Finance Operations Manager

About the Carlton Football Club

The Carlton Football Club is one of Australia’s oldest and most prominent sport institutions. Founded in 1864, the Club’s headquarters and training facilities are located in Carlton at IKON Park, our traditional home ground. Our IKON Park redevelopment is now complete, and we are proud of our state-of-the-art facilities that supports our high-performance environment. We are passionate about our contribution to the Community and foster an inclusive and welcoming culture where our values are at the core of who we are and what we do.

About the Role

The Finance Operations Manager is responsible for overseeing financial operations of the Carlton Football Club, ensuring robust financial governance and processing, effective budgeting, and financial planning to support the club’s sustainability and growth.

Reporting through to the Head of Finance this full time-position is an integral role to the Club’s Finance and Corporate Services team, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the finance team in the delivery of accurate financial records while ensuring sound management of the Clubs financial resources.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee accounts payable and receivable functions, ensuring strong internal controls and timely reconciliations.
• Oversee month-end close procedures with support from the Financial Accountant.
• Responsibility for the management and reporting across Club cashflow forecasts with support from the Financial and Graduate Accountant.
• With support from the Graduate Accountant, responsibility for all Club cash requirements and identifying and implementing improvements to cash handling processes.
• Responsibility for all banking requirements and relationships for the Club with support from the Financial Accountant.
• Support Head of Finance in the management of the club’s annual budget, monthly re-forecasts and reporting. Further, delivering timely and accurate monthly management reports, financial statements, and variance analysis where required.
• Oversee the timely preparation and lodgment of Club statutory obligations including GST, FBT etc.
• Manage the year-end financial audit process with the Financial Accountant, liaising with external auditors, preparing all relevant documentation and ensuring adherence to applicable Australian accounting standards (AASB).
• Oversee the preparation of the year-end financial statements and Club Annual Report in conjunction with the Financial Accountant.
• Assistance provided to the Head of Finance regarding Modern Slavery reporting requirements, including procurement processes.
• Payroll support provided to the Senior Payroll Officer and Head of Finance in the guidance and review of Club pay runs and calculations where required.
• Oversee reporting with support from the Financial Accountant in preparation and delivery of reporting to the Clubs supporter groups and past player’s committee.
• Lead the greenhouse gas accounting process in line with support from the finance team and external stakeholders. Further, assistance with the future anticipated external sustainability reporting requirements in line with the changes to the Corporations Act.
• Support provided to the Senior Accountant with the preparation, review and lodgment of AFL reporting requirements.
• Support provided to the Head of Finance in the continued review and improvement of the Clubs ERP requirements and integration with other Club Systems (CRM, inventory management etc).
• Partner with senior management to provide financial insights for strategic decisions across Consumer operations and other departments as required.
• Contribute to the development of business cases where required.
• Support the club’s long-term financial sustainability by identifying opportunities for operational and cost efficiencies and revenue growth.
• Support to Head of Finance in identification and development of enhanced financial reporting and dashboards.
• Guide the wider finance team in their assistance, partnering and reporting to the wider business from accounts receivable and payable functions, and financial reporting and insights.
• Management of and ensuring adherence to Club finance policies and procedures, including but not limited to the Spend and Delegated Authority, Credit Card and Procurement Policies across the Club.
• Maintain and provide advice on effective financial controls, policies, and procedures in line with best practice and regulatory expectations – identifying any room for improvement in policies and processes.
• Ensure compliance with all AFL financial regulations, Australian Taxation Office, and other external statutory reporting obligations.
• Assistance provided to the Head of Finance in management of the Club’s insurance program, including the annual renewal process.
• Assist in risk management processes, insurance renewals, and the development of financial contingency plans.
• Assistance to the Head of Finance in managing internal reporting deadlines including Board and the Finance & Audit sub-committee
• Lead and manage a team of three finance professionals, including coaching, performance management, and professional development.
• Build positive working relationships with internal stakeholders at the Club and external stakeholders where required (AFL, sponsors, banks, government bodies).
• Oversee and guide the finance team with managing queries and requests from the wider Club and external stakeholders; ensuring a balance is maintained between effective business operations and adhering to process and policies.

Experience, Skills and Attributes

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Completed either a CPA or CA qualification.
• At least 5 years’ experience in finance and accounting related roles.
• Strong understanding of financial reporting standards, budget preparation, and cash flow management.
• Experience in managing a team (ideally 2+ years).
• Outstanding leadership capabilities – committed to team success as well as personal development.
• High level of integrity, attention to detail, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to present financial information to non-financial stakeholders.
• Proficiency in financial systems and Microsoft Excel.
• Experience within the AFL industry desirable but not required.
• Experience in financial management, ideally in a sport, not-for-profit, or entertainment environment.
• Demonstrates high ethical standards and honesty in all financial dealings, alongside maintaining confidentiality.
• Understands the broader business and commercial landscape of elite sport.
• Balances financial prudence with strategic opportunities for growth, sponsorship, and investment.
• Places value on collaboration, leading and supporting teams with empathy and working well with others.
• Demonstrates excellent relationship building capabilities and invests in productive working relationships that support organisational goals and a positive workplace culture.

Benefits and Culture

Carlton’s values underpin how the Club operates, describing how our people work together, interact and behave. The Club is passionate about its culture, focused on cultivating a unique sense of belonging and connection. In addition, we offer our people flexible working, learning and development opportunities, as well as employee benefits such as membership, café and retail discounts, alongside working in a world-class sporting amenity.

How to Apply

Please submit your current resume and cover letter addressed to the People, Culture and Inclusion Manager by Friday 24 October.

The Carlton Football Club is an equal opportunity employer and a place who welcomes all. We encourage people with diverse experiences and backgrounds to apply. This includes, but is not limited to, those from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse, and LGBTQIA+ communities. We are committed to fostering a workplace environment which is inclusive, safe, and flexible. All applicants will be considered based on the relevance of their abilities to the role and their alignment with our Club Values.

The Carlton Football Club is committed to providing a welcoming environment where the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people involved in our programs, services, activities, events, and the broader community, will always be our first priority. All staff must hold (or be willing to obtain) a current Victorian Working With Children Check as part of their employment with the Club.