Emma Lehman
Hobart,Australia
Summary
I am an accomplished Chief Financial Officer with extensive experience leading organisations through volatility, transformation and regulatory complexity across education, not-for-profit, international commercial and highly regulated environments. In my current role as CFO of Catholic Education Tasmania, I provide system-wide financial stewardship across 38 schools and central operations, leading finance function transformation, strengthening governance and assurance, and restoring financial sustainability. I have delivered a comprehensive funding model and finance function review, stabilised high-risk programs including Students with Disability, embedded rolling forecasts and multi-year financial outlooks, and overseen ERP remediation to improve transparency, decision-making and reduce key-person risk. I work closely with executive leadership, boards and governance committees to ensure financial decisions are disciplined, aligned to strategy, and focused on long-term outcomes. Previously, as CFO and Company Secretary of Australian Longline, I led an internationally exposed business operating in one of the world’s most volatile and regulated environments. I successfully steered the organisation through prolonged disruption, including the COVID-19 pandemic, maintaining liquidity, solvency and workforce continuity amid global supply-chain disruption and market uncertainty. My experience includes treasury and foreign exchange hedging, multi-currency operations, major capital investment and vessel acquisition, ERP implementation, and the establishment of robust audit and risk governance frameworks. Across my career, I have built a reputation as a calm, pragmatic and values-driven leader who brings clarity in complexity, partners effectively with people and ICT functions, and enables organisations to navigate change while safeguarding their purpose, people and financial integrity.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
Work History
Chief Financial Officer
Catholic Education Tasmania
05.2024 - Current
- Lead the system-wide financial stewardship of Catholic Education Tasmania, including recurrent and capital budgets across shared-funded and direct-funded schools and central operations.
- Provide strategic financial advice to the Executive Director, Leadership Team, Catholic Education Commission Tasmania (CECT), RSSC and other governance bodies.
- Oversee financial management, reporting, audit, risk, compliance and assurance in a complex, multi-entity environment.
- Lead and transform the finance function, including operating model redesign, workforce capability uplift and succession planning.
- Drive medium- and long-term financial sustainability through rolling forecasts, multi-year outlooks and alignment of expenditure to funding envelopes.
- Partner with People Services and ICT to align workforce planning, affordability, systems and financial controls.
- Oversee ERP remediation and data modernisation to improve transparency, reporting quality and decision-making.
- Manage external relationships including auditors, regulators, consultants and funding bodies
- Catholic Education Tasmania is responsible for the stewardship, governance and funding of 38 Catholic schools and the Tasmanian Catholic Education Office, operating within a highly regulated education, funding and compliance environment.
Director of Finance
The Tasman, Luxury Collection Marriott International
10.2023 - 04.2024
- Develop means to improve profit, including estimating cost and benefit.
- Analyze information, forecasts sales against expenses and create annual budget plans.
- Provide leadership to Department Heads on workforce planning and management of wages to budget. Including advice on industry agreement, HIGA
- Create the annual operating budget for the property.
- Provide analytical support during budget reviews to identify cost saving and productivity opportunities for property managers.
- Implement SOP's for the business to ensure appropriate controls are in place to manage business risks.
- Ensure there are strong accounting and operational controls to safeguard assets, improve operations and profitability.
- Manage and provide leadership to a team of 7, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, IT, procurement and two hotel accountants.
- Australia's first Luxury Collection Hotel, a Marriott International branded hotel franchise comprising of 152 rooms and Food and Beverage outlets.
Chief Financial Officer/Company Secretary
Australian Longline
07.2015 - 10.2023
- Prepare and present financial reports, tax returns and forecasts for the Board of Directors. Complete Company Secretary and Public Officer duties
- Drive improvements and efficiencies in project management of major capital and repairs and maintenance works (up to $3-4 million per project)
- Manage foreign currency hedging and all other treasury matters.
- Manage co-ordination of annual budgets and cash flow forecasts (consolidated)
- Oversea administration functions, including accounts payable, accounts receivable and payroll.
- Govern risk through policy and procedure, maintain risk matrix across all disciplines (OHS, Finance, Reputation, Legal, Human Resources)
- Manage Human Resource, IT, Workforce Planning and Finance Functions of the business.
- Australian Longline owns two vessels that fish in the Southern Ocean for the Patagonian toothfish. This product is marketed as a sustainable product from a sustainable managed fishery. Australian toothfish enjoys strong market demand in Asia and North America.
Manager of Financial Reporting and Systems
Tasmania Medicare Local (TML)
11.2013 - 07.2015
- Manage financial reporting (for internal and external reporting requirements), including reports provided to the Board of Directors, Board Sub-committees, Senior executive Team and the Department of Health
- Manage system accounting software and activity to enable efficiencies, integrity of data and financial management. Maintain internal controls for the maintenance of procedures and processes and compliance criteria.
- Oversea administration functions, including accounts payable, accounts receivable and payroll.
- Attend Board and Financial Advisory Committee meetings.
- Provide leadership and support to other members of the Finance Team with regard to policy and procedure implementation and development. Participate in continuous quality improvement related activities.
- TML is a non-governmental, not-for-profit primary health care organization working to help co-ordinate and connect primary health care services for local communities.
Senior Management Accountant
Qantas (QCatering Division Perth WA)
12.2009 - 11.2013
- Plan, organize and complete finalization of QCatering Perth trading results.
- Provide high levels of analysis to identify performance trends and forecast targets to be used in developing strategies for the achievement of centre targets.
- Plan, organise and control business annual budget and 3 monthly forecasts.
- Monitor and report on the effectiveness of current and planned cost reduction initiatives. Contribute to strategic business decisions to enable the overall business to achieve the goals stated.
- Improve relevance of KPI reporting across the business.
- Streamline and improve statistical and financial reporting procedures.
- Analyse monthly performance expense & overhead spend and provide management with timely advice as to actions required.
- Detailed analysis on all capital expenditure and requests, including business cases and requests for approval (RFA)
- Financial analysis and modeling for the Perth Catering expansion project with a proposed budget of $40 million.
- Responsible for management of 3 staff, including development and performance reviews.
- Super User for Smartview Hyperion suite, actively involved in implementation and testing phases.
- QCatering is a premium full-service flight caterer, operating 5 centers across Australia. Q Catering along with Snap Fresh comprise Qantas Catering Group, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Qantas Airways.
Divisional Finance Accountant
Imdex Limited
07.2008 - 12.2009
- Co-ordinate and implement the restructure of the Finance Department. Review all accounts positions and develop position descriptions. Train staff and provide support in their day-to-day activities.
- Prepare, maintain and supervise the full accounting functions of Reflex Asia Pacific and Flexit Asia Pacific. Ensure the accuracy of bank accounts, accounts payable, accounts receivable, inventory, fixed assets and general ledger.
- Prepare month-end reports, Directors Reports and statutory accounts at Year End and Half Year End
- Prepare BAS and FBT return.
- Imdex is a West Australian based S&P/ASX 300 listed company, which provides drilling fluids and down hole instrumentation to the mining, oil and gas, water well and civil engineering industries worldwide.
Finance Manager
Wrest Point Hotel Casino – Finance Division
11.2003 - 07.2008
- Maintain and improve the accounting systems to ensure that information prepared is meaningful, accurate, complete and timely, while at the same time being cognisant of statutory reporting and financial control obligations. Includes:
- Monitor Capital Expenditure and approval process, budget of $10 million.
- Preparation of the Division's financial and management reporting
- Responsible for the co-ordination and operation of Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Gaming Clerk and Assistant Accountant, a total of 7 staff
- Undertake staff selection, supervision, appraisal and counseling.
- Maintain and reconcile Fixed Asset Register
- Liaise with external auditors.
- Maintenance of statistical information for inclusion with accounting reports
- Complete and maintain the Weekly Cash Flow
- Continually review reporting systems and management information flows to ensure they are appropriate, relevant, efficient in preparation and well presented.
- Wrest Point forms part of the Federal Group, the largest private employer in Tasmania. Wrest Point is a Hotel and Australia's first legal Casino with 6 bars and 5 restaurants. Wrest Point employs approximately 750 staff with a turnover of $90 million per annum.
Management Accountant
Department of Treasury and Finance, Tasmania
08.2002 - 10.2003
- Coordinate and oversee the development of the Department's annual budget and oversee the funds control to ensure that the Department's budget is managed within the available sources of funds.
- Provide effective and timely budget reports and advice to the Executive and Branch Heads
- Provide advice to other Corporate and Operations staff for issues relating to the Financial Management Information System and Branch budgets.
- Oversee systems administration for operating functions including Purchasing, Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable. Supervise the efficient and effective delivery of Operations Section services (e.g., accounts payable and receivable), monitor performance and ensure resources are allocated to meet priorities.
- The Department of Treasury and Finance provides quality economic and financial management for Tasmania and administers State revenue laws and performs central contracting and tendering function.
Support Management Accountant
London Underground, BCV Infrastructure Systems
12.2001 - 05.2002
- Collate and disseminate all financial and performance related information.
- Ensure the consolidation of all budgets and forecast information.
- Produce reports, analyse and review departmental results and performance.
- Preparation of the period management accounts report for the senior management team.
- Assist in adhoc reporting.
Assistant Management Accountant
First Center West (London Buses) Finance Division
08.2001 - 12.2001
- Revenue Analysis and Forecasting
- Comparison and commentary on monthly results to Budget and Forecast
- Reconcile and administer petty cash, reconcile Deferred Income, Accrual cash receipts.
- Month end assistance to Financial Manager & Credit Controller. Answer Financial Directors month end queries.
- Attend monthly meetings with Garage Managers to discuss results.
- Accruals and prepayments and preparation of weekly Performance Indicators
Assistant Accountant
TMP WorldWide UK (London)
04.2001 - 08.2001
- Reconcile Intercompany Accounts
- Reconcile Asset Register and enter information on Register.
- Reconcile monthly accruals.
- Adhoc reconciliations, provide reports and support to Management Accountant at month end.
Management Reporting Accountant
Woolworth Supermarkets – Financial Services
01.1998 - 01.2001
- Preparation of monthly Balance Sheet
- Monthly narrative on month end results
- Monthly / quarterly sales comparison reports, economic activity statements
- Produce weekly reports from the Data Warehouse displaying various information depending on Managers needs and requirements.
- Transfer of charges to and from divisions within the company (intercompany transactions). Monitor and control the charges.
- Finalise all accounts for month end process, monthly general ledger reconciliations.
- Fringe Benefits Tax – annual return
- Meat/Fruit Levy monthly and annual returns, prescribed payments tax
- Woolworths operates as a major retail chain of supermarkets and liquor stores, a total of 28 supermarkets, 12 liquor stores and 3 specialty food services. The company employs over 3000 people and has an annual turnover of approximately $500 million.
Education
Bachelor of Commerce - Double Major Accounting and Human Resource Management
University of Tasmania
01.1998
Business Administration
Woman and Leadership Australia
01.2023
Graduate - undefined
Australian Institute of Company Directors
07.2017
CPA - Certified Practicing Accountant
06.2004
Skills
- Financial Stewardship and Strategy
- Governance, Risk, Assurance
- Transformation & Change Leadership
- People, Culture & Workforce Strategy
- Stakeholder & Executive Engagement
- Commercial & Operational Acumen
- ERP & Systems Remediation
- Regulated & Mission-Driven Environments
Timeline
Chief Financial Officer
Catholic Education Tasmania
05.2024 - Current
Director of Finance
The Tasman, Luxury Collection Marriott International
10.2023 - 04.2024
Chief Financial Officer/Company Secretary
Australian Longline
07.2015 - 10.2023
Manager of Financial Reporting and Systems
Tasmania Medicare Local (TML)
11.2013 - 07.2015
Senior Management Accountant
Qantas (QCatering Division Perth WA)
12.2009 - 11.2013
Divisional Finance Accountant
Imdex Limited
07.2008 - 12.2009
Finance Manager
Wrest Point Hotel Casino – Finance Division
11.2003 - 07.2008
Management Accountant
Department of Treasury and Finance, Tasmania
08.2002 - 10.2003
Support Management Accountant
London Underground, BCV Infrastructure Systems
12.2001 - 05.2002
Assistant Management Accountant
First Center West (London Buses) Finance Division
08.2001 - 12.2001
Assistant Accountant
TMP WorldWide UK (London)
04.2001 - 08.2001
Management Reporting Accountant
Woolworth Supermarkets – Financial Services
01.1998 - 01.2001
Business Administration
Woman and Leadership Australia
Graduate - undefined
Australian Institute of Company Directors
CPA - Certified Practicing Accountant
Bachelor of Commerce - Double Major Accounting and Human Resource Management
University of Tasmania