THE SOCIETY OF JESUS IN AUSTRALIA

Two Executive Leadership Opportunities

Chief Operating Officer  |  Chief Financial Officer

Hawthorn, VIC  |  Senior Management  |  Full Time

About the Society of Jesus in Australia

Founded by St Ignatius of Loyola in 1540, the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits, is an international Catholic religious order committed to faith, justice, education and service to those on the margins. The Jesuit presence in Australia began in 1848, and today Jesuits and lay colleagues work together across a diverse range of ministries including social services, education, parishes, Ignatian spirituality and formation, and communications.

The Society of Jesus in Australia Limited (SOJA) is the incorporated entity that supports the governance and operations of these ministries. Guided by the values of welcome, discernment and courage, and grounded in Ignatian spirituality and solidarity with the poor, SOJA is now seeking two senior leaders to join its Provincial Office team based in Hawthorn, Victoria.

The Opportunities

Following a period of organisational development, SOJA is recruiting for two pivotal executive roles. Together, the COO and CFO will form a cornerstone of the Society’s senior leadership team, partnering with the Provincial and key stakeholders to ensure the organisation has the operational, financial and governance foundations to fulfil its mission.

Chief Operating Officer

Reporting directly to the Provincial, the COO is accountable for the effective leadership and coordination of SOJA’s core operational and enabling functions spanning operations, human resources and payroll, risk and safety, company secretarial, property and enterprise services. The role acts as a trusted enterprise partner to Provincial Assistants and ministry leaders, ensuring operational services are delivered efficiently, compliantly and in a manner that supports the integrity and performance of the broader enterprise.

Key accountabilities include:

• Providing strategic leadership across the operating platform, fostering a culture of service excellence, accountability and continuous improvement
• Overseeing HR, payroll, risk management, company secretarial functions and property and facilities services
• Leading process improvement, systems coordination and enterprise-wide policy frameworks
• Supporting the Provincial with Board reporting, audit and risk committee support, and regulatory compliance
• Building and developing a capable, high-performing team of functional specialists

To be successful you will bring:

• Significant senior leadership experience managing operations or multiple corporate enabling functions in a complex or multi-entity environment
• Demonstrated experience with enterprise risk frameworks and WHS management systems
• Sound knowledge of corporate governance, Corporations Act requirements and company secretarial obligations
• Strong process improvement capability and experience designing and implementing internal controls
• High-quality communication skills and the proven ability to prepare Board-quality reports and executive briefings

Chief Financial Officer

Reporting to the Society’s Treasurer, the CFO is accountable for the financial stewardship, governance and commercial sustainability of SOJA. The CFO ensures the organisation operates with strong financial discipline, sound internal controls, prudent risk management and full compliance with Australian Accounting Standards, taxation and charity reporting obligations. The role also provides strategic financial advice on capital allocation, investment priorities, property portfolio decisions and long-term financial sustainability, including engagement with Rome as required.

Key accountabilities include:

• Leading the organisation’s financial strategy, annual budget, forecasting and long-range financial planning
• Ensuring accurate and timely financial statements, management accounts and statutory reporting in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards
• Overseeing treasury, cash flow, banking relationships and the financial risk framework
• Providing financial analysis and business cases to support capital expenditure, property acquisition and divestment decisions
• Managing the external audit process and ensuring compliance with tax, FBT, payroll tax and other statutory obligations
• Coordinating canonical approval processes and financial reporting to Rome where required

To be successful you will bring:

• Significant senior financial leadership experience in a complex, multi-entity or mission-based organisation
• Strong technical knowledge of Australian Accounting Standards, statutory reporting, audit, taxation and financial governance
• Demonstrated experience leading budgeting, forecasting, management reporting and long-range financial planning
• Proven capability in financial risk management, treasury, liquidity planning and internal controls
• Experience preparing business cases for capital projects, property investments or major asset decisions
• CPA, CA, FCPA or equivalent professional accounting qualification (desirable)

Enquiries and How to Apply

For a confidential discussion or to obtain the full position descriptions, please contact:

[email protected]

Applications close Monday 7 September 2026.