Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Systems And Tools
Timeline
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Ariel Zhang

Eight Mile Plains,Australia

Summary

CPA-qualified finance professional with extensive experience in management reporting, budgeting & forecasting, and operational cost analysis across leading mining and resources companies, including Aurizon, Anglo American, Batchfire Resources, and Bluff PCI. Proven ability to link financial performance with key mining drivers such as production volumes, yield, strip ratios, and cost-per-tonne, delivering insights that support strategic and operational decision-making. Skilled in capital project governance, statutory compliance, and audit readiness, with strong capabilities in SAP, Pronto ERP, and IBM Cognos reporting. Currently advancing expertise in FP&A, financial modelling, and data analytics through FMVA and BIDA certifications. Recognised for driving process improvements, strengthening governance frameworks, and collaborating effectively with operational leaders to enhance business performance in capital-intensive, multi-site mining environments.

Overview

13
13
years of professional experience

Work History

Management Accountant – Capital

Aurizon
10.2024 - Current
  • Capital Project Lifecycle & AUC Review: Manage project creation, approval workflows, AUC (Assets Under Construction) reviews, capitalisation, and project closure for major infrastructure, rollingstock, and facilities projects, ensuring compliance with accounting standards, capitalisation policy, and governance requirements.
  • Audit & Compliance Support: Prepare reconciliations, and supporting documentation for half-year and year-end statutory audits, ensuring full compliance with internal controls and external reporting requirements.
  • Finance Governance & Controls: Oversee financial delegation reviews, SAP GRC role and access governance, and finance standards documentation updates. Strengthen internal controls through policy updates, user access management, and process improvement initiatives.
  • Process Improvement & Reporting Efficiency: Collaborate with cross-functional teams to streamline reporting, automate templates, and improve data quality, enabling more timely and accurate management information.

Financial Accountant

Anglo American
01.2023 - 08.2024
  • Financial & Operational Reporting: Delivered accurate monthly financial results for the Steelmaking Coal business, linking P&L and balance sheet performance to operational drivers such as production volumes, sales tonnes, strip ratio, and yield. Prepared variance commentary for corporate and operational leadership.
  • Operational Finance Partnering: Partnered with mine site operations to address financial accounting requirements, provide technical accounting advice, and validate accuracy of operational inputs for financial reporting.
  • Month-End Close & Compliance: Managed month-end processes, including journals for prepayments, IFRS16 leases, royalties, management fees, provisions, and inventory valuation. Ensured reconciliations and adjustments complied with IFRS and internal governance policies.
  • Coal Sales & Revenue Assurance: Oversaw coal sales accounting from contract to cash, including invoicing, receipting, accruals, and selling expense recognition. Monitored revenue accuracy and ensured alignment with joint venture agreements and shipping schedules.
  • Capital & Asset Management: Processed capitalisations, disposals, transfers, and impairments for mining assets. Managed depreciation and assisted in useful life and life-of-mine asset reviews in collaboration with operational asset managers.
  • Joint Venture Governance: Prepared financial reports for joint venture participants, coordinated with Legal and Finance on queries, and ensured ledger accuracy through regular cutback and reconciliation processes.
  • Regulatory & Royalty Reporting: Prepared BAS, calculated coal royalties, and processed diesel fuel rebate claims in compliance with Queensland mining legislation.
  • Audit & Statutory Reporting: Produced statutory note disclosures, supporting schedules, and annual financial statements for interim and year-end upstream reporting, ensuring full audit readiness.

Financial Accountant & System Administrator

Batchfire Resources Pty Ltd
07.2021 - 01.2023
  • Management & Mining Performance Reporting: Prepared and presented monthly management reports integrating financial results with key mining metrics — including ROM production, processed tonnes, coal sales volumes, yield, and strip ratios — providing variance commentary linking operational drivers to financial outcomes.
  • Budgeting & Forecasting: Led the annual budget process and contributed to rolling forecasts by incorporating mine plans, overburden schedules, CHPP throughput capacity, maintenance shutdowns, and sales forecasts. Partnered with mine managers to track financial and operational performance against budget.
  • Cost Analysis & Operational Insights: Analysed cost-per-tonne performance across mining, processing, and logistics functions, identifying variances in drilling & blasting, haulage, CHPP processing costs, and port charges. Recommended efficiency measures to improve margin per tonne.
  • Revenue Recognition & Inventory Valuation: Managed coal sales revenue recognition, reconciling invoices to shipment schedules and contractual terms. Conducted monthly stockpile valuations using survey data and calculated NRV adjustments based on market pricing and coal quality specifications.
  • Capital & Asset Management: Managed WIP-to-fixed asset transfers for major mining capital projects, such as fleet replacements, dragline overhauls, and CHPP upgrades. Ensured compliance with IFRS16 for mining equipment leases.
  • Royalty & Compliance Reporting: Prepared and submitted coal royalty calculations, diesel fuel rebate claims, and statutory returns in line with Queensland mining regulations.
  • ERP & Reporting Systems: Administered Pronto ERP and IBM Cognos, developing custom reports combining operational KPIs with financial data to provide an integrated view of mine performance.
  • Finance Governance & Process Improvement: Developed financial policies tailored to mining operations, ensuring accurate allocation of site costs, better integration of production data into financial reporting, and improved governance over capital spend.

Financial Accountant

Bluff PCI Pty Ltd
11.2018 - 11.2020
  • Management & Operational Reporting: Prepared monthly consolidated management reports for the Bluff PCI open-cut coal operation, including P&L, balance sheet reconciliations, and detailed variance analysis against budget. Linked financial results to operational metrics such as ROM production, PCI coal sales, and processing costs to support strategic decision-making.
  • Budgeting & Forecasting: Assisted in the annual budget process and prepared weekly rolling six-month cash flow forecasts. Incorporated operational inputs including production schedules, port allocations, and FX impacts on export sales.
  • Cost Control & Analysis: Worked with the Financial Controller to analyse mining, preparation, and logistics costs, ensuring accurate allocation of site expenses and identifying cost-saving opportunities.
  • Revenue Recognition & Inventory Valuation: Managed coal sales invoicing, AR receipting, and reconciliation to shipping schedules. Calculated monthly coal stockpile valuations using survey data and determined NRV adjustments based on PCI coal quality and market pricing.
  • Capital & Asset Management: Created and maintained projects in the Pronto ERP, tracked WIP, and managed fixed asset registers. Processed capitalisation, depreciation, and impairment valuations for mining equipment and infrastructure.
  • Regulatory & Royalty Compliance: Prepared BAS, FBT, payroll tax, and OSR royalty calculations in line with Queensland mining legislation. Maintained IFRS16 lease accounting for site equipment and facilities.
  • ERP System Implementation: Led the setup, data migration, and testing of the Pronto ERP system for financial and operational modules, including GL configuration, reporting templates, and live environment deployment.
  • Process & Controls Improvement: Developed internal finance policies to improve cost allocation accuracy, enhance capital spend governance, and increase the transparency of operational cost reporting.
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Maintained strong relationships with the parent company, marketing agents, shipping logistics providers, vendors, customers, banks, and shareholders to support operational and financial objectives.

Administrator

HJ Hides & Skins Australia (QLD) Pty Ltd
08.2012 - 08.2014
  • Oversaw daily inventory management and monitored stock levels of critical production materials to ensure uninterrupted operations.
  • Coordinated with shipping agencies and transport companies to arrange domestic and international freight for export products.
  • Assisted with monthly cow hide price bids, gathering market data to support competitive pricing decisions.
  • Supported the Managing Director in developing relationships with new suppliers, both locally and internationally.
  • Translated business documents and correspondence between English and Chinese to facilitate supplier and customer communications.

Education

Master of Professional Accounting -

University of Tasmania

Bachelor of Nursing - undefined

Yunyang Medical College

Financial Modeling&Valuation Analyst (In Progress)

Corporate Finance Institute
09-2025

Business Intelligence & Data Analyst (In Progress)

Corporate Finance Institute
11-2025

Systems And Tools

  • SAP (FICO, Project Mgmt)
  • Power BI (in training)
  • IBM Cognos
  • Pronto ERP
  • Excel (Intermediate–Advanced)

Timeline

Management Accountant – Capital

Aurizon
10.2024 - Current

Financial Accountant

Anglo American
01.2023 - 08.2024

Financial Accountant & System Administrator

Batchfire Resources Pty Ltd
07.2021 - 01.2023

Financial Accountant

Bluff PCI Pty Ltd
11.2018 - 11.2020

Administrator

HJ Hides & Skins Australia (QLD) Pty Ltd
08.2012 - 08.2014

Bachelor of Nursing - undefined

Yunyang Medical College

Master of Professional Accounting -

University of Tasmania

Financial Modeling&Valuation Analyst (In Progress)

Corporate Finance Institute

Business Intelligence & Data Analyst (In Progress)

Corporate Finance Institute

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Ariel Zhang