Finance Manager

MILSPEC Energy Solutions is a veteran-owned Australian infrastructure contractor delivering electrical construction, transmission, substation, underground, renewable energy and associated infrastructure projects across Australia.

We operate in a fast-paced, project-driven environment supporting major infrastructure and energy projects across multiple states.

As the business continues to grow, we are seeking an experienced Finance Manager to take ownership of our day-to-day finance function and provide strong financial oversight across our projects and operations.

This is a hands-on leadership role suited to someone who understands construction, infrastructure or project-based accounting and can turn financial data into clear, practical information for management.

Reporting directly to the Managing Director, the Finance Manager will be responsible for overseeing the financial operations of the business, supported by the Accounts / Administration team.

You will take ownership of financial reporting, cash flow, accounts receivable, project cost reporting, financial controls, budgeting, forecasting and month-end processes.

The successful candidate will be expected to provide management with accurate, timely and useful financial information while ensuring the underlying finance function remains disciplined, compliant and well controlled.

This is not simply a bookkeeping role.

We are looking for someone who can understand the commercial position of individual projects, identify emerging financial issues and help management understand where projects and the wider business are performing against budget.

• Manage the day-to-day finance function across the business.

• Prepare monthly Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet and management reporting.

• Maintain accurate and timely month-end reporting.

• Manage accruals, prepayments and balance sheet reconciliations.

• Maintain the integrity and accuracy of Xero and associated finance systems.

• Prepare annual and periodic budgets and forecasts.

• Provide financial analysis and reporting directly to senior management.

• Assist management with commercial and financial decision-making.

• Provide clear financial commentary on business performance, trends and emerging risks.

• Monitor project revenue, expenditure and profitability.

• Maintain project cost reporting and cost-to-complete forecasts.

• Review actual project costs against budgets and estimates.

• Monitor labour, materials, subcontractor, plant, equipment, travel and other project expenditure.

• Identify project cost overruns, margin deterioration and emerging financial risks.

• Assist Project Managers and General Managers with project financial reporting.

• Support progress claims, variations, purchase orders and commercial reconciliations.

• Provide clear reporting on project margins and expected final financial outcomes.

• Review committed costs and outstanding purchase orders against project budgets.

• Assist with project forecasting and Estimate at Completion reporting.

• Improve visibility of project performance across the business.

• Oversee client invoicing and accounts receivable.

• Monitor progress claims and payment certificates.

• Maintain debtor reporting and follow up overdue accounts.

• Prepare weekly and rolling cash-flow forecasts.

• Provide management with visibility over expected receipts, major payments and short-term cash requirements.

• Monitor working capital across the business.

• Identify cash-flow risks and upcoming funding requirements.

• Ensure client invoicing and progress claims are issued accurately and on time.

Working with the Accounts / Finance Officer, you will oversee:

• Supplier invoice processing.

• Purchase order matching.

• Cost coding and project allocation.

• Supplier reconciliations.

• Payment run preparation.

• Credit card and expense reconciliation.

• Bank reconciliations.

• Supplier account management.

• Missing invoices and receipt follow-up.

• Outstanding purchase order reviews.

The Finance Manager will be responsible for reviewing and controlling these processes rather than being expected to personally perform every transactional task.

• Establish and maintain strong internal financial controls.

• Maintain appropriate segregation of duties across accounts payable, banking and payment approvals.

• Review supplier bank-detail changes and payment controls.

• Maintain financial policies and procedures.

• Assist with BAS and other statutory financial reporting requirements.

• Coordinate with external accountants, auditors and financial advisers.

• Maintain fixed asset registers and financial records.

• Support financial information requirements associated with tenders, prequalification and major contracts.

• Ensure financial records are accurate, complete and appropriately supported.

• Develop and improve finance procedures as the business grows.

• Prepare annual business budgets.

• Maintain rolling financial forecasts.

• Prepare project and business-level forecasts.

• Analyse actual results against budget and forecast.

• Investigate and explain material variances.

• Develop practical financial dashboards and management reports.

• Provide senior management with clear information on revenue, gross margin, overheads, cash flow and profitability.

• Assist with business planning and strategic financial decision-making.

We are looking for someone who is confident taking ownership of a growing finance function.

You will ideally have:

• Significant experience in a Finance Manager, Senior Accountant, Management Accountant or similar position.

• Experience within construction, infrastructure, electrical contracting, engineering, civil construction, resources or another project-based environment.

• Strong knowledge of project accounting and job costing.

• Strong understanding of accounts payable and accounts receivable.

• Demonstrated experience preparing cash-flow forecasts.

• Experience preparing management accounts and financial reports.

• Strong budgeting and forecasting experience.

• Strong Excel skills.

• Strong working knowledge of Xero or comparable accounting software.

• Experience managing financial controls and reconciliations.

• High attention to detail and strong financial discipline.

• The confidence to challenge incorrect information and investigate discrepancies.

• Strong communication skills and the ability to work with operational and project teams.

Within this role, we expect the Finance Manager to develop a finance function where:

• Supplier accounts are reconciled and controlled.

• Client invoices and claims are issued promptly.

• Cash-flow forecasts are reliable.

• Month-end reporting is completed accurately and on time.

• Management understands the financial position of each major project.

• Project Managers understand their actual and forecast cost position against budget.

• Project margins and cost-to-complete positions are visible throughout project delivery.

• Outstanding financial issues are identified early rather than after a project has finished.

• Purchase orders and committed costs are properly monitored.

• Financial controls are documented and followed.

• Senior management receives clear financial information and exceptions requiring decisions rather than being drawn into routine transactional issues.

• The business has accurate, consistent and reliable financial reporting to support continued growth.

This is an opportunity to become a key member of the leadership team of a growing Australian infrastructure contractor.

The role offers genuine ownership of the finance function and the opportunity to develop the financial systems, reporting and controls required to support the next stage of MILSPEC's growth.

You will work directly with senior management and have visibility across major infrastructure and energy projects throughout Australia.

Location: North Lakes, Queensland

Please submit your resume together with a brief cover letter outlining your experience in project-based accounting, financial management and construction or infrastructure environments.

Applicants with previous experience in construction, infrastructure, electrical contracting, civil construction, engineering or major-project environments are strongly encouraged to apply.