Head of Finance

The Role

We are looking for an experienced Head of Finance to own IvyStreet’s finances end to end. You will run the day-to-day finance function, including payroll, and be the leadership team’s strategic finance partner on profitability, cash flow, pricing and growth.

Beyond keeping the numbers accurate and compliant, you will look ahead. You will review our performance, forecast what’s coming and spot the patterns and trends that define how we make profit, where we lose it and where we can work more efficiently. You will then turn those insights into clear recommendations the leadership team can act on.

This is a hands-on role in a small team and would suit a Finance Manager ready for the next step up. You will do the work yourself as well as shape how finance runs across the agency. You will work primarily in Pegasus (our industry-specific quoting, invoicing and financial management platform) and Employment Hero for payroll and HR, and work with our external accounting partner, Davidsons Accountants.

About IvyStreet

IvyStreet is a Geelong based creative, marketing and digital agency with a clear purpose, we help businesses grow with care. We partner businesses across Australia to deliver creative, marketing and digital services with our quality people, delivering quality work with quality results.

The IvyStreet team is made up of curious, purposeful, empathetic and collaborative people who care deeply about the work we create and the clients we work with. We are commercially minded, and proud of the culture we have created.

We run on EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System), which creates a structured approach to everything we do with a clear vision and set of accountabilities across every role and metric. If you thrive in an environment where expectations are clear, contribution is visible and improvement is constant, you will fit right in.

Key Responsibilities

1. Financial Operations & Cash Flow

• Own and maintain IvyStreet’s financial data in Pegasus as the single source of truth.
• Manage accounts payable and receivable, including client invoicing, retainer billing and supplier payments.
• Prepare supplier and payroll payments.
• Monitor debtor days and run credit control, actively following up outstanding invoices to keep cash coming in on time.
• Reconcile all bank accounts, credit cards, loan and hire purchase facilities, and manage company cards and expense claims.
• Track work in progress (WIP) and reconcile job costs against time and budgets, so every job is invoiced in full and on time.
• Support the Client Service team with new client onboarding, domain and hosting renewals.

2. Payroll & People Costs

• Run fortnightly payroll through Employment Hero accurately and on time, with full compliance.
• Facilitate Single Touch Payroll, PAYGW and superannuation (SGC) payments and lodgements in line with current requirements.
• Apply the correct award, contract and National Employment Standards entitlements, and maintain leave balances and employee records.
• Monitor timesheets and manage onboarding and offboarding payroll steps, including final pays and termination payments when required.
• Manage payroll tax and WorkCover obligations where applicable.

3. Compliance, Reporting & Financial Control

• Lead the month-end close and deliver monthly reports (P&L, balance sheet and cash flow) to the leadership team within agreed timeframes.
• Prepare and lodge BAS, IAS, GST and PAYG obligations, and ensure ongoing ATO and State Revenue Office compliance.
• Coordinate FBT, end-of-financial-year processes, financial statements and tax returns with Davidsons Accountants.
• Design and maintain sound internal controls, approval processes and finance policies
• Manage insurance renewals and records, finance-related contracts, tech stack subscriptions and statutory records.

4. Strategic Planning, Forecasting & Analysis

• Build and own the annual budget, aligned to the EOS 1-Year Plan and quarterly Rocks.
• Maintain rolling forecasts and a 13-week cash flow forecast, and flag shortfalls and surpluses early.
• Review financial and operational data to identify patterns and trends, including revenue mix, seasonality, client concentration, retainer versus project work and cost drivers.
• Use those trends to predict likely outcomes and present clear, actionable recommendations to the Managing Director and Executive team.
• Assist in modelling scenarios for hiring investment, new services, new markets and growth plans before decisions are made.
• Manage banking relationships and funding facilities.

5. Profitability, Pricing & Efficiency

• Report on job, client and service-line profitability, and recommend actions that improve margin.
• Track and report on utilisation, recovery, over-servicing and write-offs, and work with team leads to fix the root causes.
• Advise on pricing, rate cards, retainers and proposal costings so new work is quoted profitably.
• Own the finance tech stack (Pegasus, Employment Hero) and its integrations, embedding Pegasus as the central financial system.
• Automate and streamline finance processes to reduce manual work, errors and double handling.
• Build simple dashboards that give the leadership team and team leads visibility of the numbers that matter.

The Ideal Candidate

To be considered for this role, you must bring:

• 7+ years in finance, including time running the full finance function in a small or medium business
• Hands-on experience processing Australian payroll, STP and superannuation (Employment Hero experience a bonus).
• Strong working knowledge of GST, BAS, PAYG, SGC, ATO compliance and Australian employment entitlements.
• Proven experience building budgets, forecasts and cash flow models, and using data to identify trends and recommend action.
• Demonstrated proficiency with industry-specific financial or agency management platforms (Pegasus Edge or similar highly regarded).
• Advanced Excel or Google Sheets skills and confidence with cloud-based tools.
• The ability to explain financial information clearly to non-finance people.
• High attention to detail, discretion and integrity with sensitive financial and employee information.
• A proactive, self-directed work style. You don’t wait to be told what needs doing

Desirable but not critical:

• CA, CPA or a degree in accounting, finance or commerce
• Experience in a creative agency, consultancy or other professional services business
• Knowledge of project-based accounting, WIP, job costing, utilisation and recovery
• Experience improving or automating finance processes and building dashboards

WHY IVYSTREET?

Why IvyStreet

• Real ownership. A senior role with direct influence on the agency’s direction and profitability.
• Flexible work arrangement. Hybrid working with 3 office days, and 0.8 FTE considered for the right person.
• Clear structure & expectations. We run on EOS, so priorities are clear and your contribution is recognised.
• A team that values you. We are curious, purposeful, empathetic, collaborative and genuinely supportive of each other.
• Variety. Exposure to a wide range of clients, brands and work.
• Competitive salary. $90,000–$105,000 + super, determined by your experience and qualifications.

IMPORTANT — PLEASE READ BEFORE APPLYING

Important - Please Read Before Applying

We are committed to finding the right fit. To be considered, your application must clearly demonstrate:

• Experience running the full finance function in a small or medium business
• Practical experience with payroll compliance (STP, BAS, SGC)
• Experience with budgeting, forecasting and financial analysis

Applications that do not meet these requirements will not progress. We appreciate your understanding.

A National Police Check will be required prior to commencement for the successful candidate.

HOW TO APPLY

To Apply

If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you. Please submit:

• Your CV (no more than 3 pages)
• A brief cover letter (no more than one page) telling us how you have improved the financial health of a business, the platforms you have used, and why you are drawn to IvyStreet.

Send your application to saya.jones@ivystreet.com.au by 27 November 2026, or apply via this job ad.

IvyStreet is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds.