Director | Finance & Corporate Advisory | Education Consulting

Location: Melbourne 

Contract Type: Permanent 
 

MinterEllison is one of Australia’s largest law firms, with nearly 200 years of business history.  We're known for our legal and consulting expertise - and for our inclusive and authentic character.

Our purpose is to create sustainable value with our clients, people and communities.  That means we have a proud history of providing excellence to clients, nurturing our people and giving back to the communities in which we live and work.

We value excellence, curiosity and collaboration.  Clients rely on us for our responsive, commercial approach.  Our clients include government departments and agencies, private and publicly listed companies, and small and large businesses in Australia and overseas.  

MinterEllison's Consulting Services are leading strategic advisors ready to design, develop and operationalise with clients.  Businesses need integrated capabilities to solve complex organisational problems.  At MinterEllison, we've brought together an unmatched team of experts under one roof with deep industry knowledge and commercial experience who are focused on designing, developing and operationalising solutions in the service areas of Technology, Cyber Security, Risk & Regulatory, Legal Optimisation, Education and ESG.  

What you can expect from this opportunity

As we deliver on our 2025 Strategy, our Education Consulting team is continuing to enjoy an exciting period of growth, particularly across strategy and business planning, mergers & acquisitions, regulation and risk, seeing us create excellent opportunities to join the team to play a leading role in growing our strategy, M&A and regulatory service streams, and across our sector-wide client base.

Having built a strong market presence and currently delivering projects across a range of universities, institutes and investors, you will have the opportunity to help secure and deliver projects, with a focus on strategy and growth, financial modelling and evaluation, market transactions and regulatory advice relating to financial, markets and structures. Our clients are in a period of dynamic change with increased focus on ensuring investment opportunities are critically assessed to add value and continue to support strong educational and research outcomes.

You will lead, with partner supervision, the preparation of financial models of education businesses, analysis of financial statements, preparation of business plans, business cases, investment cases, financial viability reports, and reports required in mergers and acquisition deals. You will be our lead financial analyst and a core part of our strategy and M&A service lines. You will become a sector expert and work across a wide range of projects.

More About You

You will be an experienced CA/CPA qualified financial analyst / management consultant, with extensive experience in analysing and advising on businesses in their markets, including advising in M&A transactions on both buy and sell side. You will have significant experience in formulating and delivering corporate and business strategy advice, and preferably be MBA (or equivalent) qualified. While strong in your communication in front of clients, you will also have first class skills at preparing written advice and reports, across a range of formats, and having those reports tested in high pressure situations (eg transactions, regulators, litigation).

Preferably you will have experience in the education sector or an analogous sector. You will have experience advising senior level clients (including business leaders, CFOs and investors) from start-up phase through to maturity.  Working directly with our senior education partner and a range of other partners and consultants, you will assist our clients make smart decisions as they analyse, plan and optimise their education sector investment. You will thrive in a fast-paced environment with multiple projects and opportunities at any one time.

We welcome applications from Director level candidates who have demonstrable experience in:

• Devising and delivering strategy and growth advice across a range of settings and levels
• Advising on M&A transactions, providing financial, strategy, value, regulatory or other due diligence advice for both buy-side and sell side
• Conducting financial analysis, developing complex financial models, including scenario modelling, and advising on financial viability.
• Financial modelling across three way accounting (P&L, cashflow, balance sheet), core drivers (eg customer volume, workforce, infrastructure), pricing, investment analysis and sensitivity testing
• Pricing and volume analysis and projections based on market data, and presentation in market research-style reports
• Analysis and modelling across cash, accrual and capital treatments under Australian accounting standards
• Detailed analysis of customer revenue streams (in this case student profile and research grant modelling) and analysis of expenditure, including activity based analysis
• Preparation of business and investment cases
• Preparation of independent expert reports, including for use in regulatory processes, transactions, and/or contested proceedings
• Assuring financial and forecast models, and understanding financial and accounting controls
• Preparing and delivering written and oral advice to clients at a range of levels (operational, senior, governance, investors) and at varying levels of financial proficiency
• Business development and directly or indirectly contributing to revenue generation

Professional background

• At least 7 years’ experience working in a consulting / advisory settings, plus relevant experience in financial/management accounting environment focusing on financial management, commercial modelling and business analysis.
• A strong understanding of management accounting, driver analysis, financing and advisory requirements
• Strong professional networks

Skills

• Contemporary knowledge of Australian accounting standards and practice
• Advanced Excel modelling (including Power Query) and Power Point skills.

• Strong writing skills (MS Word and email) including strong on logic, framing and written expression

• Attention to detail and time management.
• Superior communication skills.
• Ability to present large volumes of data to senior stakeholders
• Data visualisation using tools such as Power BI
• Strong leadership skills, including shaping culture, building teams and being a team player

Qualifications

• CA or CPA (or equivalent) qualifications are required.
• Undergraduate degree, within the following disciplines: Accounting, Finance, Commerce, Business Management.
• Preferably postgraduate MBA or equivalent qualification

 Why MinterEllison

We offer flexible working options to encourage balance, wellbeing and support for sustainable ways of working and a range of social, financial and health benefits, including free gym membership - all with no minimum tenure.

We encourage applications from people of all ages, abilities, cultural backgrounds, genders (including trans or gender diverse), LGBTQ+ people and those with carer responsibilities. We particularly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to apply.

How to Apply

We prefer to connect with people directly, so please submit your CV by clicking on the 'Apply' button. We encourage all applications, including if you do not meet the criteria listed for the role. Your application will also enable us to consider you for other opportunities that may be available at MinterEllison.

If you would like further information, require any adjustments throughout the recruitment process or for a confidential discussion, please contact  ***************@minterellison.com.