About Keolis Downer

The G:link is operated and maintained by Keolis Downer Gold Coast (KD). Keolis Downer is a leading private provider of multi-modal public transport in Australia, and is a joint venture between Keolis, one of the world’s largest public transport operators, and Australian services firm, Downer.

Some of our Benefits

• 12% Superannuation;
• Salary Packaging (including salary sacrificing additional superannuation and novated car leasing);
• Education and learning opportunities;
• Employee Assistance Program (for employees and immediate family);
• Reward & Recognition (including years of service, employee of the year, birthday celebrations);
• Health & Wellness Programs (including team challenges, Fitness Passport);
• Flexible work options (including Paid Parental and Adoptive Leave).

Our Culture

What makes working with us so special is our culture, one that embraces our KD core values (We Care, We Imagine, We Commit) and shared commitment to the development of high performing natural leaders within the organisation. We are proud to recruit, train and retain the most talented professionals on the Gold Coast, who share our customer (Think Like a Passenger) and safety focused (Zero Harm) approach. Our staff are at the core of what we do, and by cultivating the right environment and values, we have an engaged workforce with a sense of team spirit throughout the Company.

About the Role

The Head of Finance and Commercial is a key member of the senior leadership team, responsible for overseeing all financial and commercial aspects of the organisation. This role ensures the organisation’s financial health, drives commercial performance, supports strategic decision-making, and ensures compliance with statutory obligations and financial reporting requirements.

Direct Reporting to

General Manager, Keolis Downer Gold Coast

Position Responsibilities

Stakeholder Relationships and Commercial Support

• Business Partnership: be a sought-after advisor to the management team, implement cost effective governance, determining resource levels and allocations required to achieve objectives, develop and cost up negotiating strategies with GoldLinQ and TransLink.
• Stakeholder Management: managing the contractually driven interaction between KDR, GoldlinQ and TransLink is complex. Profitability is dependent on maintaining concessions and working relationship achieved to date.
• Direct and coordinate financial analysis, so as to optimise the whole-contract return to shareholders and drive continuous improvement

Strategic Leadership

• Provide strategic financial and commercial advice to the CEO and Board.
• Develop and execute financial strategies that support organisational growth.
• Drive commercial outcomes through financial analysis, risk management, and value optimisation.

Financial Management

• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning processes.
• Manage financial reporting, including monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements.
• Ensure compliance with accounting standards, tax regulations, and audit requirements.
• Monitor financial performance and implement corrective actions as needed.

Commercial Operations

• Lead commercial negotiations, contract management, and pricing strategies.
• Identify and evaluate new business opportunities, partnerships, and investments.
• Oversee procurement and supplier relationship management.
• Develop business cases and financial models to support commercial initiatives.

Risk and Governance

• Implement and maintain robust financial controls and governance frameworks.
• Monitor and manage financial and commercial risks.
• Ensure insurance, legal, and contractual obligations are met.

IT

• Development of IT strategy to support the business and implementation of a service orientated IT culture
• Respond to the information requirements of stakeholders including shareholders, consortium, employee representative bodies, State and Regulators
• Manage the information systems and associated service providers
• CIO level IT management skills: to understand the complexity of the IT systems, resolve gaps in the original bid/design, implement the contractual system requirements and then improve reporting and productivity

Team Leadership

• Lead and develop the Finance and Commercial team to deliver high performance.
• Promote a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and financial discipline.
• Foster strong cross-functional collaboration across departments.

Competencies Required

• Work as a Rail Safety Worker Category 4 (non-safety critical worker)
• Essential Qualifications: Degree qualified in Economics / Commerce / Business Management
• Preferred: Post Graduate Qualifications in Finance/Business
• Member of Society of CPA’s Australia (CPA) or Chartered Accountants Australian and New Zealand (CA) (or recognised affiliates)

Profile Requirements

• Experience in a Senior Financial Management role, ideally in operations and/or maintenance environment
• Experience in managing and delivering IT requirements for the business
• Corporate governance and experience in reporting to an independent Board with shared accountability for the quality of all Board papers
• Ability to manage the finance team while creating a supportive team environment
• Experience managing in a safety culture (with an obligation to prove operations are safe)
• Experience managing risk management, contract review, and insurance (understand the risk transfer interaction between these)
• Able to complete business modelling of financial and non-financial data to provide a holistic view on operational performance.
• Demonstrated ability to build close working relationships with Corporate/Senior Management
• Contract management and standard cost management experience
• Corporate Financial and Legal Risk Assessment experience with ability to identify and weight various options and develop negotiating options.