What to Put on Your CV: Finance Leadership Roles in the Living Sector

The finance function has become central to the growth of Australia’s living sectors. Whether it’s Build-to-Rent, Affordable Housing, or Retirement Living, developers and institutional investors are relying on strong financial leadership to navigate scale, complexity, and regulatory scrutiny.

If you're a CFO, Financial Controller, or Finance Manager working in or looking to break into these sectors, here’s what we really want to see on your CV.

1. Commercial Impact—Not Just Compliance

It’s no longer enough to say you “managed budgets and reporting.” Strong candidates demonstrate:

• How they improved margins or reduced costs
• Where they’ve driven efficiencies through systems or process overhaul
• Any board-level contribution to strategic decisions (e.g. site acquisition modelling, JV negotiations, REIT structuring)
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Example: “Led a finance transformation project that reduced monthly reporting time by 35%, enabling faster investor decision-making across $1B residential asset base.”

2. Development, Capex & Project Controls Experience

In the living sectors, finance leaders are expected to engage deeply with development pipelines. We want to see:

• Experience in managing capex controls, funding drawdowns, and project forecasting
• Exposure to feasibilities or sensitivity modelling
• Close partnership with Development, Investment, or Asset teams

If you’ve worked on large-scale construction or development programs spell that out clearly.

3. Team Leadership & Structure

Whether you're overseeing a small in-house team or managing finance across multiple business units, be specific:

• Size and structure of your finance team
• Who you report to (CEO, Board, Private Equity, etc.)
• Functions under your remit (FP&A, transactional finance, compliance, audit, tax, procurement)

Example: “Led a team of 12 across AP, AR, and FP&A in a PE-backed developer/operator with $600M in assets under management.”

4. Stakeholder Engagement & Reporting Lines

This sector is stakeholder-heavy. Your CV should highlight how you’ve communicated with:

• Investors, Boards, Capital Partners, Lenders
• Government stakeholders (especially in Affordable Housing, SDA or NRAS-funded projects)
• Internal functions including Development, Asset Management, Operations, and Sales

Clear reporting lines and your role in decision-making are key to senior finance appointments.

5. Funding, Debt & JV Experience

Have you helped secure debt facilities? Negotiated joint ventures? Liaised with capital markets?

Include:

• Quantum and structure of facilities you’ve helped secure
• Relationships with lenders, financiers, and capital advisors
• Governance experience for JVs or institutional funding models

6. Systems, Tech & Process Improvements

CFOs and FCs are increasingly judged by their ability to modernise finance. Be sure to include:

• ERP systems (e.g. MRI, Yardi, TechOne, NetSuite, SAP)
• Automation initiatives (e.g. Power BI, process mapping, forecasting tools)
• Audit and compliance frameworks implemented

7. Regulatory & Tax Exposure

Especially relevant in sectors like Affordable Housing, SDA, or Retirement Living where:

• GST, land tax and depreciation treatment differ
• Compliance with housing regulations or aged care frameworks may be required

If you’ve liaised with regulators, auditors, or tax advisors on sector-specific issues, include it.

8. Career Narrative & Achievements

Don’t just list roles—craft a compelling narrative:

• What problems did you inherit?
• What did you solve or improve?
• What legacy did you leave behind?

Use quantifiable outcomes wherever possible. A great finance CV reads like a case study in business leadership.