Tax Accountant – Australian Public Practice

About the role

We are seeking an experienced Tax Accountant to join a busy Australian public practice team. The role involves delivering tax compliance, accounting, and advisory services to a diverse portfolio of SMEs, trusts, partnerships, and not‑for‑profits. You will work closely with senior managers and partners on statutory accounts, tax returns, BAS/IAS and provide practical tax advice.

Key responsibilities

• Prepare and review income tax returns for companies, individuals, trusts and partnerships.
• Advise clients on income tax, capital gains tax, payroll tax and GST matters.
• Identify tax planning opportunities and ensure compliance with ATO requirements.
• Prepare financial statements, management accounts and statutory accounts in line with Australian Accounting Standards.
• Handle year‑end adjustments, reconciliations and supporting working papers.
• Prepare and lodge Business Activity Statements (BAS) and Instalment Activity Statements (IAS), and coordinate payroll tax and superannuation reporting.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships through clear communication and timely deliverables.
• Supervise and mentor junior staff, review their work and contribute to process improvements, including cloud accounting and automation tools.
• Support external audit processes, prepare schedules and respond to audit queries.

Required profile

• Tertiary qualification in Accounting, Commerce or a related discipline.
• CA/CPA candidacy or full membership preferred.
• 3+ years of public practice experience in Australia or a comparable environment.
• Demonstrable experience in tax compliance, BAS/IAS preparation and financial reporting.

Required skills

• Income tax return preparation
• Capital gains tax advisory
• GST and payroll tax compliance
• BAS preparation
• IAS preparation
• Financial statement preparation
• Statutory accounting
• Audit support
• Cloud accounting tools