Taxation Compliance and Governance Lead

Noosa Council | Noosa, QLD | $109,838 Base | $124,675 TRP

Public Sector People are proud to partner with Noosa Council to recruit an experienced Taxation Compliance and Governance Lead.

This is much more than a business-as-usual taxation position.

It is a senior specialist opportunity to lead Council’s response to two critical taxation compliance projects relating to Fringe Benefits Tax and Superannuation Guarantee.

Reporting to the Financial Services Manager, you will combine advanced technical taxation knowledge with strong project delivery capability. You will identify and quantify areas of exposure, lead remediation activities and embed governance frameworks that support sustainable compliance beyond the life of the projects.

The role will also provide specialist advice across Goods and Services Tax, contractor classification, supplier taxation obligations and other associated compliance risks.

Council needs someone who can do more than identify problems. You will need to translate complex legislation into practical solutions, bring clarity to accountabilities and deliver lasting improvements across finance, payroll, human resources, procurement and governance.

The Opportunity

This is a senior individual contributor position with no direct reports. Your influence will come through your technical expertise, judgement, stakeholder capability and ability to lead complex work through to completion.

You will take ownership of the end-to-end delivery of Council’s priority taxation compliance projects, ensuring milestones, deliverables and outcomes are achieved within agreed timeframes.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Leading specialist compliance projects relating to Fringe Benefits Tax and Superannuation Guarantee
• Acting as Council’s taxation and compliance specialist within Financial Services
• Providing expert advice across FBT, GST, Superannuation Guarantee, contractor classification and supplier-related taxation obligations
• Undertaking retrospective compliance reviews, including data analysis, risk identification and impact assessment
• Quantifying potential exposure and developing practical remediation strategies
• Designing and embedding fit-for-purpose governance frameworks, policies, procedures and internal controls
• Partnering with Finance, Remuneration and Benefits, Human Resources, Procurement and Governance teams
• Clarifying responsibilities and supporting informed decision-making across multidisciplinary teams
• Managing engagement with external taxation advisers and specialists, ensuring quality, value for money and timely delivery
• Preparing executive-level briefings, risk assessments, options papers and recommendations
• Managing project scope, dependencies, milestones and progress reporting
• Building organisational capability through structured knowledge transfer, clear documentation and practical guidance
• Ensuring responsibility for ongoing compliance can transition effectively into operational teams at the completion of the projects

About You

You will be an experienced taxation, superannuation or compliance professional who is comfortable taking ownership of complex and potentially sensitive issues.

You will bring strong technical knowledge, but equally important will be your ability to apply that knowledge in a practical organisational environment. You will know how to move from identifying an issue to quantifying the risk, recommending a course of action and implementing a sustainable solution.

You’ll bring:

• Demonstrated experience leading taxation, superannuation or compliance-focused projects within a large or complex organisation
• Advanced knowledge of Australian taxation legislation relating to payroll and employment arrangements
• Strong technical capability across Fringe Benefits Tax and Superannuation Guarantee
• Knowledge of GST, contractor engagement models and supplier-related taxation obligations
• Proven experience conducting retrospective compliance reviews and identifying regulatory risk
• Experience supporting taxation remediation and broader governance improvement initiatives
• Strong project governance and delivery capability, including managing scope, dependencies, milestones and reporting
• Experience designing and implementing policies, procedures and internal control frameworks
• Highly developed stakeholder engagement and communication skills
• The ability to translate complex legislative and technical requirements into clear, practical advice
• Strong written capability, including the preparation of executive briefings, risk assessments and recommendations
• The confidence to work across multidisciplinary teams while maintaining clear advisory and operational accountabilities
• A practical, solutions-focused approach and the judgement to work through competing risks and priorities

You will also hold:

• A degree in accounting, finance, business or a related discipline, or equivalent demonstrated knowledge and experience in taxation, financial compliance and governance
• A current C Class driver licence

Membership of, or progress towards membership of, a recognised professional accounting body would be advantageous.

Previous experience within local government or the broader public sector would be highly regarded but is not essential. Council will also consider candidates from complex corporate environments who can demonstrate the required taxation expertise, governance awareness and project delivery capability.

Why Noosa Council?

At Noosa Council, being “Different by Nature” reflects more than the region’s location. It represents how Council supports its people, serves its community and protects one of Australia’s most distinctive natural environments.

Based on Kabi Kabi Country, Noosa Shire is home to more than 56,000 residents and covers 872 square kilometres. Internationally recognised as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the region offers an exceptional combination of beaches, national parks, lakes and hinterland communities.

• Council employs more than 500 people and plays an important role in delivering a sustainable future for the shire.