Chief Operating Officer
| Organisation Name | Act for Peace |
| Location | Sydney |
| Date Posted | 2025-09-08 |
| Job Type | Full-Time |
| Job Number | 1375239 |
- Newly created COO role overseeing finance and operations
- Mission-driven humanitarian agency supporting displaced people worldwide
- Lead financial strategy and reporting and shape operational excellence
The Organisation
Act for Peace is the international humanitarian agency of the National Council of Churches in Australia. For over 70 years, Act for Peace has worked alongside local partners across more than 15 countries to support people forced from their homes by conflict and disaster, and those facing injustice and human rights abuses.
Act for Peace harnesses the potential of supporters, churches, local partners, and affected communities in a movement for peace. Act for Peace "backs displaced people" by placing them at the centre of its approach through elevating their voices in decisions that affect them – such as accessing funding, planning and delivering activities, and influencing change at national and international levels.
Culture & Benefits
The Role
As a key member of the Act for Peace leadership team and with direct reporting responsibility to the board on finance, you will lead the organisation’s financial and operational performance to ensure sustainability, efficiency and impact. While your focus will be on strategic financial management, reporting, and risk management, you’ll also oversee human resources, technology, operational processes and compliance.
Working closely with the CEO, you’ll translate complex data into actionable insights to guide the board, and strengthen day-to-day operations to enable more effective and efficient ways of working. In this hands-on, strategic role you will:
Skills Required
You are an agile and experienced senior leader with strong financial and business acumen and highly developed skills to effectively lead, inspire and support teams. You have a track record working collaboratively to deliver on strategy, and you will be passionate about using your skills to impact the important work of Act of Peace.
With a deep understanding of compliance obligations for Australian not-for-profits, your experience includes:
This is a rare opportunity to join a mission-driven organisation in a newly created strategic leadership role. If you are a finance-focused leader with a passion for operational excellence and impact, we would love to hear from you. To apply, please click the apply now button and include a cover letter and resume outlining how your experience aligns with the role.
For further information, to receive an information pack or a confidential discussion, contact Hayley Martin at NGO Recruitment on (02) 8243 0570.
Please note there is no formal closing date for this role, if you are interested, we would encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
NGO Recruitment values equitable recruitment practices and is committed to representing candidates reflective of the diverse organisations and communities we work with. We welcome and encourage applications from all backgrounds, ages, and identities, and are happy to adjust our recruitment process to support accessibility needs. If you are interested in this position and have most of the skills or experience we are looking for, please go ahead and apply.
Act for Peace is the international humanitarian agency of the National Council of Churches in Australia. For over 70 years, Act for Peace has worked alongside local partners across more than 15 countries to support people forced from their homes by conflict and disaster, and those facing injustice and human rights abuses.
Act for Peace harnesses the potential of supporters, churches, local partners, and affected communities in a movement for peace. Act for Peace "backs displaced people" by placing them at the centre of its approach through elevating their voices in decisions that affect them – such as accessing funding, planning and delivering activities, and influencing change at national and international levels.
Culture & Benefits
- Leadership role with strategic influence
- Collaborative, supportive workplace culture
- Engagement in meaningful, impact-driven work
- Salary packaging options and additional leave provisions
- Staff wellbeing and professional development programs
- Sydney based with flexible hybrid work environment
The Role
As a key member of the Act for Peace leadership team and with direct reporting responsibility to the board on finance, you will lead the organisation’s financial and operational performance to ensure sustainability, efficiency and impact. While your focus will be on strategic financial management, reporting, and risk management, you’ll also oversee human resources, technology, operational processes and compliance.
Working closely with the CEO, you’ll translate complex data into actionable insights to guide the board, and strengthen day-to-day operations to enable more effective and efficient ways of working. In this hands-on, strategic role you will:
- Manage a small team across finance, HR, IT, and administration
- Lead the development and optimisation of operational systems, policies and procedures
- Manage relationships with outsourced human resources and IT providers
- Lead budgeting and oversee investments, financial planning and a working capital fund
- Provide strategic financial insights and advice to the leadership team and board
- Ensure compliance with ACNC, ACFID, DFAT, and other regulatory obligations
Skills Required
You are an agile and experienced senior leader with strong financial and business acumen and highly developed skills to effectively lead, inspire and support teams. You have a track record working collaboratively to deliver on strategy, and you will be passionate about using your skills to impact the important work of Act of Peace.
With a deep understanding of compliance obligations for Australian not-for-profits, your experience includes:
- Strategic financial management including of investments, budgeting, forecasting, reporting
- Oversight of internal operational functions and those outsourced to providers
- Development and implementation of operational policy and process improvements
- Analysis and translation of complex data into insightful financial, risk and compliance reporting to guide a leadership team and board
- Tertiary qualification in business, commerce, finance or a related field
This is a rare opportunity to join a mission-driven organisation in a newly created strategic leadership role. If you are a finance-focused leader with a passion for operational excellence and impact, we would love to hear from you. To apply, please click the apply now button and include a cover letter and resume outlining how your experience aligns with the role.
For further information, to receive an information pack or a confidential discussion, contact Hayley Martin at NGO Recruitment on (02) 8243 0570.
Please note there is no formal closing date for this role, if you are interested, we would encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
NGO Recruitment values equitable recruitment practices and is committed to representing candidates reflective of the diverse organisations and communities we work with. We welcome and encourage applications from all backgrounds, ages, and identities, and are happy to adjust our recruitment process to support accessibility needs. If you are interested in this position and have most of the skills or experience we are looking for, please go ahead and apply.
Please be advised you can upload two attachments, including your resume and covering letter when submitting your application.