Principal Adviser - Business Analysis

Principal Advisor - Business Analysis | Brisbane

• Join a global network and diverse team where people are encouraged to offer unique perspectives and build knowledge and connections.
• Great exposure to investment decisions, strategy, commercial and operations matters
• Work in a collaborative and fast paced environment
• Challenge yourself to think outside of the box
• Role within the finance function, based in Brisbane 

About the role

All progress begins with pioneers. At Rio Tinto, it begins with you

We are seeking an experienced Principal Advisor to join the RTA Business Analysis Team, where you will lead business analysis support for our Pacific bauxite mining operations. As a key part of the RTA Finance function, you will play an integral role in providing investment evaluation and analytical insights that drive strategic decision-making across the business.

Reporting directly to the Manager – Mines and Refineries, you will partner with stakeholders to responsibly maximize value, ensuring that business decisions are well-informed and closely aligned with our approved strategy and business plan. Your expertise will be crucial in delivering objective, thorough, and actionable financial analysis that supports recommendations on strategic initiatives, as well as capital, commercial, and operational proposals.

If you are passionate about making a tangible impact through high-quality analysis and collaborative advisory, we invite you to bring your unique perspective and join our dynamic team.

Your responsibilities will include:

Capital Investment, and Commercial Submissions and Approvals

• Prepare and lead high-quality submissions for Rio Tinto Investment Committee (IC), Capital Committee (CC), and Group CEO approvals, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives.
• Manage a robust pipeline of capital expenditure approvals (CEAs) and commercial contracts, providing visibility and supporting decision-making.
• Engage proactively with stakeholders and project teams early in the process to ensure thorough understanding, smooth progression, and collaborative input for all submissions.
• Collaborate with the Strategy team and technical leads to develop asset-level strategies, conduct analysis, and prepare key documents.
• Review and maintain high standards of analysis and integrity for all submissions, supporting process simplification, continuous learning, and cost efficiencies.
• Support governance improvements by identifying opportunities to streamline approvals and aggregate submissions where appropriate.
• Provide analytical and transactional support for special projects and ad hoc activities as needed.

Mine asset valuations

• Take ownership of mine valuation processes, providing robust analysis and delivering key support for impairment reviews and compliance-related activities.
• Contribute to strategic planning initiatives as required, ensuring alignment with business objectives.
• Support senior stakeholders in shaping portfolio and project decisions through proactive financial and scenario analysis to identify key value drivers and maximise overall business value.
• Develop and maintain high integrity, clean and advanced techno-economic valuation models to evaluate complex projects, supporting informed decision-making and driving value for the organisation.
• Support data clean-up, model optimisation, and the adoption of AI-enabled tools to enhance modelling efficiency, data quality, and insight generation.

About you

To be successfully considered for this role, you will possess the following:

• Excellent analytical skills with ability to apply technical experience in complex or novel situations in the following areas:
  • Strong analytical skills and experience applying technical knowledge to solve complex problems.
  • Skilled in financial modelling and using tools like Excel, Power BI, and SAC.
  • Able to turn data into clear, actionable insights for decision-making.
  • Critically review business cases to identify gaps and provide evidence-based alternatives, using modelling techniques to clarify trade-offs and support strategic decision-making.
  • Standardise analytical workflows and reduce manual rework, while improving data quality and reliability for advanced tools and automation.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a team
  • Work closely with Finance, Operations, Economics, and other teams to ensure alignment with business needs.
  • Share knowledge and best practices within the team, supporting consistent standards in modelling and insight delivery.
  • Demonstrate curiosity to learn operations, assets, and modelling techniques, and courage to speak up when integrity is compromised.
  • Actively participate in team initiatives, sharing workload and fostering a collaborative environment.

Qualifications and Experience

• Tertiary qualification required, Post-graduate Finance, MBA or similar highly desirable.
• Operational experience in a refinery or manufacturing environment highly desirable.
• Senior-level Business Analysis experience with strategic exposure is helpful.

• Experience working within high-performing teams and contributing to shared goals.
• We value diversity in skill set and mindset – candidates who bring unique capabilities will be an advantage.

Where you will be working

Based in Brisbane, you will be working in the RTA Business Analysis team, with teams in both Brisbane and Montreal.  The Business Analysis team provides challenging and interesting work, in a supportive environment.

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.
• Advantageous salary package with annual cash incentive awards (STIP) for eligible employees.
• Generous Rio Tinto employee share program, which allows you to purchase Rio Tinto Company shares.
• Comprehensive medical benefits including subsidised private health insurance for employees and immediate family members.
• Ongoing access to family-friendly health and medical wellbeing support.
• Exclusive employee discounts (banking, accommodation, cars, retail and more).
• Our team and industry experts are here to support and work with you to explore your learning potential and career goals.

#GTS

About Rio TintoRio 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.

Respect and InclusionAt 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.