Finance Director

Akcelo is an independent, award-winning creative agency founded in Sydney, Australia in 2019. In just over 6 years, our team has grown to 200 people globally, working collaboratively across Canada, the US, the UK, and Australia. As a brand-experience agency working on world-class creative campaigns, we connect creativity with experience design to solve business problems and unlock white-space opportunities for some of the world's most famous brands. Our integrated in-house capabilities span strategy, creative, design, content, technology, and activation.

We're looking for a Finance Director to own the integrity, timeliness and insight of Akcelo Group's financial reporting across our multi-entity, multi-currency structure. Leading a team of three finance staff, you'll run the month-end close and consolidation for our Australian entities (Sydney, Melbourne, Popula, Aura and Group), consolidate financial results from our Canadian and US operations, and oversee the UK entity's reporting, payroll and payables - providing the review-and-control layer over payroll, revenue recognition, tax and compliance, and intercompany activity.

What You'll Do

Financial Reporting, Month-End Close & Consolidation

• Run the month-end close cycle through preliminary, follow-up and final results, including completion of the monthly Flash report.
• Update and maintain the consolidated Profit & Loss and Balance Sheet at each stage of the close, and prepare accurate monthly, quarterly and annual financial statements.
• Consolidate financial results from the Canadian and US operations into Group reporting, including foreign currency translation and elimination entries.
• Work with the North America finance team as required to support consolidation and Group reporting.
• Perform P&L variance analysis at preliminary, follow-up and final results, and distribute summary P&L and management reports to Group leadership.
• Control period lock-down in Xero - lock the period for non-admin users at preliminary results and for all users at final results.

Budgeting & Forecasting

• Preparation of monthly accounts, quarterly QRF forecasts and annual budgets.
• Coordinate operating budgets across entities and analyse budget-to-actual variances.
• Prepare and maintain cash flow forecasts and revenue forecasts to support Group decision-making.

Commercial Partnering & Business Optimisation

• Prepare and present reporting packs as required for Akcelo management.
• Partner with the account service team to provide insights and advice on job management and optimisation.
• Review and recommend new client rate cards and assist with the review of client and supplier contracts.
• Manage the revenue tracking process.
• Provide budget advice on potential areas of savings and financial optimisation.
• Review freelancer requests and check against budgets, and provide advice on staffing and freelance needs.

Process & Technology Optimisation

• Ensure Akcelo’s financial processes are optimised using the latest technology, including AI — identifying and implementing automation and AI-driven improvements across finance workflows.

Revenue & Job Accounting

• Lead the monthly revenue recognition cycle: initial revenue review, issue queries to job owners, review responses, maintain change logs, and lock revenue for the period.

• Post the monthly revenue journal and reconcile revenue control accounts (802), and process the monthly COGS journal for external job costs (803).

• Maintain the job write-off log, review closed jobs and post profit/loss on external costs.
  

Payroll Oversight

• Review and approve the monthly full-time/fixed-term pay run (~175 staff), the fortnightly casual pay run (~40 staff) including new casual setups in Xero, and the weekly labour hire / super-only pay run (~10 staff).
• Review and approve superannuation payments, and oversee processing of salary sacrifice, novated lease and parental leave arrangements.
• Oversee payroll tax submissions for the Sydney, Melbourne, Popula and Group entities, and post the monthly payroll tax accrual.
• Prepare annual wage declarations for WorkCover / workers compensation in NSW, Victoria and Queensland.

Tax, Compliance & Insurance

• Oversee BAS submissions for the Sydney, Melbourne, Popula, Aura and Group entities.
• Prepare the annual Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) return.
• Review and prepare the Group's annual insurance renewals, including public liability, professional indemnity, and workers insurance for the Sydney and Melbourne entities.
• Liaise with Akcelo’s advisors at Daley’s (Akcelo’s chartered accountants) on tax and accounting matters.

Intercompany & Group Accounting

• Reconcile all intercompany accounts across Australian and international entities (including Canada, USA and London recharges to Australia).
• Process the monthly Group recharge and periodic event recharges across entities.

Balance Sheet, Treasury & Other Accounting

• Post the monthly prepayments journal and review and establish cost accruals (casual staff, freelancers, recruitment and other costs).
• Comply with all deliverables required under the Treasury Policy.

UK Entity Oversight

• Oversee UK month-end reporting and regulatory compliance.
• Review UK payroll and tax in conjunction with the external accounting provider.
• Approve weekly UK payments and review the payables ledger, and oversee UK client billing.

Team Leadership

• Lead, manage and develop three finance staff, including setting priorities, reviewing work quality, managing workload across the month-end calendar, and building capability and succession within the team.
• Provide the review-and-approval control layer over work prepared by the finance team, including bank and credit card reconciliations, accounts payable, expenses and payroll processing.

To Be in the Running, You'll Bring

• CA or CPA qualification with a relevant degree in accounting, finance or commerce.
• Demonstrated experience leading a finance function within an agency environment, with a strong understanding of how creative campaigns are developed and delivered - ideally including fast-moving cultural, sport, entertainment or experiential work.
• Significant post-qualification experience in senior finance roles, including multi-entity and multi-currency consolidation (North American and/or UK exposure highly regarded).
• Strong technical accounting skills across revenue recognition, accruals, intercompany, payroll and Australian tax compliance (BAS, FBT, payroll tax, superannuation, workers compensation).
• Confidence preparing and presenting forecasts, commercial plans and financial results - you articulate ideas with clarity and impact.
• The ability to inspire, motivate and develop people at all levels — natural leadership qualities and a genuine desire to elevate those around you, backed by proven experience managing, reviewing and developing a small finance team.
• Entrepreneurial flair - always searching for “what's next” and spotting opportunities others miss, with a passion for new ideas, innovation, culture and modern brand experience.
• A positive, solution-focused mindset even when things move at pace, with high attention to detail, sound judgement on controls and approvals, and the ability to manage a demanding month-end calendar to deadline.
• A love for collaboration - you're team-first by nature, and you champion your people.
• A willingness to grow with and alongside a rapidly expanding business, and an appreciation for the role sport, entertainment and culture play in shaping impactful brand work.
• Hands-on proficiency with Xero; experience with job/project management systems (e.g. Productive) and HRIS platforms is an advantage.

Ready to Join Us?

With perks like Flex Fridays, gym memberships, free breakfast, regular social events and more, we're a team that works hard, moves fast and enjoys the ride. If you're excited by the fusion of creativity, culture, sport, entertainment and brand experience - and you're ready to help shape what comes next for some of Australia's most ambitious brands - hit the apply button now!

Akcelo is committed to nurturing, creating and building a diverse environment. We welcome applications from all walks of life, backgrounds and abilities.