• Applications close:
• Job posted on: 14th Aug 2026
• Sydney > Newtown
• Part Time, Hybrid Work from Home
• Executive and Senior Management, Management, Finance and Accounting, Information Technology & Digital, Operations and Risk Management
• Not For Profit (NFP)

About Sydney Community Foundation

Sydney Community Foundation (SCF) exists to build stronger, fairer communities across Sydney. SCF connects generous donors with the causes and organisations doing the most good, channelling philanthropic giving to where it is needed most.

SCF is a growing organisation. As the size of our funds under management, donor base and grantmaking activity increases, so does the complexity of the systems, governance and people infrastructure required to support it. This role has been created to build that foundation for the next stage of SCF's growth.

Purpose of the role

The Operations and Finance Manager is a senior, part-time role reporting directly to the CEO, responsible for building and running the operational backbone of Sydney Community Foundation — finance, governance, risk, HR and administration — as the organisation scales. The role carries clear oversight of, and accountability for, SCF’s finance and operations.

This is a hands-on leadership role. The Operations and Finance Manager will lead a small Finance and Administration function, act as a trusted operational partner to the CEO and Board, and ensure SCF's internal systems and controls are robust, efficient and fit for a growing charitable foundation. The role frees the CEO to focus on external growth — donors, partners and strategy — with confidence that the organisation's operations, compliance and people foundations are in safe hands.

Key responsibilities

Finance leadership

• Own the finance function, overseeing the finance and accounting function — whether delivered in-house or by an outsourced provider (to be decided) — to ensure accurate, timely financial reporting, reconciliations and management accounts.
• Own the annual budgeting cycle, cash flow management and financial forecasting, and provide the CEO and Board with clear, decision-useful financial insight.
• Prepare, provide and present clear, decision-useful financial reports and management accounts to the Finance, Audit & Risk Committee (FRAC) and the Board.
• Oversee statutory reporting, tax and compliance obligations (including ACNC and DGR/giving fund requirements) and coordinate the annual audit.
• Ensure sound financial controls, delegations and policies are in place and followed as the organisation grows.
• Effectively manage cashflow including regular reporting, managing term deposits and supporting the SCF Investment Committee with movement of funds into the investment portfolio.
• Ensure the accurate calculation and allocation of investment returns and fees across Giving Funds and prepare regular fund statements for Giving Fund holders.
• Own fund management and preparation of fund statements for distribution
• Review and sign off the annual financial statements for all SCF entities prepared by the finance and accounting function, ahead of Board approval and lodgement.
• Own the accounting restructure between SCF’s entities, putting in place the new Community Charity Trust and adapting the organisation’s systems, policies and processes to streamline efficiencies and ensure smooth operations and reporting.

Governance and risk

• Act as the CEO's key partner on governance, supporting Board and Committee cycles including papers, minutes and reporting for the Board and Finance, Audit & Risk Committee.
• Maintain and continuously improve SCF's governance framework, policies, insurances, risk register and compliance calendar.
• Ensure SCF, Sydney Community Foundation Gives, SCF CCT and the Sydney Community Foundation Public Ancillary Fund meet their legal, regulatory and contractual obligations, escalating risks to the CEO and Board as needed.
• Own SCF's compliance with sub-fund and Giving Fund rules, including the annual minimum distribution requirements of SCF Trusts, ASIC and ACNC obligations and charity licences, escalating any risk of non-compliance to the CEO and Board.
• Ensure compliance of grant making activities with relevant regulations and assist team members involved in grant making with financial acquittals.
• Support key impact fund teams with budgets, project-specific accounting and financial oversight.
• Produce, review and manage implementation of contracts with SCF partners and service providers.

IT, cyber security, CRM, data and AI oversight

• Own SCF's IT and cyber security posture end to end: manage relationships with IT/managed service providers, oversee system access, data backup and disaster recovery, and ensure appropriate cyber security controls are in place and tested.
• Act as the organisation's lead on data governance and privacy, ensuring donor, grantee and financial data is held and managed securely and in line with legal obligations.
• Own the CRM platform (donor and fund database): data integrity (including reconciling with lists from marketing platform and setting rules on input and hygiene of data for SCF team), user access, integrations with finance and EDM tools, and ongoing configuration as SCF's needs grow.
• Automate and streamline processes wherever possible to support staff and clients with systems and processes that are easy to use, make for a positive user experience, and curtail manual error risks.
• Set and oversee SCF's approach to the responsible use of AI tools across the organisation, including approving acceptable use, assessing new tools for data security and privacy risk, and actively building staff capability and confidence to use AI tools effectively and safely, including hands-on training, sharing good practice and championing adoption.
• Own selection and implementation of new systems as SCF scales, ensuring technology decisions are fit for purpose, secure and value for money.

Policies, procedures and administration

• Own SCF's policy and procedure framework, ensuring finance, HR, IT/cyber security, privacy and operational policies are current, fit for purpose and consistently followed.
• Establish and maintain clear operating procedures and documentation as the organisation grows, so processes are resilient beyond any one individual.
• Drive process improvement across administration, procurement and supplier management to increase efficiency as volumes grow.
• Ensure office and operational administration runs smoothly, including managing key supplier and vendor relationships.
• Oversee building management and maintenance needs, including leasing agreements with tenants and venue hires.

HR oversight and team leadership

• Work with the CEO and Impact Director to ensure robust HR foundations for a growing team: contracts, policies and meeting work health and safety (WHS) requirements.
• Support the CEO and Impact Director on recruitment, remuneration and people matters as the organisation adds roles.
• Directly manage and develop the performance and service delivery of the finance and accounting function (whether in-house or outsourced), setting clear priorities and building a strong team culture.
• Work closely with other members of the SCF team on shared operational needs (donor systems, reporting, events support) without direct line management.
• Build a positive, high-performing culture within the Operations and Finance team, consistent with SCF's values.

Strategic partnership with the CEO

• Act as a trusted thought partner to the CEO on organisational strategy, translating strategic priorities into practical operational plans.
• As a member of the leadership team, it is expected that this role will also support SCF’s growth ambitions through strategic thinking and ability to spot and convert opportunities for growth.
• Plan and track efficacy of campaigns
• Provide the CEO and Board with the data, insight and operational rigour needed to make confident decisions as SCF scales.
• Keep key internal stakeholders informed of relevant financial, operational and governance matters.

Key selection criteria

• Significant senior operational leadership experience, ideally spanning finance, governance and IT system functions.
• Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, reporting and experience overseeing statutory and audit processes; not-for-profit or ACNC-regulated experience highly regarded.
• Demonstrated experience building or strengthening operational and governance infrastructure in a growing organisation.
• Confident people leader, able to manage and develop a small team while also operating hands-on.
• Sound understanding of risk, compliance and governance in a charitable or philanthropic context.
• Strong systems literacy, with demonstrated experience overseeing IT, cyber security and CRM platforms, including managing external IT providers.
• Working knowledge of data privacy and cyber security obligations relevant to a charitable organisation, sound understanding of, and hands-on experience using AI tools, together with the confidence to set and oversee policy for their responsible use.
• Track record of developing and embedding policies, procedures and documentation that scale with a growing organisation.
• Excellent judgement and discretion, with the ability to work closely and collaboratively with a CEO and Board.
• A genuine connection to, and passion for, SCF's mission of building stronger, fairer communities in Sydney.
• An enthusiastic entrepreneurial attitude, willing to roll up your sleeves and use your skills and knowledge to support SCF’s growth ambitions.
• Relevant tertiary qualifications in finance, business or a related field; CA/CPA or equivalent an advantage.

Why join us

• Shape the operational capability of an integral part of Sydney’s civic infrastructure to support its continued growth.
• Join a small, ambitious, values-led team where your ideas are valued.
• Support the Foundation’s ambitions to make Sydney the best place to live.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• Not-for-profit salary packaging benefit — up to $15,900 tax-free.

Diversity and inclusion

Sydney Community Foundation is committed to diversity and inclusion. We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and people of all genders, ages and abilities.

Our values

Sydney Community Foundation integrates the following values into all aspects of its work and relationships:

• Brave: We step up, support and lead by example to make Sydney a strong and just community.
• Kind: We are compassionate and aim to help the most vulnerable in our community.
• Collaborative: We establish, build and maintain partnerships to achieve our goals.
• Trusted: We are accountable, financially responsible and strive for equity in all we do.

The duties and responsibilities described above are not an exhaustive list. Additional tasks may be assigned from time to time, and the scope of the role may evolve as SCF continues to grow.

For any enquiries or application issues please contact [email protected] using the subject line: Operations and Finance Manager enquiry via.

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