Korn Ferry has partnered with our client on their search for the role, Interim Chief Financial Officer.
Interim Chief Financial Officer
CopperString Project
Location: Queensland, preferably Townsville or Brisbane, with frequent travel across North and North West Queensland
Company overview
The CopperString Project is one of Australia's most significant energy infrastructure undertakings, a large-scale transmission network that will connect North and North West Queensland to the national electricity market.
QIC has established a dedicated company to deliver the CopperString Project, and is now building the team, capability and governance to take a nationally important “mega project” through its next phases of development and delivery. This is a rare opportunity to shape and lead an enterprise of genuine scale and regional impact from the ground up.
About the role
As Interim Chief Financial Officer, you will stand up and lead the finance and commercial function through a critical establishment phase, plugging a mission-critical gap and providing continuity and control until the permanent executive team is in place.
Reporting during the interim phase to the Board (and transitioning to the CEO on appointment), you will establish financial governance, disciplined capital and cost management, and robust commercial oversight, while maintaining the confidence of the Board, Treasury and QIC. You will also oversee the entity's technology and cyber capability during establishment.
This is a hands-on leadership role for a finance executive who can bring immediate control to a greenfield environment and hand over a strong, well-structured function.
About you
You are a senior finance leader with a track record in major infrastructure, energy or regulated project environments, and proven capability establishing or stabilising finance functions in start-up, carve-out or project-based settings.
You bring strong commercial acumen, contract oversight, financial modelling, risk allocation and governance, and the presence to work effectively with Boards, Committees, Government stakeholders and financiers in a high-profile setting. You are comfortable operating in an establishment environment, bringing structure and control while systems and the team are still being built.
Key accountabilities & requirements
- Finance function stand-up: establish financial systems, controls, policies, reporting and delegated approvals fit for a greenfield SPV.
- Funding & capital readiness: support the funding and financing strategy, financial modelling and transaction readiness through establishment.
- Planning & reporting: deliver budgets, forecasts, cashflow and reporting that support clear Board, Committee and QIC decision-making.
- Commercial governance: provide commercial leadership across procurement, contracts, variations and financial commitments.
- Risk, treasury & assurance: establish treasury, liquidity, insurance and financial-risk frameworks, and maintain audit readiness.
- Technology & cyber: oversee the entity's IT/OT and cyber capability during establishment.
- Handover readiness: structure the function for a seamless transition to the permanent CFO/CEO.
Capabilities
- Financial leadership and control – brings immediate discipline and governance to a greenfield environment.
- Commercial acumen – oversees contracts, procurement and risk allocation with rigour.
- Stakeholder confidence – maintains the trust of Boards, Treasury, financiers and QIC.
- Establishment mindset – builds fit-for-purpose functions that scale and hand over cleanly.
Qualifications
Essential
- Tertiary qualifications in Finance, Accounting, Commerce, Economics or a related discipline.
- CA/CPA or equivalent professional qualification strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated senior finance leadership in complex infrastructure, energy or regulated environments.
Desirable
- Experience delivering finance functions on an interim or transitional basis.
- Experience in a board-governed, shareholder-owned or government-adjacent environment.
Location
Townsville preferred, with Brisbane considered as an alternative, and regular travel across North and North West Queensland. A visible regional presence is expected, reflecting the CopperString Project's footprint and the importance of local stakeholder, community, Traditional Owner and landholder relationships.
