About Community Housing Canberra (CHC) Australia

CHC Australia is the largest not-for-profit provider of affordable and social housing based in Canberra, and the region's only Tier 1 registered community housing provider. Over more than 25 years it has grown to house over 2,000 Canberrans, with a team of 45 staff.

CHC is unusual in its sector. It both develops and manages properties, using its own development activity to help fund new supply and the services that sit alongside it, in addition to government funding. The model is working well, but CHC is now preparing to scale it significantly beyond anything it has done before.

In June 2026, the ACT Government announced a significant new investment in housing, expected to support around $650 million in community housing projects and help unlock new affordable homes through the Commonwealth’s Housing Australia Future Fund.

CHC is positioning itself to play a significant role in that growth. It has a pipeline of more than 1,000 new homes and over the next three years expects to grow its portfolio to around 2,400 properties through a mix of new development, turnkey purchases and acquisitions.

The Opportunity

Growth at this scale isn’t linear. Each acquisition sits within its own special purpose vehicle, with its own board, governance and reporting requirements. That means CHC’s corporate capability can’t simply keep pace with portfolio growth, it needs to be built ahead of it.

That’s the opportunity for the newly created Deputy Chief Financial Officer.

Working alongside the CFO, you’ll strengthen the finance capability, systems and operating discipline CHC needs for its next stage of growth and play an active role in the strategy around investment, feasibility, systems and how CHC scales.

A change program is already mapping the processes and systems CHC will need, including a move from its current finance system to purpose-built software. You’ll help shape those decisions and lead the work through implementation, rather than inheriting a model that has already been built.

Strengthen the finance function for an organisation preparing to grow its portfolio by around two-thirds
Take day-to-day ownership of FP&A, transactional finance, tax and asset operations
Lead feasibility modelling and scenario analysis to support investment decisions and enable CHC to take on more projects
Shape and deliver a major finance system replacement, moving from legacy software to a purpose-built community housing platform
Work directly with the Board, committees and executive from the outset, stepping in for the CFO when required
Lead three direct reports and a wider team of around 10 across finance, asset management and IT

The Role

You’ll partner with the CFO across CHC’s finance, asset and systems portfolio, with direct ownership of the areas that need to scale fastest.

Lead financial and management accounting, budgeting, forecasting and financial systems
Own financial modelling and feasibility analysis, including improving cash flow visibility
Oversee transactional finance, month-end, reporting and financial compliance
Manage tax and GST obligations, financial controls, policies and delegations
Lead strategic asset management, including portfolio performance, investment, capital requirements, maintenance and asset recycling
Contribute to oversight of ICT, information management and cyber security
Provide commercial and financial advice to the CFO, executive and Board

The Ideal Person

This role will suit someone already operating at or just below CFO level who is ready for a broader remit and enjoys building through change. CHC is at the beginning of a significant transformation, and you’ll be joining while the systems, processes and structures are still evolving.

You’ll need to be comfortable with ambiguity, good at bringing order to complexity and willing to roll up your sleeves when needed. You’ll also need the patience and resilience to stay focused on the longer-term outcome and enjoy seeing the pieces come together over time.

You’ll bring a commercial mindset to a for-purpose environment. There is strong capability in the existing team; your role is to strengthen the structure around them.

You will bring:

CA, CPA or equivalent professional qualification, supported by relevant tertiary qualifications
Senior finance leadership experience across reporting, budgeting, forecasting, compliance and payroll oversight
Strong Excel modelling skills across feasibility, scenarios and long-range cash flow
Experience with funding arrangements, institutional or treasury finance and their associated obligations
Strong financial governance, controls, audit and risk experience
Experience leading or closely supporting a finance system implementation
The capability and credibility to step into the CFO role when required
A track record of improving processes, accountability and delivery against deadlines

Desirable:

Experience in property, infrastructure, asset-intensive, renewables, community housing, not-for-profit, government-funded or regulated environments
Exposure to strategic asset management, CapEx planning or asset recycling
Experience improving business systems, data quality and reporting, with an understanding of cyber security
An understanding of, or genuine interest in, social and affordable housing and the people it serves

Salary and Benefits

$190k - $200k + 12% Super
Permanent, full-time role based at CHC’s Bruce office
Salary packaging available through CHC’s Public Benevolent Institution status
Flexible working, with one to two days from home available once established in the role
Health and wellbeing benefit worth $700
Free on-street parking at the Bruce office
Limited travel required

Application information

This role is being recruited exclusively through HorizonOne. For a confidential discussion, contact Alan Larby on 02 6108 4878 or alan@horizonone.com.au

A detailed candidate information pack is available with further information about CHC, the role and the transformation ahead. We encourage you to request a copy before applying.

To apply, please submit your resume and a short cover letter outlining your relevant experience, particularly in scaling a finance function or leading systems change.

Applications for this role close on Tuesday the 6th of October at 11:59AM AEDT.

Appointment is subject to a police check, pre-employment fraud check and qualification check.

HorizonOne is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce and we encourage applications from people of all cultures, capabilities and backgrounds.

HorizonOne Recruitment

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