A high-performing finance team can be a true strategic asset in today’s competitive business landscape; bringing clarity to decision-making, enabling growth, and driving operational excellence. But building such a team goes far beyond filling vacancies.

Here are the secret ingredients to assembling a high-performing finance team—and the types of candidates you should be searching for.

Clearly Defined Roles – Without Overlap

One of the biggest performance drains in finance functions is role duplication. When responsibilities are unclear or spread thin across multiple people, inefficiencies creep in, and accountability drops.

Hiring insight: Map out the structure of your finance team across operational, reporting, and strategic layers. Ensure each role has a distinct purpose—from AP/AR specialists through to financial controllers and commercial finance leaders.

Look for candidates who:

  • Have clear domain expertise
  • Understand their role within a larger finance ecosystem
  • Can collaborate cross-functionally without stepping on toes

A Mix of Experience Levels

A strong finance team needs the right blend of technical doers, analytical thinkers, and commercial advisors. That means balancing junior staff (who bring energy and adaptability) with mid-level professionals (who drive process) and senior finance leaders (who deliver strategy and insight).

Hiring insight: Don’t just chase experience—look for teams that are intentionally layered to support learning, delegation, and succession planning.

Look for candidates who:

  • Complement the existing team’s strengths
  • Can mentor or be mentored
  • Are open to development and upward mobility

Strong Financial Systems Knowledge

Even the best people are limited by poor systems. Today’s finance professionals need to be fluent in ERP platforms, automation tools, and reporting software.

Hiring insight: When hiring, don’t just screen for experience with a specific system—look for adaptability and digital fluency. Great candidates can quickly learn new platforms and recommend improvements.

Look for candidates who:

  • Have experience with modern finance software (e.g. SAP, NetSuite, Xero)
  • Can troubleshoot, streamline, or digitise finance processes
  • Show a data-driven mindset

Commercial Acumen – Not Just Compliance

The finance function is no longer just about ticking boxes for auditors. High-performing finance teams add real commercial value—analysing trends, supporting strategic decisions, and partnering with business units.

Hiring insight: Build your team with professionals who think like business partners, not just number crunchers.

Look for candidates who:

  • Can interpret financials to drive decision-making
  • Understand broader business operations
  • Are confident communicating with non-financial stakeholders

Ongoing Training and Development

The best finance teams don’t just keep up—they stay ahead. A culture of learning helps ensure your team remains compliant, up to date with regulatory changes, and ready for what’s next.

Hiring insight: Invest in candidates who are hungry to grow, and support them with structured development pathways. This boosts retention and builds capability from within.

Look for candidates who:

  • Are CPA/CA qualified (or actively pursuing)
  • Have a track record of upskilling
  • Ask about growth opportunities during interviews

Finance Leadership That Sets the Tone

Even the most talented team needs direction. Strong finance leadership ensures alignment, fosters accountability, and connects the finance team to wider business strategy.

Hiring insight: Whether it’s a Financial Controller or a CFO, your leadership hire will shape the culture and performance of the team below them. Choose wisely.

Look for candidates who:

  • Lead with integrity and vision
  • Have successfully built or scaled finance teams
  • Know how to inspire and mentor others

A high-performing finance team isn’t built overnight. It requires strategic hiring, structured development, and the right balance of people, processes, and platforms. As a hiring manager, aligning your recruitment strategy with these core ingredients can dramatically improve the output and value of your finance function.

Luxford Dunn specialises in sourcing exceptional finance professionals across Australia—from sharp junior analysts to commercially savvy CFOs. If you’re building your team or filling a critical gap, get in touch with our expert consultants today.