Zoe Eagles

Zoe is an experienced recruitment professional with over 8 years’ experience in the recruitment industry, including 5 years specialising in Australian Government recruitment. She has successfully supported recruitment requirements across local, state and federal government agencies, as well as Government-Owned Corporations (GOCs) and statutory bodies. Zoe is committed to delivering a high level of service to both clients and candidates, with a strong focus on building trusted partnerships and ensuring recruitment outcomes that meet the operational and strategic needs of government organisations.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Successfully placed over 100 contractors across NSW State Government
Supported recruitment for executive-level positions within NSW State Government.
Delivered high-volume recruitment processes for major government programs including Department of Veterans’ Affairs – Open Arms, National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), Department of Home Affairs, Services Australia
Extensive experience recruiting across Local, State and Federal Government, as well as Education and Not-for-Profit (NGO) sectors.

RECRUITMENT EXPERTISE

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

Corporate and Administrative
Business and Office Support
Customer Service and Contact/Call Centre roles
Project Administration and Project Support
Finance and Accounting
Human Resources
Procurement and Contract Management
Governance, Policy, Risk and Compliance
Workplace Health and Safety (WHS)
Fraud and Investigations
Correspondence, Media, Marketing and Communications

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.