Commercial & Finance Manager - BESS Projects

Lead financial planning, contract commercial management and stakeholder coordination across a major utility-scale battery energy storage project.

Organisation: Leading global power generation and renewables business

Locations: Melbourne | Adelaide | Perth

Specialisation: Project finance, contract management, BESS delivery

D'Arcy Weil is representing a leading global power generation and renewables business with an active and growing pipeline of utility-scale battery energy storage projects across Australia. The business is seeking a Commercial & Finance Manager to bring financial rigour and commercial discipline to the delivery of a major BESS project — overseeing budgets, managing contract performance, and maintaining productive relationships across a complex, multi-contract project environment.

Team Overview: The project delivery team operates within a large, commercially disciplined energy business at the forefront of Australia's battery storage buildout. The incoming Commercial & Finance Manager will work closely with the Project Manager and broader delivery team — bringing the financial planning capability, commercial oversight, and stakeholder coordination skills required to keep a technically complex and high-value project on track and on budget.

Job Overview: A commercially astute finance professional with 10+ years of experience across business strategy or project management roles is sought to manage the financial and commercial dimensions of a major BESS project — from budget development and forecasting through to contract compliance, payment processing, and contractor claims support.

Key Responsibilities:'

Project Planning & Implementation

• Develop and maintain comprehensive project implementation plans across a complex, multi-contract BESS project environment — including interface arrangements between EPC, split contract, and specialist package counterparties
• Own budget oversight across the full project lifecycle, ensuring financial controls are applied with rigour from mobilisation through to practical completion
• Identify, quantify, and escalate financial and commercial risks with sufficient lead time to enable effective management and mitigation
• Maintain a current and accurate picture of project cost position, schedule performance, and commercial exposure at all times

Financial Management

• Lead all financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting activities across the project — including cost-to-complete analysis, cash flow projections, and variance reporting
• Produce timely, accurate, and decision-ready financial analysis for the Project Manager and senior leadership
• Manage project financial reporting across internal and external stakeholder requirements, ensuring consistency, accuracy, and transparency throughout delivery
• Oversee project accounting processes including accruals, cost allocation, and financial close activities

Contract Commercial Management

• Take ownership of the commercial dimensions of all project contracts — maintaining a clear and current understanding of entitlements, obligations, and risk positions across each package
• Monitor and enforce interface arrangements between counterparties, ensuring compliance with contractual notice regimes, milestone obligations, and payment certification requirements
• Manage payment processing with precision and discipline — ensuring certification is accurate, timely, and contractually defensible
• Support the Project Manager in the assessment, response, and negotiation of contractor claims — providing well-reasoned commercial analysis and documentation

Stakeholder & Contractor Engagement

• Build credible, productive working relationships with senior internal stakeholders, contractors, and external counterparties across the project
• Serve as the primary commercial and financial point of contact across a demanding and technically complex stakeholder group
• Navigate commercial tensions across a multi-contractor environment with sound judgement, clear communication, and a solutions-focused approach

HSE Contribution

• Contribute to a Zero Harm culture through active participation in health, safety, and environment processes across the project

Desired Skills & Experience

• Tertiary qualification in Finance or a related discipline
• CA, CPA, FINSIA, or CFA certification
• 10+ years of experience across business strategy or project management roles
• Strong analytical capability across financial and non-financial data in complex project environments
• Experience managing the commercial aspects of multi-contract construction projects desirable
• Energy or utilities sector background advantageous
• Eligibility to work in Australia

Career Advancement: A senior commercial and finance role within a globally operating power generation and renewables business, with genuine scope to contribute to a growing BESS project portfolio across Australia.

Package & Benefits

• Financial: Competitive remuneration; bonus arrangement; annual remuneration review
• Flexibility: Flexible working arrangements; Melbourne, Adelaide, or Perth location options
• Exposure: Financial and commercial accountability across a major utility-scale battery energy storage project
• Impact: Meaningful contribution to one of Australia's fastest-growing renewable energy infrastructure sectors
• Platform: Well-resourced project delivery environment within a globally operating energy business

Applications: Applications are invited online in the first instance. Alongside a current CV, candidates are asked to submit a concise cover letter addressing the following:

• A summary of project finance and commercial management experience — the size and nature of projects managed, contract structures involved, and scope of financial accountability held
• Specific examples of managing the commercial dimensions of multi-contract construction or infrastructure projects — contract types, counterparties, and outcomes achieved
• Their approach to financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting on major projects — tools used, reporting cadence, and how financial analysis informed project decision-making
• Experience managing contractor claims and payment processes — the nature of the claims, the commercial position taken, and the outcomes achieved
• Any prior exposure to energy, utilities, or battery energy storage projects — and the nature of that involvement

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted within 48 hours and provided with a comprehensive candidate pack detailing the organisation, role, and wider mandate ahead of an initial interview with a D'Arcy Weil consultant.

For further information please contact Ivan Pignataro on 0416 507 856 or (03) 9999 7409 or ***email_hidden***