Overview of the Role
The Tax Accountant will oversee the full spectrum of financial, taxation, compliance, and reporting functions across multiple entities, including those held by Directors. This hands-on role requires strong technical taxation expertise and attention to detail, managing end-to-end responsibilities such as bookkeeping, management reporting, tax compliance, trust account administration, budgeting, forecasting, and coordination with banks and auditors. The Tax Accountant will work with a high level of autonomy, ensuring accuracy, regulatory compliance, and alignment with the Group’s strategic objectives.
Main duties include:
Bookkeeping
- Carry out full bookkeeping function across all nominated entities (excluding payroll)
- Reconcile all bank accounts and loan accounts daily.
- Capture and process all supplier invoices and load for payment.
- Capture and allocate all disbursements to Work In Progress (WIP).
- Ensure all invoices are posted accurately and miscellaneous invoices are cleared.
- Process expense claims and arrange reimbursements to Directors and staff.
- Re-charge general overheads and manage intercompany recharges between Group entities.
- Reconcile intercompany loan accounts.
- Process for payment all payroll-related obligations including:
- Calculate and pay Payroll Tax.
- Reconcile key clearing and control accounts.
- Prepare and lodge monthly BAS returns.
- Forecast required quarterly tax instalments in the relevant BAS.
- Ensure timely loading and payment of all ATO obligations.
- Load for payment bi-monthly dividend payments.
Monthly Management Reporting
- Prepare monthly management accounts for each entity.
- Perform month-end processing including preparation of journals for:
- Leave and Long Service Leave accrual adjustments
- Prepayments amortisation (insurance, etc.)
- Reconcile key balance sheet accounts and investigate reconciling items.
- Ensure accuracy and completeness of financial reports.
- Provide commentary and insights to COO & Directors as required.
Year-End Financial & Tax Compliance
- Process all year-end journals necessary to finalise accounts.
- Prepare year-end reconciliations and clear reconciling items.
- Maintain fixed asset and tax asset registers.
- Reconcile Director loan accounts.
- Calculate and prepare year-end tax calculations.
- Calculate and adjust deferred tax balances.
- Determine dividends to declare and tax payable.
- Prepare and lodge annual tax returns with the ATO (shall include Director owned entities)
- Prepare working papers to support year-end financial and tax positions.
- Calculate equity valuations.
- Process goodwill adjustments where required.
- Prepare and issue dividend statements.
- Establish and implement tax planning strategies prior to year end
Budgeting & Forecasting
- Prepare the annual budget for each relevant entity.
- Prepare regular cash flow forecasts.
- Assess and determine dividend capacity throughout the year.
- Monitor forecast vs actual performance and report variances.
Banking & External Stakeholder Liaison
- Prepare and provide documentation required by Westpac (or relevant lender) for loan reviews.
- Liaise with banking representatives as required.
- Provide documentation and reconciliations as requested.
Trust Account Administration & Compliance
- Administer Shakespeare Trust Account ensuring full compliance with regulatory requirements.
- Reconcile trust account daily.
- Request trust authorities for amounts received and load payments accordingly.
- Maintain a ledger of amounts held in trust.
- Ensure monthly reconciliation and sign-off.
- Assist auditors with trust audit requirements.
Compliance & Governance Responsibilities
- Ensure full compliance with ATO, Corporations Act, and relevant taxation legislation.
- Maintain accurate and complete financial records.
- Ensure all payments are appropriately authorised and supported.
- Safeguard confidentiality of Director and Group financial information.
- Maintain strong internal controls and identify areas for improvement.
- CA or CPA qualified (or equivalent).
- Degree in Accounting, Finance or related discipline.
- Minimum 5+ years’ experience in taxation and financial accounting.
- Strong working knowledge of Australian tax legislation.
- Experience preparing company, trust and individual tax returns.
- Strong experience with BAS preparation and compliance.
- Experience managing multiple entities.