Senior Accountant

About the role

The owns the complete oversight of all core finance operations for the Australian entity, ensuring the integrity and accuracy of financial processes. This position serves as the primary coordination point for all interactions with vendors, auditors, and external financial providers. The role demands ownership of end-to-end financial workflows including payroll, accounts payable, tax compliance, and comprehensive reporting. You will be responsible for maintaining robust internal controls and fraud prevention mechanisms across all transactional cycles. The position supports broader global finance initiatives and standardisation efforts across the Michels family of companies. You will ensure strict adherence to all relevant regulatory requirements and corporate policies. This role is critical in driving efficient and compliant financial operations for the business.

Key facts

What you'll do

Process and validate all incoming invoices by digitising transactional data, verifying accuracy, and resolving discrepancies or rejected items.

Serve as the primary fraud‑prevention and compliance checkpoint for all invoices and payments across the Australian entity.

Manage and nurture professional vendor relationships through prompt, clear, and structured communication.

Batch, process, and prioritise payments accurately using electronic funds transfer (EFT) to ensure timely disbursements.

Prepare detailed 13-week cashflow forecasts to prevent dunning letters and overdues while maximising early payment discounts.

Lead the reconciliation of Trade Accounts Payable balance sheet positions and supplier open item statements, including year-end audit reconciliations.

Maintain a foundational and advanced understanding of Goods and Services Tax (GST) rules and requirements across all applicable Australian jurisdictions.

Lodge business activity statements (BAS) with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and ensure all submissions are timely and accurate.

Assist in the preparation, review, and timely filing of GST returns and all related regulatory reports.

Ensure accurate GST treatment of all transactions in strict accordance with applicable tax regulations and internal company policies.

Assist in the completion and submission of income tax returns by all relevant deadlines.

Ensure strict regulatory compliance with ATO and ASIC standards to avoid any penalties or regulatory issues.

Maintain and reconcile the Accounts Receivable balance sheet and ensure the accuracy of all billing and invoicing records.

Verify overdue invoices and drive the follow-up process on collections to maintain healthy cashflow.

Report on cash forecasting metrics and provide analysis to support financial decision-making.

Manage prepaid expenses and insurance amortisation schedules to ensure accurate accounting treatment.

Perform monthly bank reconciliations to ensure the accuracy of the general ledger and cash positions.

Process payroll costing journal entries with accuracy and in adherence to company policies and regulatory requirements.

Accurately post cost accruals to ensure proper financial reporting and project profitability analysis.

Manage and process intercompany reconciliations to ensure the integrity of cross-entity financial data.

Apply cash receipts to appropriate customer accounts ensuring correct application and reconciliation.

Provide support in areas of transfer pricing to ensure compliance and accurate reporting.

Assist with the collection and preparation of data to support both internal and external audit processes.

Coordinate correspondence and communications with tax authorities and other statutory bodies related to the listed duties.

Requirements

Understanding accounting principles, tax law, and financial reporting is a must for this position.

You must hold a qualification as a minimum of a Diploma of Accounting, ideally a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Auditing or Economics and / or a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) or similar certification.

At least 5 years of overall experience in Finance is required, with at least 3 years in Trade Accounts Payable functions, ideally within the international construction business.

Knowledge of US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (US GAAP) and Australian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (Australian GAAP) is essential.

Strong communication skills are required, particularly in professional correspondence, including interactions with official bodies such as tax authorities.

Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems is a non-negotiable requirement.

A structured approach to work, excellent time management skills, and the ability to multi-task efficiently are mandatory.

You must be a self-starter capable of working independently with minimal supervision while maintaining high standards.