Mercer Pacific Controller

Company:Marsh

Description:

We are seeking a talented individual to lead the Financial Controllership function for the Mercer Pacific organization at Marsh.  This role will be based in Melbourne.  This is a hybrid role that has a requirement of working at least three days a week in the office.

Reporting to the Marsh Pacific Controller, this role is accountable for the accuracy of financial results for Mercer’s local legal entities and the end-to-end delivery of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reporting (P&L and Balance Sheet) in accordance with required regulatory standards. You will also drive strong governance over balance sheet reconciliations and internal controls, partnering closely with senior stakeholders across Finance, the Business, and Audit.

We will count on you to:

• Ensure financial results for local legal entities are accurate and delivered on schedule
• Oversee the preparation and review of monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting (P&L and Balance Sheet) under US GAAP and local GAAP
• Lead balance sheet reconciliation governance, ensuring timely completion, quality substantiation, issue investigation, and resolution
• Provide day-to-day accounting advice and maintain strong stakeholder engagement across Finance, Business, Audit, Tax, Treasury, Legal, and Compliance
• Support strategic initiatives including M&A accounting due diligence, integrations, legal entity integrations, and other special projects
• Support Board and senior management reporting by reviewing and providing input into Board papers and accounting judgments (as required)
• Ensure internal controls are executed effectively (including SOX-aligned requirements where applicable) and drive remediation of control deficiencies
• Lead and develop the controllership team—coaching, prioritizing workload, and fostering accountability and continuous learning

What you need to have:

• Minimum 12 years’ progressive financial controller experience including leadership role(s).  Superannuation sector regulatory and reporting knowledge and experience is an advantage as is US GAAP experience.
• Undergraduate qualifications are required, as are appropriate accounting qualifications (CA or CPA).  A Master of Business Administration is desirable.
• Progressive financial management and controllership experience in an international and geographically distributed corporation.
• Highly developed interpersonal skills, with the ability to lead and influence in a complex matrix environment as well as lead, manage and embrace change within a transforming organization to challenge the status quo. 
• Experience supporting M&A, integration activity, or complex legal entity structures is preferred.
• Strong technical accounting and reporting expertise.  Proven experience with balance sheet reconciliation, substantiation, and close governance
• Strong business acumen, along with a good understanding of the critical business drivers across all parts of the Mercer Pacific business
• Demonstrated capabilities in driving a business and financial agenda from a controllership perspective while also remaining focused on major strategic issues facing the organization as it moves forward.
• Strong stakeholder management, communication, and influencing skills.  Demonstrates Confidence presenting and explaining accounting outcomes to non-finance stakeholders
• Capable of managing and maintaining good relationships with external providers including regulatory bodies and accounting firms. 
• Demonstrated ability to respond to urgent requests and changing priorities in an evolving environment.

What makes you stand out:

• Strategic Leadership.  Defines, evaluates, and communicates long and medium-term objectives for defined clients.  Focuses activities on the achievement of a vision or desired long-term outcome.
• Results Focused.  Expertise in delivering quality and consistently strong results
• Communication and Influence.   Conveys written and verbal messages effectively to various audiences, adapting approach as appropriate.  Displays sound listening and comprehensive skills.
• Innovation.  Develops new and alternative approaches to existing practices, creates new or improved processes, solutions, products, and services. Maintains an openness to experiment with alternative approaches.
• Collaboration.  Acts as a connector across the organization, bring colleagues together to bring the best of the enterprise to client solutions.
• Decision Making.  Identifies and understands issues, problems, and opportunities.  Compares data from different sources to draw conclusions.  Uses effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions.  Takes action that is consistent with available facts, constraints, and probable consequences.

Why join our team:

• We help you be your best through professional development opportunities, interesting work and supportive leaders.
• We foster a vibrant and inclusive culture where you can work with talented colleagues to create new solutions and have impact for colleagues, clients and communities.
• Our scale enables us to provide a range of career opportunities, as well as benefits and rewards to enhance your well-being.

Marsh (NYSE: MRSH) is a global leader in risk, reinsurance and capital, people and investments, and management consulting, advising clients in 130 countries. With annual revenue of over $27 billion and more than 95,000 colleagues, Marsh helps build the confidence to thrive through the power of perspective. For more information, visit corporate.marsh.com, or follow us on LinkedIn and X.

Marsh is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and flexible work environment. We aim to attract and retain the best people and embrace diversity of age, background, disability, ethnic origin, family duties, gender orientation or expression, marital status, nationality, parental status, personal or social status, political affiliation, race, religion and beliefs, sex/gender, sexual orientation or expression, skin color, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Applications will only be considered from candidates who have the appropriate approval to work in Australia. Successful applicants will be required to complete a Criminal & Bankruptcy check prior to commencing of employment.

Marsh is committed to hybrid work, which includes the flexibility of working remotely and the collaboration, connections and professional development benefits of working together in the office. All Marsh colleagues are expected to be in their local office or working onsite with clients at least three days per week. Office-based teams will identify at least one “anchor day” per week on which their full team will be together in person.