Associate, Accounting at Focus Partners Australia & Escala Partners

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

23 May, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

22 Feb, 26

Experience

10 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Client Relationship Management, Taxation, Compliance Oversight, Strategic Advisory, Financial Statement Preparation, Income Tax Return Preparation, SMSFs, Division 7A, Capital Gains Tax (CGT), Quality Control, Risk Management, People Leadership, Coaching, Mentoring, Business Growth, Advisory Services

Industry

Financial Services

Description

Position Summary The Associate is a senior leadership role within the accounting practice, responsible for managing and growing a substantial portfolio of clients while providing high-level taxation, compliance, and strategic advisory services. The role acts as the primary client relationship owner and plays a key part in people leadership, quality control, compliance oversight, and business growth. The Associate leads advisory discussions and planning engagements and supports the ongoing development of FPA Accounting. This role is located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Primary Responsibilities Client Leadership & Advisory Act as the primary relationship manager for a diverse and complex portfolio of clients, including high net worth individuals and entities Lead client advisory meetings, strategic planning sessions, and business reviews Provide proactive, practical, and commercially focused advice across taxation, structuring, and business strategy Communicate complex technical matters clearly and succinctly to clients Maintain extensive and ongoing client contact, ensuring a high level of service and responsiveness Accounting, Taxation & Compliance Oversee and review the preparation of annual financial statements and income tax returns, including complex client structures Ensure full compliance with taxation legislation, accounting standards, professional obligations, and ATO requirements Act as a Supervising Tax Agent, overseeing compliance and technical accuracy of work prepared by team members Manage and mitigate tax risk while identifying opportunities for optimisation and planning Apply advanced technical expertise across areas including: Self-Managed Superannuation Funds (SMSFs) Division 7A Capital Gains Tax (CGT) concessions Quality Control & Risk Management Uphold rigorous quality control standards across all client deliverables Ensure compliance with internal policies, professional standards, and regulatory requirements Review and sign off work in accordance with delegation and authorisation frameworks People Leadership & Development Provide leadership, coaching, and mentoring to team members Support the development of technical capability and client management skills within the team Contribute to performance management, workflow allocation, and capability development Foster a collaborative, accountable, and high-performance culture Business Growth & Practice Contribution Contribute to business growth through client retention, upselling advisory services, and identifying new opportunities Support practice development initiatives and continuous improvement of systems and processes Apply strong business acumen and understanding of small business operations to enhance client outcomes Qualifications 10+ years’ experience in business services, taxation, and financial reporting within a Public Practice environment Proven experience managing a portfolio of complex and high net worth clients Strong capability in reviewing and completing tax returns and financial statements Extensive technical knowledge, particularly in SMSFs, Division 7A, and CGT concessions Demonstrated people leadership experience CPA or CA qualification Certificate of Public Practice (CPP) Registered Tax Agent, with experience acting as a Supervising Tax Agent Relevant tertiary qualifications in Accounting or a related discipline Strong business acumen with a deep understanding of small business operations Proven capability in business growth and advisory-led client relationships Proactive and solutions-focused approach to client and team leadership #LI-SF1 About Focus Partners Australia Focus Partners Australia, the Australian business unit of Focus Partners, offers integrated capabilities in wealth advice, accounting, lending, insurance and related services from its offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Guided by a client-first ethos, Focus Partners Australia leverages the global expertise, platforms and capital strength of Focus Financial Partners to deliver holistic, fiduciary guidance across strategic planning, portfolio management, insurance, credit and tax. By fusing local insight with world-class resources, Focus Partners Australia helps its clients protect, grow and transition their wealth at every life stage.

Responsibilities

The Associate acts as the primary client relationship owner, managing a substantial portfolio by providing high-level taxation, compliance, and strategic advisory services to diverse clients. Key duties include leading advisory discussions, overseeing compliance accuracy, managing tax risk, and providing leadership, coaching, and mentoring to team members.