AU Accountant (001-1454)

Overview

This remote role is an independent contractor engagement for an Accountant. Work is expected to align with Australian business hours (9 AM–5 PM, Monday to Friday) for collaboration. As a contractor, you’ll have flexibility in how you manage your time, in coordination with your manager to balance your schedule with customer and business needs.

The organization provides outsourced finance support to Australian SME clients. You will be engaged directly by the client as an independent contractor (not through an outsourcing agency).

Responsibilities

• Manage the full-cycle accounting function for a portfolio of clients using Xero

• Handle daily transaction coding and bank reconciliations

• Perform balance sheet reconciliations

• Manage prepayments, accruals, depreciation schedules, and journal entries

• Maintain clean charts of accounts tailored to each client’s operational and reporting needs

• Process intercompany transactions, loan account reconciliations, and multi-entity eliminations where applicable

• Oversee Accounts Payable (bill processing, approval workflows, payment batch runs)

• Oversee Accounts Receivable (invoicing, debtor monitoring, collections support)

• Lead rigorous month-end close processes to finalize client numbers within agreed turnaround times

• Prepare monthly management packs, including:

  • Profit & Loss
  • Balance Sheet
  • Statement of Cash Flows
  • Budget vs. Actual variance analysis
  • Key operational KPIs (gross margins, customer/job profitability)

• Write clear, plain-English commentary on performance drivers, cost spikes, and margin risks

• Build, update, and maintain rolling 12-month three-way cash flow forecasts

• Monitor working capital and identify upcoming cash shortfalls or surplus funds well in advance

• Support fractional CFOs with scenario modelling (e.g., hiring impact, pricing adjustments, capital investments)

• Present recommendations by explaining the story behind the numbers

• Process end-to-end client payroll in Xero Payroll, ensuring compliance with Australian Modern Awards, Fair Work standards, and leave accruals

• Manage Single Touch Payroll (STP Phase 2) reporting and annual finalisations

• Reconcile and submit superannuation guarantee payments

• Prepare and reconcile BAS/IAS working papers (GST, PAYG-W, PAYG-I) for BAS agent/tax agent review and lodgement

• Prepare tidy year-end workpaper files to facilitate handover to external registered tax agents

• Explore and implement modern tools, app integrations (e.g., Dext, Hubdoc, ApprovalMax, and other Xero add-ons), and automation to reduce manual data entry

• Use AI tools to streamline financial analysis, drafting commentary, and workflow efficiency

• Improve internal operating procedures, standard checklists, and reporting templates for client onboarding and ongoing delivery

Requirements

Required skills and qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or related discipline
• Ideally professionally qualified or working towards a recognised accounting qualification
• 3–5+ years’ accounting experience
• Strong experience with Xero
• Experience supporting Australian businesses
• Strong understanding of Australian accounting practices
• Experience with BAS, GST and Australian tax processes
• Strong month-end reporting experience
• Experience preparing Profit & Loss and Balance Sheet reports
• Strong Excel skills
• Experience with cash flow forecasting
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent written and verbal English
• Ability to work independently and meet deadlines

Highly desirable

• Experience working across diverse SME sectors (e.g., professional services, e-commerce, trades & construction, SaaS, health)
• Exposure to project accounting, job costing, or inventory management
• Experience with third-party reporting and forecasting tools (e.g., Fathom, Spotlight Reporting, Calxa)
• Practical experience applying generative AI tools to improve accounting workflows and documentation

Personal attributes

• Commercially minded: understand how decisions affect gross margin, cash runway, and long-term business value
• Inquisitive and detail-driven: investigate anomalies and avoid relying on “plug” balancing entries
• Autonomous and proactive: take ownership of deliverables and communicate before deadlines
• Clear communicator: translate complex accounting concepts into jargon-free, actionable insights
• Continuous improver: identify friction in workflows and automate, standardise, or simplify

Compensation & Benefits

• Compensation range: $2,000–$3,000 AUD per month
• Engagement type: Independent Contractor Agreement

Location

• Philippines-based candidates
• Remote role aligned to Australian business hours (AEST or PHT) for core meeting collaboration