About the Company 

SA Water is a successful, modern water utility wholly owned by the Government of South Australia. We employ more than 1,700 people across a broad range of disciplines who operate more than $14 billion worth of infrastructure to deliver essential water and sewerage services to more than 1.8 million South Australians.

We operate in a geographically and climatically diverse service area, with sites and locations from Ceduna through to Port Augusta, the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands, across to the Riverland, down to Mount Gambier, and most places in between.

Our strength and expertise have been shaped by our history. For more than 165 years, South Australians have depended on us to innovate and deliver efficient and sustainable water services. With nationally and internationally recognised industry expertise, we’re focused on understanding and meeting our customers’ expectations.

As well as safely delivering smart and reliable services for our customers of today, we innovate to shape the water solutions of the future that will support thriving economies and healthy communities.

We are driven by our values; we value our people, we do work that matters, we keep it real, we know that our work has impact and we are future focussed. Staying true to our values ensures that we consistently deliver positive outcomes for all South Australians.

About the job  

We are seeking a strategic, commercially astute leader to join SA Water as the Senior Manager Finance – a Director level role. This pivotal leadership role will see you drive enterprise-wide financial performance by delivering expert commercial and financial insights, fostering collaboration across business units, and ensuring alignment with SA Water’s corporate objectives.

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, you will lead a team of highly skilled finance professionals responsible for business partnering, planning, reporting and strategic investment analysis. You will play a key role in advising the Executive and Board, contributing to regulatory determinations, and embedding best practice financial management and commercial discipline across the business.

This max-term position is available for 3 years. 

About the Person

You will be a qualified finance professional (CA/CPA) with leadership experience in strategic finance, commercial advisory, and business partnering within complex environments. You bring a strong track record in delivering sound commercial and financial advice that is timely, relevant and practical in supporting the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Executive and Board in achieving strategic and operational objectives.

Your ability to lead high-performing teams, build trusted relationships across all levels of the business, and navigate regulatory and government frameworks will be key to your success. You will be known for your strategic thinking, strong communication skills, and continuous improvement mindset, enabling you to drive performance outcomes that create value across the organisation.

You embrace innovation, adapt quickly to change, and thrive in dynamic environments, making you a trusted leader in shaping a forward-thinking, commercially focused finance function.

About Business Insights and Excellence

The Business Insights and Excellence group drives operational excellence by enabling best business practices, economic pricing, supply chain management, and performance optimisation to support the broader business and partners in delivering reliable, cost-effective, sustainable, and future-focused outcomes.

In addition, your responsibilities will include: 

Fostering trust with our people, customers and community by providing expert advice and service that ensure we effectively communicate and engage audiences with our business strategy and its delivery across South Australia, every day. 

You will: 

• Lead and empower a team of Finance Managers and Analysts to deliver high-impact business partnering and strategic insights.
• Provide timely, relevant and practical financial advice to the CFO, Executive and Board.
• Oversee financial planning, budgeting and long-term forecasting processes.
• Drive best practice commercial evaluation of investments and projects.
• Embed a continuous improvement culture across finance functions and processes.
• Collaborate closely with key internal and external stakeholders, including DTF, ESCOSA and auditors.

Your success in this role will come from: 

• CA/CPA qualifications supported by tertiary studies in Economics, Commerce or Accounting.
• Proven leadership experience, with the ability to manage change and build high-performing teams in a constructive and collaborative manner.
• A strong track record in delivering strategic commercial and financial advice to senior stakeholders.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a strong customer focus and commitment to adding value across the business.
• Demonstrated experience driving continuous improvement through the development and implementation of streamlined financial systems and processes.
• Sound knowledge and experience in financial accounting, corporate tax compliance (including statutory reporting, GST, FBT), and a strong understanding of government financial policies.

Further information can be found in the attached Candidate Pack - Senior Manager Finance - Business Partnering.

To apply, click 'Apply'. Please submit and complete the application form, upload a cover letter and current resume. For enquiries, please contact Despina Livadiotis from the Talent Acquisition team despina.livadiotis@sawater.com.au.

Applications close 11:55pm, 28 May 2025.

A great customer experience is best achieved by having a diverse and inclusive team that reflects the community we serve. Applications are encouraged from everyone, including people living with disability, job seekers of all ages, members of the LGBTIQA+ community, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and people from culturally diverse backgrounds. 

Our Industry is like no other. Dive into the wonderful world of water and explore the boundless opportunities. Learn more about the water industry at careersinwater.com.au.

Please note: We request that recruitment agencies do not submit candidates for this position, as they will not be accepted.