Principal Advisor – Process Improvement Lead

Principal Advisor – Finance Process Improvement Leader

• Be part of an inclusive group that is safety & results driven

• Join a global and diverse team where people are encouraged to offer unique perspectives and build knowledge and connections 

• Exceptional opportunity to champion and develop a new skill set in our Perth hub

About the role

Finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs.

We are seeking a dynamic and analytical professional, based in Perth, to join our Finance shared services group as the Principal Advisor – Finance Process Improvement Leader.

This role plays a critical part in connecting and working with our Finance Service Delivery teams, Operations, and Information Systems & Technology functions, while ensuring robust governance and the integrity of our financial information.

You will also contribute to building technical and functional expertise within operations, empowering the shared services team to achieve business excellence.

Reporting to the Manager – Systems, Group Services, you will work in a collaborative and dynamic environment, focusing on:

Process & User Support

• Building the skills and knowledge of the Finance operational team to ensure effective utilization of technology and improved productivity; activities include coaching and knowledge share, contributing to creation of a super user community and development of learning materials

• Supporting Finance operations by: 

  • Providing expert support for complex transactions that require a higher level of SAP knowledge to undertake and/or are infrequently undertaken (e.g., product costing, planning, customer profitability analysis, etc.)

  • Offering guidance on handling unusual transactions outside standard processes 

  • Investigating and resolving posting errors that deviate from standard processes

  • Advising on effective data usage and best practices for ad hoc reporting

  • Overseeing system configurations, including cost models and master data management

Data Governance

• Ensuring the quality of Finance master data and monitoring the effectiveness of data management processes across various Finance systems

• Reviewing, approving & actioning sensitive Finance master data requests

• Contributing to process design and governance initiatives within Rio Tinto Finance

In addition to your core responsibilities, this role focuses heavily on leading and facilitating the design and implementation of changes to adapt Finance processes to evolving business needs. It involves providing expertise to Business Improvement projects, coordinating cross-service line efforts, and collaborating with stakeholders beyond Group Services to drive improvements across multiple areas.

This role is part of the Group Services Finance & Accounting Services, Business Improvement team; this is a global team with members across all our major hubs. The role will require close partnership, interactions and alignment with other improvement and operational delivery teams, particularly in Montreal, Delhi and Perth.

What you’ll bring

• A commitment to the safety of yourself and your team

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance or Business-related area

• Accounting certification CPA or equivalent (desired)

• Experience in financial operations with a proven ability to drive performance improvements

• Skilled in business improvement, aligning technical possibilities with business needs

• Strong project management and prioritization skills to complete tasks effectively

• Strong communication & stakeholder engagement skills

• Curious, enthusiastic, collaborative and possess a growth mindset

• Ability to influence stakeholders to deliver outcomes that benefit Rio Tinto as a whole

• Understanding of finance business processes and month-end close activities (required)

• A solid understanding of the main value drivers in mining and processing (desired)

What we offer 

We are committed to providing our employees with a generous benefits package. Be recognized for your contribution, your thinking, your hard work, and go home knowing you’ve helped the world progress, we provide: 

• A safety-focused and inclusive working environment 

• A competitive salary package with annual cash incentive awards (STIP)

• Career development & education assistance to further your ambitions 

• Access to top tier family-friendly health and medical programs  

• Excellent retirement plan 

• A comprehensive leave policy that covers all moments that matter in life (vacation/annual, paid parental leave, short term sick leave, paid holidays) 

• Ongoing individual well-being support for you and your family for personal and professional matter.

About Rio Tinto

Rio Tinto is a leading global mining and materials company. We operate in 35 countries where we produce iron ore, copper, aluminium, critical minerals, and other materials needed for the global energy transition and for people, communities, and nations to thrive.

We have been mining for 150 years and operate with knowledge built up across generations and continents. Our purpose is finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs – striving for innovation and continuous improvement to produce materials with low emissions and to the right environmental, social and governance standards. But we can’t do it on our own, so we’re focused on creating partnerships to solve problems, create win-win situations and meet opportunities.

Every Voice Matters

At Rio Tinto, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, the LGBTI+ community, mature workers, people with disabilities and people from different cultural backgrounds.

We are committed to an inclusive environment where people feel comfortable to be themselves. We want our people to feel that all voices are heard, all cultures respected and that a variety of perspectives are not only welcome – they are essential to our success. We treat each other fairly and with dignity regardless of race, gender, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, age, sexual orientation or anything else that makes us different.