Purpose of Role
The Senior Accountant is responsible for managing a diverse range of responsibilities and providing expert accounting support to numerous clients. Core tasks include overseeing financial reporting, reconciling accounts, and analyzing financial statements to deliver high quality, accurate and best practice accounting support to our clients.
The Senior Accountant will play a crucial role in managing, leading and mentoring Junior Accountants, while continuously seeking process improvements to optimize efficiency and performance of our clients. Their dedication and proficiency will be key in delivering exceptional accounting services and fostering long-lasting client relationships.
Key Accountabilities & Responsibilities
Technical Expertise
- Review vendor invoices and expense reports and ensure accuracy and timeliness in recording payables and payments.
- Oversee the payroll process, ensuring compliance with tax regulations and accurate payroll calculations and responding to payroll-related queries in a prompt manner.
- Supervise/review monthly reconciliations to ensure accurate recording of transactions and help to resolve any discrepancies.
- Prepare financial reports and analysis for management’s review, providing insights and recommendations based on the data.
- Coordinate the month-end closing process to meet reporting deadlines.
- Compile financial statements and supporting schedules for board reporting.
- Ensure compliane with IAS, BAS, FBT, Payroll Tax, Superannuation, Payment Summary requirements.
- Access and research information, including the use of electronic sources, legislation, accounting standards and awards as required for best practice completion of client work and resolution of issues.
Client and relationship management
- Take ownership of responses and outcomes, ensuring prompt and accurate resolution of client inquiries and concerns.
- Demonstrate integrity and professionalism in all client interactions, fostering rapport and building client confidence through a deep understanding of their financial and business objectives.
- Ensure issues are actively addressed and queries are responded to or resolved in a timely manner (within 24-48 hours).
- Provide support and guidance to junior team members when faced with client challenges.
- Escalate client issues to the Team Leader or Client Delivery Manager where appropriate.
Leadership and management
- Provide leadership, support and day to day instruction to Junior Accountants to enable them to complete the work assigned to them within the assigned deadline and productivity target.
- Undertake and manage formal and informal performance and development of direct reports through regular two-way feedback, coaching, support and guidance.
- Identify and support training needs and career development opportunities for direct reports.
- Ensure direct reports are undertaking and prioritising work in accordance with business priorities.
- Actively encourage and support group wide initiatives.
Process and continuous improvement
- Regularly and actively assess for opportunities for process improvements (both internally and for clients).
- Actively participate in continuous improvement projects (both Dexterous and clients), supporting the delivery of the projects on time, budget, within scope and according to desired outcomes.
- Actively encourage Junior Accountants to contribute to discussions relating to business processes and procedures.
Quality Assurance
- Ensure process documentation is written for all client processes and tasks are completed accordingly.
- Ensure process documentation is kept up to date.
- Ensure timely updating of key systems for all client deliverables. E.g. daily timesheets in XPM, regular reconciliation of accounts.
- Maintain accurate and up to date information on the appropriate client (and internal) platforms and systems.
- Conduct regular reviews to ensure Junior Accountants are following standard processes and procedures.
Time management
- Ensure that work is prioritised in accordance with business priorities.
- Ensure daily timesheets are accurately maintained and presented on a timely basis.
- Ensure on-time attendance to work in accordance with internal policies and procedures.
Key Performance Indicators
Client and relationship management
- Quarterly feedback from clients indicates a satisfaction rate of 80%
- Client work is completed by the required deadline and client queries are responded to within 48 hours
Leadership and management
- Employee turnover of direct reports <15%
- Performance and development plans in place and on time for 100% of direct reports
- All direct reports complete 100% allocated tasks within required timeframe/deadline
- Actively push groupwide initiatives via internal communication methods (e.g. Microsoft Teams, Email and team meetings)
Process and continuous improvement
- Every six months, explore at least one opportunity for new technology implementation
Quality Assurance
- All Asana processes are actively managed and completed on time
- All clients have up to date process documentation
- Ensure systems and processes are in place for continuity of client and operational deliverables
- All tasks are completed and managed within the required deadline
Stakeholders
Internal
- CFO Advisory team
- Client Management team
- Global team
External
- Clients
- Governing Bodies
- Regulators
- Professional bodies
- Australian Taxation Office
Minimum Criteria
Skills
- Strong financial acumen
- Excellent time management skills
- Strong relationship building skills
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Excellent organisation and analytical skills
- Able to work under pressure and achieve expected result
- Critical thinking and problem solving ability
Experience
- Relevant tertiary qualifications
- 5+ years’ experience in similar role
- CA or CPA qualified (preferred)
- Working knowledge of financial reporting standards
- Experience using Xero
- Knowledge and experience in Australian accounting practices, bookkeeping, tax, BAS/GST/FBT
- Experience managing multiple clients(preferred)
