business
Indigenous cultural awareness training for entire team
Work on meaningful projects that seek to have a positive impact in the world
Referral programs earning team members $1500 per successful referral

Portable - All Job Offers