Senior Bookkeeper & Accounts Officer

Overview

This role is a senior, hands-on bookkeeping and accounts position at the center of the organization’s day-to-day finance function. It involves genuine ownership of the numbers—beyond data entry—covering accounts payable and receivable, BAS preparation, reconciliations, proactive collections, and cash flow forecasting and budgeting.

The role reports directly to the Director. The organization is based in Melbourne and provides safety barrier and protection systems, with installations across Victoria.

Responsibilities

Accounts Receivable & Collections

• Raise and issue customer invoices accurately and on time
• Monitor debtors daily and proactively follow up overdue invoices, including phone-based collections directly with clients
• Confirm payment arrangements with clients where required and escalate genuine disputes
• Allocate receipts and maintain accurate customer account records

Accounts Payable & Bookkeeping

• Process supplier invoices and schedule/process payments
• Perform bank reconciliations across accounts within agreed timeframes
• Investigate and resolve discrepancies before they compound
• Maintain the general ledger and day-to-day bookkeeping records to a high standard of accuracy

BAS & Compliance

• Prepare Business Activity Statements (BAS) accurately and on time each period, liaising with the external accountant/tax agent as required for review and lodgement
• Apply correct GST treatment to transactions
• Maintain audit-ready, well-documented financial records

Forecasting & Budgeting

• Prepare and maintain cash flow forecasts that reflect the real timing of receivables and payables (not just historical averages)
• Build and maintain budgets, and report actual performance against budget
• Flag emerging cash flow or budget risks early

Ownership & Daily Discipline

• Own the finance function’s daily rhythm, including reconciliations, collections calls, and reporting cadence
• Communicate clearly and proactively with leadership on the state of the numbers, including when results are not favorable
• Query unclear instructions or figures rather than guessing

Requirements (Must-Have)

• Minimum 5 years of hands-on, full-cycle bookkeeping/accounts experience including:
  • accounts payable
  • accounts receivable
  • bank reconciliation
  • BAS preparation
• Demonstrated experience preparing BAS accurately and on time, period after period
• Proven experience proactively phoning clients to collect overdue payments; comfortable with real, sometimes difficult collection calls (not just email reminders or statements)
• Demonstrated experience preparing cash flow forecasts and/or budgets, and reporting actual performance against them
• Proficient in Xero (or an equivalent cloud accounting platform such as MYOB), with strong Excel skills
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail, able to meet recurring compliance deadlines (BAS, reconciliations, reporting)
• Strong daily self-discipline; works the numbers every day as a routine without needing to be prompted or chased
• Confident, professional communicator comfortable having direct conversations with clients about money
• Able to work independently in a remote environment with limited day-to-day supervision
• Available part-time (20 hours per week) on hours aligned to Australian business hours (AEST/AEDT)

Preferred Qualifications (Nice-to-Have)

• Background in construction, building products, or a trade-services supplier, including familiarity with progress claims, retentions, or trade payment terms
• Certificate in Bookkeeping and Accounting, and/or BAS Agent registration (or eligibility)
• Experience presenting cash flow forecasts or budget performance directly to business owners or directors
• Experience with credit control or collections as a distinct specialism (not just one part of a broader accounts receivable role)

Compensation & Benefits

• Part-time role: 20 hours per week (4 hours daily with some flexibility)

Location

• Melbourne, Victoria (working hours aligned to Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST/AEDT) business hours, working the same calendar as the Australian-based leadership team)