Sheridan Catt

Sheridan has over 15 years of experience in recruitment, working in the Adelaide market, as well as on a national level with various government agencies, departments and local councils. Sheridan has a proven track record of helping candidates find meaningful work while providing exceptional care and guidance throughout the hiring process. Sheridan is known for her warm, down-to-earth approach and loves taking the time to really understand people, their strengths, goals and what makes them tick.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Awarded Best “Customer Service Program for candidate care” for delivering exceptional stakeholder engagement and maintaining high client and candidate satisfaction.
Successfully managed end-to-end recruitment for large-scale government and not-for-profit projects, including supporting the SA State Government Program’s and high-volume assessment centre recruitment initiatives.
Account-managed key State and Local Government clients, delivering tailored recruitment strategies and maintaining long-term stakeholder relationships.
Led and contributed to major recruitment projects and talent pipeline initiatives, leveraging LinkedIn, CRM systems, and market insights to improve sourcing outcomes and hiring efficiency.

RECRUITMENT EXPERTISE

Sheridan has demonstrated experience sourcing and placing candidates across a broad range of government role types, including:

Business and Office Support
Customer Service and Call Centre
Finance and Accounting
Human Resources
Correspondence, Media, Marketing and Communications
Workplace Health and Safety
Governance, Policy, Risk and Compliance
Procurement and Contract Management
Project Administration and Support
Fraud and Investigations

The Changing Role of the Finance Manager

September 2, 2026

The role of the Finance Manager is changing. Traditionally, Finance Managers have been responsible for financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting and compliance. Today, organisations increasingly expect them to do much more: influence strategy, support commercial decisions and lead finance transformation. For businesses hiring their next finance leader, the question is no longer simply whether someone can manage the numbers. Can they help the business make better decisions? 5 capabilities shaping the next generation of Finance Managers 1. Commercial thinking Finance Managers are increasingly expected to move beyond reporting what happened and help shape what happens next. That means understanding the broader business, challenging assumptions and translating financial insights into commercial recommendations. In Australia, Hays has identified commercial acumen as one of the most important capabilities for senior finance leaders, highlighting the growing importance of finance professionals who can operate as true business partners. 2. FP&A and strategic planning Forecasting and budgeting remain core responsibilities, but today's Finance Manager needs to think in scenarios. Strong FP&A capability allows finance leaders to identify risks, model opportunities and give leadership teams a clearer view of what lies ahead. 3. Technology and transformation Automation, AI, data and ERP transformation are changing how finance teams operate. Finance Managers don't need to be technologists, but they do need to understand how technology can improve processes, reporting and decision-making. According to Hays, 51% of organisations in Australia's Financial and Insurance Services sector report skills gaps, reinforcing the challenge businesses face in finding professionals with the right combination of technical and future-focused capabilities. 4. Communication and influence The modern Finance Manager needs to communicate with more than the finance team. Whether presenting to executives, partnering with operations or challenging a commercial decision, they need to turn complex financial information into clear, actionable insights. Technical expertise gets the conversation started. Communication and influence help move it forward. 5. People leadership As finance functions become more strategic and multidisciplinary, Finance Managers are also becoming increasingly important people leaders. The ability to develop talent, lead change and build high-performing teams is becoming just as important as technical capability. Hiring for what comes next The best Finance Manager for an organisation isn't necessarily the person with the longest list of technical credentials. It is the person whose capabilities match where the business is going. For a growing organisation, that might mean commerciality and FP&A. For an ASX-listed business, it could be reporting, governance and stakeholder management. For a business undergoing transformation, technology and change leadership may be critical.