Head of Finance & Operations
XY Sense is an occupancy intelligence platform on a mission to transform the world’s office buildings. Our privacy-first sensor platform delivers rich, real-time insights to help teams control real estate costs, reduce their carbon footprint, boost space productivity, and orchestrate office environments that people love.
We are looking for a leader to elevate our finance, accounting, and operations, balancing strategic oversight with hands-on execution. This high-impact role will ensure strong financial management and compliance while driving scalability, efficiency, and growth as XY Sense continues to expand globally. Reporting directly to the CEO, this role will shape the company’s financial strategy and operational excellence while refining and scaling our finance and operations function in a high-growth, fast-moving environment.
Who Are We Looking For?
We are seeking an experienced Finance & Operations Leader to take ownership of financial management, cash flow, forecasting, and compliance. You’ll work closely with the leadership team to support strategic decision-making, maintain financial integrity, and drive operational efficiency.
This role is ideal for someone who thrives in fast-paced startups, understands how to scale finance & operations functions, and enjoys building processes that drive efficiency and growth.
You will lead a small team, oversee external accounting and finance providers, and manage key areas across finance, payroll, compliance, and revenue operations across AU, UK, US and India.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Management & Strategy
- Own financial planning, forecasting, and budgeting, ensuring strong cash flow management.
- Oversee finance function
- Provide monthly financial reports and key insights for the CEO and leadership team.
- Maintain compliance with Australian and international tax, accounting, and financial reporting standards.
- Ensure the accurate recognition of revenue and expenses across projects and entities.
- Partner with the CEO on fundraising efforts, investor reporting, and financial planning.
- Streamline and automate financial operations and reporting processes.
- Prepare board reports in collaboration with management team [and attend Board meetings]
Operations & Compliance
- Oversee the team responsible for payroll processing, employee expense management, and vendor payments.
- Ensure monthly compliance requirements (e.g.GST, BAS, tax filings)are met in all global jurisdictions.
- Manage financial audits, corporate insurance, and external finance partners.
- Support revenue operations, ensuring accurate invoicing, collections, and cash reconciliation.
- Work with internal teams to drive cost efficiencies and operational improvements.
Leadership & Team Development
- Lead a small and high-performing team, including an Operations Analyst, Revenue Operations Analyst, and Bookkeeper.
- Act as a key member of the leadership team, contributing to company-wide financial and operational decisions.
- Mentor and develop finance & operations team members to improve processes and execution.
To Succeed in This Role, You Will...
- Be a strategic thinker who understands finance at both an operational and leadership level.
- Have strong cash flow, forecasting, and financial modelling experience.
- Be detail-oriented and process-driven, ensuring accuracy across financials and compliance.
- Be comfortable working in a startup environment, wearing multiple hats, and driving improvements.
- Have excellent stakeholder management skills, working with leadership, investors, and external providers.
- Be able to balance high-level strategic planning with hands-on financial management.
- Demonstrate passion for automation and process improvement.
What You’ll Need
- 10+ years of finance & operations experience, with at least 4+ years in a leadership role.
- Deep experience in cash flow management, forecasting, budgeting, and financial reporting.
- Strong knowledge of Australian tax, accounting, and compliance requirements and experience across UK, US & India.
- Experience working in a fast-paced startup or high-growth environment.
- Hands-on experience with Xero and cloud-based finance tools.
- A strong understanding of SaaS, technology, or VC-backed business models.
- Experience with investor reporting, capital management, and financial planning.
- Excellent leadership and people management skills.
- A problem-solver who thrives in multi-tasking environments where prioritisation is a strength.
Bonus Points For:
- Experience in a venture-backed startup or SaaS business.
- Knowledge of financial operations and compliance in global markets (US, UK, India).
- Experience with financial modelling, investor relations, and cap table management.
- Familiarity with Xero, Xero consolidation tools (eg Syft/Joiin), Maxio, Salesforce, Airwallex, or similar tools.
What We Will Offer in Return
- Salary: $170k - $210k + super + ESOP (commensurate with experience).
- Direct ownership of finance and operations at a high-growth startup.
- Work from our Melbourne CBD office 2-3 days per week, with flexibility.
- Opportunity to step into a future CFO role as the company scales.
- ESOP to financially benefit from the company’s growth. Our success is your success.
To Apply
If you’re excited about this opportunity, submit your CV and tell us why you’re the right fit for this role. We look forward to hearing from you.
