What Does a Finance Manager Do? Career Pathways and Jobs in Australia

Finance Manager Careers in Australia: Skills, Salaries & Industry Insights

Lead financial strategy, drive business performance, and support sustainable growth.

Finance Managers play a vital role in overseeing financial operations, guiding business decisions, and ensuring compliance with accounting and reporting standards. They act as strategic partners to senior leadership, providing insights that improve profitability, efficiency, and long-term stability.

At Fuse Recruitment, we partner with businesses across industries to connect Finance Managers with opportunities that combine commercial impact and professional challenge. Whether you specialise in corporate finance, management reporting, or business analysis, we’ll help you find a role that aligns with your expertise and goals.

What Does a Finance Manager Do?

Finance Managers oversee financial planning, reporting, and control processes to support an organisation’s strategic and operational objectives.

Typical responsibilities include:

• Managing monthly and annual reporting, budgeting, and forecasting
• Providing financial analysis and insights to support business decisions
• Leading accounting teams and overseeing general ledger, AP, and AR functions
• Ensuring compliance with taxation, audit, and regulatory requirements
• Driving process improvements and financial system enhancements
• Monitoring cash flow, risk exposure, and capital allocation
• Collaborating with department heads and executives on commercial strategy
• Supporting mergers, acquisitions, and project investment assessments

Finance Managers often act as the link between accounting operations and executive management, ensuring accuracy and accountability across all financial activity.

Common Work Environments

Finance Managers are employed across virtually all sectors, including:

• Corporate and professional services – managing financial performance and compliance
• Manufacturing and supply chain – overseeing cost control, inventory, and reporting systems
• Insurance and financial services – supporting regulatory reporting and portfolio management
• Technology and start-ups – implementing scalable financial frameworks and analytics
• Public sector and education – ensuring accountability and stewardship of public funds

They may manage small in-house finance teams or lead multi-site finance departments within larger organisations.

Finance Manager Salaries in Australia

Based on current Australian salary insights and government labour market data, Finance Managers typically earn between $120,000 and $170,000 per year, depending on organisation size, sector, and experience.

Organisations in financial services and large-scale manufacturing often offer higher salaries, bonuses, and additional incentives such as equity participation.

Employment Outlook and Industry Demand

Finance professionals remain in high demand across Australia, particularly in growth and transformation-focused industries.

Key demand drivers include:

• Economic recovery and expansion – demand for financial control, analysis, and scenario planning
• Automation and digital transformation – finance teams are adopting AI-driven forecasting and data analytics
• Increased regulatory and reporting requirements – particularly within financial services and government sectors
• Strategic business partnership – Finance Managers now serve as key advisers to non-financial leaders
• Sustainability and ESG reporting – growing need for finance expertise in environmental and governance disclosure
• Finance Managers who combine technical accuracy with commercial insight are among the most sought-after professionals in today’s market.

Skills and Qualifications

Finance Managers require both accounting expertise and leadership capability.

Common qualifications include:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Commerce
• CA or CPA qualification (essential for most roles)
• Postgraduate qualification (MBA, Master of Finance) (advantageous)
• Proficiency in ERP and reporting software (e.g. SAP, Oracle, Xero, Power BI)

Key skills and attributes:

• Financial analysis and management reporting
• Budgeting, forecasting, and strategic planning
• Leadership and stakeholder management
• Compliance and regulatory knowledge
• Commercial acumen and business partnering
• Continuous improvement and systems optimisation

Career Progression and Pathways

The Finance Manager role offers clear progression opportunities within both finance and broader business leadership.

Typical pathways include:

• Senior Accountant / Financial Analyst – building technical foundations
• Finance Manager – leading reporting, budgeting, and team functions
• Financial Controller / Head of Finance – managing full financial operations and compliance
• Chief Financial Officer (CFO) – overseeing corporate finance and strategic growth

Some professionals diversify into consulting, operations, or general management roles.

Industry Insights: The Future of Financial Leadership

Data-Driven Decision Making
Finance teams are increasingly using real-time analytics to guide investment and strategy, positioning Finance Managers as commercial partners rather than back-office functions.

Automation and Efficiency
Automation tools are reducing manual processes, allowing leaders to focus on analysis, forecasting, and scenario modelling.

ESG and Integrated Reporting
Finance Managers are contributing to sustainability and ESG frameworks, bridging the gap between financial and non-financial performance metrics.

Key Industries and Clients We Work With

Fuse Recruitment partners with employers across Australia’s corporate and industrial sectors, including:

• Manufacturing and logistics
• Financial services and insurance
• Energy and infrastructure
• Technology and transformation
• Public sector and professional services

We help connect finance professionals with organisations where their insight and leadership create lasting value.

Strengthening Financial Leadership in a Growing Business

Fuse Recruitment partnered with a national manufacturing client seeking a Finance Manager to support expansion across multiple sites.

The role required a candidate skilled in budgeting, cost control, and stakeholder reporting. Fuse sourced and placed an experienced CPA-qualified Finance Manager with strong commercial insight.

Within six months, the new hire delivered measurable improvements in reporting accuracy and operational transparency, supporting the business’s long-term growth objectives.

Why Work With Fuse Recruitment

At Fuse Recruitment, we understand that finance leadership underpins every successful organisation. Our Corporate Services recruitment specialists connect finance professionals with employers who value integrity, analysis, and impact.

We provide:

• Access to permanent and contract finance leadership roles across Australia
• Opportunities across manufacturing, financial services, and government sectors
• Market insights into salary trends, technology adoption, and leadership pathways
• Recruitment solutions for qualified accountants, finance leaders, and executive roles

We help connect the people behind the numbers with the organisations that need them most.

Explore Related Corporate Roles

Explore more opportunities in our Corporate Services discipline:

• HR Business Partner Jobs
• Marketing Manager Jobs
• Financial Accountant Jobs
• Payroll Manager Jobs
• Chief Financial Officer Jobs

FAQs About Finance Manager Careers in Australia

Are Finance Managers in demand?
Yes, experienced Finance Managers are in high demand across all sectors, particularly those with strong analytical and leadership skills.

What qualifications do I need?
A degree in accounting or finance and a CA or CPA qualification are typically required.

What’s the average salary for a Finance Manager?
Most earn between $120,000 and $170,000 per year, depending on sector and experience.

Is this role more strategic or operational?
Both. Finance Managers oversee reporting and compliance while providing commercial insights to drive strategy.

What’s next after being a Finance Manager?
Common pathways include Financial Controller, Head of Finance, or Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

Finance Manager Jobs

Ready to advance your finance career? Explore Finance Manager Jobs with Fuse Recruitment to find opportunities across Australia’s leading organisations.

We’ll help you connect with employers who value integrity, accuracy, and business partnership.

Looking to Hire Finance Professionals?

If your organisation is seeking an experienced Finance Manager, Fuse Recruitment can help.

Our Corporate Services recruitment team connects employers with finance leaders who bring strategic insight, technical excellence, and commercial acumen.

Contact Fuse Recruitment to discuss your workforce needs. We’ll deliver tailored recruitment solutions that strengthen your financial capability.