⚡️If you’re over feeling like just another cog in the wheel, or working somewhere that’s all grind and no real growth, then we might just be your people!

PAL Accounting & Advisory, based down the highway in the buzzing heart of Newtown (Geelong), is on the lookout for an experienced accountant to be our next Senior Accountant/Team Leader – Business Services & Tax and join our growing crew.

Yes, we're a small and mighty team - but we're also progressive, ambitious, flexible, and have plenty of opportunity and long-term upside available for the right person.

✅ That might be you if...

You’re ready to work somewhere that can grow with you long-term.

You love the lifestyle (good coffee and lower cost of living) that comes with life in Geelong/Surfcoast.

You're friendly, down-to-earth, and bring good vibes wherever you go!

You take pride in producing accurate, high-quality work and ensuring everything runs smoothly.

You're a stickler for detail and doing the right thing (even when no one's looking).

🔍 Overview of the role and benefits...

With 5+ years of Australian tax experience, the Senior Accountant/Team Leader plays a pivotal role in keeping our production engine running smoothly—with a fresh, friendly, no-BS approach and a commitment to excellence.

You’ll work closely with Senior Management to deliver sharp, value-adding outcomes to clients, while keeping our compliance train running smoothly (and on time). If you're someone who naturally brings order to chaos—and does it with a smile—you’ll thrive in this role!

Key benefits include...

Sign-on bonus: A token of our excitement and commitment to you, in addition to a competitive salary package

Domestic relocation support: If needed, we’ll support your relocation to make the move as smooth as possible—not just for your next career step, but for the lifestyle adventure that comes with it.

Career progression built in: This isn’t a stopgap role—it’s part of our future. Expect real career progress, regular salary reviews, and a seat at the table as we grow.

Learning and development: Guided by our 'grow and adapt' value we provide development opportunities and support continuous learning to help you reach your personal and professional goals.

Varied work, that matters: You're not just ticking boxes here. You’ll be helping small business owners thrive, tackle interesting, varied work that stretches your skills and keeps things fresh.

High standards, no ego: We care about doing great work and actually enjoying our time doing it—without the politics or pretence.

Real humans with a vision: To help our clients and our team win at life—whatever that looks like for them.

Genuine flexibility: This role is primarily onsite, but once you settle in we’re happy to work with you on flexibility that supports your best work and lifestyle. From WFH to flex hours, there are options!🌴

👉 A day in the life...

As Senior Accountant/Team Leader, you’ll report directly to the Director and be responsible for keeping our compliance function humming with exceptional attention to detail. That means ensuring financials, tax returns, advisory reports, and other key deliverables are accurate, timely, and technically on point.

You’ll be the go-to for technical reviews, workflow bottlenecks, and process improvements—basically, the person who keeps things moving (and who everyone’s relieved to have around!). You'll also mentor and support our accountants and bookkeepers, helping lift our capability across the board and contributing to a calm, collaborative, and high-performing environment.

💼 What you'll be responsible for...

You’ll be the backbone of our accounting team—leading, reviewing, and ensuring top-quality work before it reaches the Director. You won’t just manage workflows; you’ll coach, train and elevate the people around you and ensure things are running like a well-oiled machine.

Support the Director by ensuring jobs are completed on time, accurately, and to a high standard.

Step in as a technical expert, assisting Senior Management with strategic client work when needed.

Review, refine, and sign off on work from your team, ensuring it's 100% ready for the final review.

Train and mentor your team, developing their technical expertise across financial statement preparation, tax returns, bookkeeping, and payroll processing.

Supervise a team that may include Senior Accountants, Intermediate Accountants, Graduate Accountants, and Bookkeepers at various levels—helping them deliver their best work.

This role is all about efficiency, excellence, and leadership — perfect for a detail-driven accounting gun who is a natural problem-solver and who thrives on developing people and delivering outstanding work.

✅ What YOU bring to the table...

Qualifications and experience:

CPA or CA qualified

Must currently live in Australia and hold a legal right to work in Australia.

5+ years Australian tax experience in public practice.

2+ years people/workflow management experience in public practice.

Hard Skills:

Tax Expertise – Expert knowledge of Australian tax and compliance, with a commitment to staying on top of industry changes and external factors that impact clients.

High Attention to Detail – Deliver and review 100% accurate work.

Workflow Efficiency – Strong understanding of workflow management and production efficiency. Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines effectively.

Technical Proficiency – Advanced in Xero, Microsoft Office (Excel)

Clear Communication – Exceptional written and verbal communication skills - you can make the complex simple.

Soft Skills:

Leadership & Mentorship – Support and guide junior staff with approachability, empathy, and a commitment to team cohesion.

Organisation & Problem-Solving – Strong time management, structured workflow approach, and the ability to resolve challenges effectively.

Adaptability & Growth Mindset – You’re up for new challenges, always learning, and focused on improving yourself and your work.

Proactive & Solutions-Focused – Anticipate needs, take initiative, and bring a positive, problem-solving energy to the team.

Integrity & Accountability – You care about doing the right thing - keeping things honest, reliable, and holding yourself and the team to high standards.

💸 Salary...

We're offering a sign-on bonus plus a competitive salary package starting from $110K - $134K (negotiable pending skills, exposure, and experience)

Sound like you? Apply now and help us redefine how accounting and advisory should feel.

Along with your CV, a short cover letter touching on why you'd be a great fit for this role would be great.