Commercial Finance Manager

L.E.K. is a global strategy consulting firm with offices across Europe, the Americas and Asia-Pacific. We counsel our clients on their key strategic issues, leveraging our deep industry expertise and using analytical rigor to help them make informed decisions more quickly and solve their toughest and most critical business problems.  L.E.K has 21 offices around the globe with approximately 2000 staff. In Australia, our offices are based in Sydney and Melbourne with approximately 140 staff and 19 Partners.

L.E.K. has been recognised by the Australian Financial Review as one of the Best Places to Work within Professional Services for 2022. Our focus on creating a meaningful and impactful employee experience has contributed to L.E.K. being a genuinely great place to work.

When you join L.E.K., you’ll enjoy all the benefits of a large, multinational organisation along with the advantages of being part of a close team working in an approachable, collaborative and supportive environment. You’ll be surrounded by highly motivated, high-achieving professionals who strive to have a transformational impact every day.

Job Summary

Reporting the APAC Finance Director, the Commercial Finance Manager will operate as a strategic leader, finance specialist and senior business partner for the Australian business.  The Commercial Finance Manager will be a senior member of the APAC finance team as well as a key member of the Australian Operations Leadership team, working in close partnership with the Country Managing Partner (CMP), Office Heads (OH) and other Function Heads (FHs), focusing on driving sustainable growth through the delivery of the regional financial and operations strategy. 

The successful candidate will have over 10 years of experience and a strong track-record of operating as a trusted business partner within a partnership model in the professional services sector.

Key deliverables:

Business Partnering/Relationship management:  Work in collaboration with Partners to understand their long-term growth aspirations and support them with the development of their medium-term plans and annual business plan.

• modelling and planning support (e.g. for partner hires),
• analysis of Partner and business performance, support in developing more complex pricing models, compensation changes
• modelling for new investment initiatives

Growth: The Australian business is aiming to double in size to approximately 25 partners and 250 staff in the next 5 years. This will likely include a transition towards a matrix model (regional and sector).

Management and Leadership: The individual will need to be fully involved in the day-to-day running of the business as well as maintain a focus on the medium to long-term financial and business targets. This is particularly important in a professional services business model where consulting leaders continue to focus on their client-facing activities.

Effective leadership of the Australian finance team, focused on building a high-performing team.

Financial / Business Planning: Lead the regional financial planning processes (budget, forecast, scenario planning) in collaboration with the CMP, OHs, Partner Group and FHs. Ensure the financial targets and trajectory align with the long-term group and regional business plans.

Commercial decision making: Provide commercial finance support to build the medium- and long-term pricing and capacity strategies and their accompanying KPIs.

Performance Management / commercial finance support: Provide performance data and insight to the CMP and OHs on key risks and opportunities vs short- and long-term targets and KPIs. This will include financial and non-financial KPIs that are driven from finance systems (e.g. pricing, revenue split, case profitability, utilization, working capital management).

Act as a member of the Remuneration Committee and be point on Partner economic issues.

Financial Control: In conjunction with the Group Financial Controller, and APAC Finance Director, agree on what financial control responsibilities remain in region (where local language skills and time zones are important) and which are transferred to the finance transaction hub in India.

Tax management: Work in conjunction with the Group Tax Director to supply relevant information for the preparation of corporate and Partner tax returns.

Diversity and inclusion at L.E.K.:

L.E.K. Consulting is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We appreciate the value of a diverse and inclusive workforce and are committed to a culture that is inclusive and accepting of all people. Above all, we are committed to ensuring that all employees are treated with respect and dignity.

We have several affinity groups to support and enrich our employees, including Pride@LEK, Mosaic@LEK and Women@LEK. In addition, our Diversity and Inclusion committee celebrate events throughout the year with a focus on awareness and education.

L.E.K. acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the traditional custodians of the land upon which we operate. We pay our respects to the Elders of the past, present and future and acknowledge their spiritual connection to Country.

To apply for this role, you must have Australian / New Zealand citizenship or Australian Permanent Residency.