[Hiring] Senior Bookkeeper @Penbrothers

Role Description

We are seeking an experienced Senior Australian Bookkeeper with at least five years of hands-on Australian bookkeeping experience, gained within an Australian public accounting practice. This is a senior, highly autonomous role for someone who can hit the ground running and independently manage an assigned portfolio of Australian clients. The ideal candidate has expert-level Xero proficiency, a strong understanding of Australian taxation and GST requirements, and the commercial judgment to go beyond transaction coding and understand the financial activities of each client.

You will be expected to work independently with minimal technical supervision, recognizing transaction anomalies, identifying potential tax deductions, and monitoring changes in client financial performance.

What you’ll do

• End-to-End Bookkeeping: Independently manage the complete bookkeeping cycle for an assigned portfolio of Australian SME clients using Xero, including transaction processing, coding, and account maintenance.
• GST and Tax Compliance: Apply accurate Australian GST treatments and identify applicable tax deductions, Fuel Tax Credits, and industry-specific tax considerations, particularly for NDIS, aged care, childcare, and transport businesses.
• Reconciliations and Financial Reporting: Perform bank, credit card, balance sheet, payroll, and ATO reconciliations. Maintain fixed asset registers, prepare BAS/IAS workpapers, and ensure the accuracy of financial records.
• Commercial Review and Anomaly Detection: Exercise professional judgment when reviewing transactions, identifying unusual expenses, potential deductions, discrepancies, and changes in client revenue or spending patterns.
• Client File Management: Take ownership of assigned client files, including cleaning up historical records, resolving outstanding transactions, and maintaining accurate and up-to-date ledgers.
• Payroll Processing: Manage payroll through Xero, including pay runs, Single Touch Payroll (STP) reporting, and superannuation processing.
• Team Collaboration and Query Management: Consolidate transaction-related questions, document findings, and coordinate with the team lead, who handles direct client communication.
• Workflow and Productivity Management: Prioritize client accounts based on transaction volumes, consistently reduce outstanding transactions, and meet weekly productivity and quality expectations.

Qualifications

• At least 5 years of hands-on Australian bookkeeping experience, with a mandatory background in an Australian public accounting practice.
• Ability to independently manage the complete bookkeeping cycle, including transaction processing, reconciliations, payroll, STP, and financial reporting.
• Strong understanding of Australian GST treatments, BAS/IAS requirements, and practical tax considerations, including Fuel Tax Credits and NDIS/aged care transactions.
• Ability to assess business expenses, identify potential deductions, recognize transaction anomalies, and monitor changes in clients' financial activities.
• Hands-on experience with Hubdoc and strong Excel skills. Familiarity with Xero Practice Manager is an advantage.
• Familiarity with Australian businesses, suppliers, and common industry transactions, particularly in transport, NDIS, aged care, and childcare.
• Strong English communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to independently manage multiple client accounts, prioritize workloads, and meet productivity expectations.

Nice to Have

• Xero Advisor Certification
• Hands-on experience with practice workflow systems such as Xero Practice Manager (XPM) or FYI Docs
• Familiarity with Fuel Tax Credits (FTC), PAYG Instalments, or Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) principles
• Exposure to multi-entity business structures, family trusts, or Australian Modern Awards

Benefits

• Meaningful work & Growth: We take every opportunity to stretch ourselves and deliver an excellent client experience.
• Employee as our biggest asset: We are genuinely invested in our people’s career and welfare.
• Global reach & local impact: Get to work with high-growth startups and dynamic companies from the comfort of your own home.
• Powering global startups: We’ve created 1,400 Filipino jobs that empower global start-ups to focus on growth.