Own the numbers. Shape the future.

EDLA Group is a privately-owned, fast-moving business with ambitions that stretch well beyond the balance sheet. With operations spanning oil, gas and mining services, short-stay accommodation, commercial property, and primary production, we’re growing a multi-entity enterprise with both legacy and leverage in mind.

We’re now bringing our finance function in-house, and looking for a Group Financial Controller who’s ready to do far more than maintain the status quo. You’ll be a relational operator and partner to the CEO, a system builder, and a context-aware decision-maker that genuinely thrives on turning complexity into clarity that drives business growth.

This is a fractional senior role (~24 hours/week), with plenty of flexibility; work around school hours, opt for a 4-day rhythm, or make the most of quieter periods with proactive planning. We care less about when you’re working, and more about the precision, foresight and performance you bring. In return, you’ll help shape a group that’s big enough to deliver, small enough to care, and ambitious enough to keep evolving.

Why this might be your kind of opportunity:

📊 A true seat at the table: This isn’t just a “reporting to” opportunity, you’ll be side-by-side with the CEO. You’ll help interpret where the business has been, what’s happening now, and where we’re heading - across multiple entities and markets. If the thought of driving clarity and confidence at the leadership level energises (not overwhelms) then read on!

🛠 Build and lead the finance function: You’ll be laying the foundations for the next phase of growth. No tangled legacy systems or clunky handovers - just the chance to set up scalable, smart processes from the ground up. You’ll take what’s working and make it exceptional, choosing tools and building systems that match the unique needs of each entity and the group as a whole.

🔍 Own the context, not just the compliance: You know there’s more than one “right” answer in finance - and you’ve got the experience to interpret which one fits best. Accuracy and precision are a given, but what sets you apart is your ability to read the play: navigating seasonal shifts, uneven cash flow, and modelling for acquisition, risk or reinvestment. You bring more than clean numbers - you inject context, timing, and the commercial instinct to guide decisions that propel the business forward.

🤝 A trusted, relational leader: This is as much a people role as it is a numbers one. You’ll be a sounding board to the CEO, a bridge across the team, and someone who builds trust through both calm confidence, active listening, creative problem solving and commercial nous. You don’t need to be the loudest voice - but your presence will be felt in every smart decision.

⚡ Flex built on performance and trust: Work how you work best — we trust you to deliver. Whether you’re shifting hours during school holidays or batching deep work around strategic deadlines, you’ll have the autonomy to flex - backed by a shared expectation of excellence.

🚜 Commercially fluent: You get what every dollar really means in a founder-led business - how each decision flows through to people, operations, and the long game. Whether your experience comes from construction, agriculture, mining, or somewhere else entirely, you understand the realities of complex, cyclical businesses - where pipeline swings, long lead times, and sporadic cash flow aren’t edge cases, they’re everyday. You know how to model that, plan for it, and make smart calls in context.

💡 Entrepreneurial at our core: We don’t default to how it’s always been done. We back fit-for-purpose solutions - and that mindset carries through everything we do. You’ll be encouraged to bring fresh ideas, spot opportunities others miss, and shape smarter ways of working across the group. If you thrive on the opportunity to build and do things better - not just repeat what’s come before - you’ll feel right at home here.

What your week might look like:

Strategic Financial Leadership (40%)
Lead group budgeting, forecasting, cash flow planning, and commercial modelling. Guide capital allocation, manage debt, track and optimise accounts receivable, and forecast for risk and opportunity across each business. You’ll provide clear, forward-facing insights that empower the CEO to make big calls with confidence - and help surface smarter paths to profit and sustainability.

Systems & Process Improvement (30%)
Design a finance function that runs like clockwork. Choose and implement the right tools (Xero and add-ons), build dashboards and templates, and standardise processes across business units. You’ll make reporting easier, compliance tighter, and strategic visibility sharper - enabling the whole business to operate at its best.

Operational Finance & Compliance (30%)
Keep the foundations strong - from payroll and BAS to insurance, asset registers, and internal controls. Ensure smooth day-to-day operations while mentoring junior staff and building team capability. You’ll proactively support ad hoc needs like pricing models, due diligence, or grant and capital strategies.

The kind of person who’ll thrive here:

Experienced and hands-on
CA or CPA qualified, with 10+ years’ experience under your belt - ideally in environments where strategy and execution go hand in hand. You’ve led finance in growing businesses and understand what leadership looks like when you’re not surrounded by departments and layers.

Lateral thinker with commercial instincts
You don’t just report on the numbers - you ask the questions behind them. You understand how finance informs business direction, can anticipate what’s coming before the spreadsheet says so, and leverage this insight for smarter decisions and performance outcomes.

Relational operator
You’re someone the CEO can count on - not just to deliver, but to think alongside them. You carry weight well, read the room, and help keep things steady when the pressure’s on. You know that being a trusted partner is about more than accuracy - it’s about judgment, clarity, and character.

Fixer and system builder
You get a boost of satisfaction from turning moving parts into smooth systems - whether that’s building dashboards or overhauling how reporting flows. You’re tech-comfy and relentlessly curious about better ways of working.

Commercially fluent
You see the story behind the numbers - and use it to spot (and maximise) opportunities others miss. You anticipate what the CEO needs before they ask - from modelling cash flow against real-world constraints, to weighing the financial impact of hiring, timing, or debt. You apply your commercial lens to the mechanics of running the business; bringing practical, grounded judgement that makes you a true right hand - steady, strategic, and always adding value.

Bonus points if you:

Have worked in a founder-led, privately-owned business where agility and outcomes are balanced with thoughtful systems - and where understanding how multiple entities interact financially is part of the job.

Are a Registered BAS Agent, Tax Agent and/or have experience in multi-entity group accounting.

Understand the seasonal or cyclical rhythms of primary industries

Have experience navigating capital acquisition, grants, or pricing strategies

Sound like you?

This is a rare role for someone who’s excited by complexity, inspired by opportunity, and ready to grow with a business that’s local.

Location: On-site in Edinburgh, SA
Hours: ~24 hours/week across 3 - 5 days (flexible)
Start: Ideally Sept–Oct 2025

About EDLA Group

EDLA Group is a privately-owned, founder-led family business based in Edinburgh, South Australia. Built on decades of experience in oil and gas services, short-stay accommodation, commercial property, and primary production, the group combines the scale of multi-million-dollar operations with the agility and relational dynamics of a close-knit team.

What sets EDLA apart is its belief in practical entrepreneurship - building long-term businesses grounded in trust, flexibility, and high standards of performance. As the group evolves, it values financial clarity, strategic foresight, and systems that empower growth without compromising life balance.

How to Apply

Please apply via EDLA Group (www.edlagroup.com/jobs). Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

When you apply, include:

Your CV — outlining your qualifications, transferrable skills and aligned experience.

A brief cover letter (max 2 pages) that covers:

How you meet the key criteria outlined in this listing.

A specific example of a time you’ve navigated a complex financial decision in a multi-entity or high-growth environment - explain the context, what you did, the results and what you learned from this.

This is your chance to show us not just what you’ve done, but how you think and operate.