Senior Financial Accountant

Full job description
Job Title
Senior Financial Accountant
Job Description
WEHI is transforming how our professional services empower and enable scientists to deliver world‑leading medical research now and into the future. Following a holistic review and redesign across our professional services portfolios, we are now focused on strengthening our critical capabilities, aligning our structures and systems with strategic priorities, and empowering our people to do what they do best.
We are now recruiting a variety of newly established positions to help shape and embed these new ways of working.
We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Financial Accountant to join the Finance Department at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI), Australia's pre-eminent biomedical research institute. Come and join us and help support our researchers as they solve some of the most complex health problems, making transformative discoveries for cancer, infectious and immune diseases, developmental disorders and healthy ageing.
About the position
The Senior Financial Accountant (SFA) is a key member of the finance team, providing expert financial and technical accounting advice across WEHI. The role is accountable for the accuracy, integrity and timeliness of financial reporting, with a strong focus on technical accounting such as investment accounting, fair value and Impairment assessments, trust and subsidiary reporting and group consolidation.
Key Responsibilities
As the Senior Financial Accountant, you will be responsible for:
Supporting the Financial Controller in delivering all financial operations and accounting obligations for the Institute.
Lead consolidated financial reporting and ensure compliance with AASB and other applicable standards.
Manage month-end and year-end close, including journals, consolidations, and reconciliations.
Act as primary audit liaison, resolving technical accounting matters.
Provide technical accounting expertise, including policy development and implementation of new standards.
Ensure compliance with ACNC, ASIC, and other statutory requirements.
Oversee investment accounting, reporting, and performance analysis.
Support management reporting, variance analysis, and executive insights.
Lead and mentor finance team members, supporting delivery and capability development.
Manage taxation obligations (GST, FBT, income tax where applicable).
Drive continuous improvement in financial systems, processes, and controls.
Build and manage key internal and external stakeholder relationships.
Deliver ad-hoc financial analysis, projects, and strategic support.
About You
You are a curious, experienced Senior Financial Accountant, perhaps with an interest in science and health. You love diving into technical accounting issues, developing pragmatic solutions, implementing process improvement and simplification opportunities and have excellent attention to detail balanced with a great sense of materiality. You are highly organised and enjoy utilising new technologies to drive engagement and efficiencies. You enjoy developing relationships, love helping teams to be effective and fun to be part of and have a great way of communicating accounting issues and outcomes to non-accountants in a simple but effective way.
Terms of Appointment
This position is an ongoing role in a full time capacity. Salary is Professional Services Employee Level 8 ($118,099 - $127,828). Very attractive salary packaging options are available for general living expenses, meal entertainment, novated leasing and more. 12% superannuation payable, plus up to a further 5% after the first 6 months of service via our matching superannuation scheme.
General enquiries can be directed to Pauline Mooney -
[email protected]
A position description is available
here
.
How to Apply
Please apply by uploading your CV, cover letter and a document addressing the Key Selection Criteria (refer to position description) in pdf format.
Application Closing Date: Tuesday 28 April 2026