Accountant

Central Australian College; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

12% superannuation

Four-campus exposure

Job summary

Central Australian College (CAC) is seeking a qualified Accountant to take ownership of financial reporting, budgeting and statutory compliance. You will report to the CEO and work with campus managers and admissions teams in a professional, degree-level role.

You will prepare monthly management accounts and statutory statements, maintain budgets by campus and revenue stream, and ensure GST, payroll tax, BAS lodgments and audits are handled accurately for multiple campuses.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or higher.
• At least two years’ post-qualification experience in financial/accounting roles.
• Experience preparing statutory financial statements and management reports under Australian standards.
• Hands-on BAS lodgment and GST/payroll tax knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Prepare monthly management accounts and annual statutory financial statements.
• Maintain budgets by campus, course delivery area and revenue stream.
• Analyze costs, income, payroll, commissions and student fees; report variances.
• Ensure compliance with ATO, ASQA/CRICOS requirements and funding acquittals.
• Liaise with external auditors and prepare tax return workpapers.
• Advise on business structures, pricing, margin and capital plans.
• Manage banking relationships and funds management facilities.
• Maintain and improve accounting systems and ERP interfaces.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Internal controls

Audit liaison

Financial reporting

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting

Tools

Xero

MYOB

ERP systems

Job description

Central Australian College – West Footscray VIC

Central Australian College (CAC) is an ASQA-regulated Registered Training Organisation and CRICOS-registered provider delivering nationally recognised qualifications in hospitality and cookery, automotive, building and construction, civil construction design, community services, business and management, and English language programs. We teach domestic and international students across multiple campuses with monthly intakes and a strong practical-training focus.

About the role

We are seeking a qualified Accountant to take ownership of the College’s financial reporting, management accounting and statutory compliance functions. You will report to the Chief Executive Officer and work closely with campus managers and the admissions team. This is a professional, degree-level accounting role requiring judgement across reporting, tax, systems and controls it is not a bookkeeping or data-entry position.

Key responsibilities

The position performs the following duties:

Prepare monthly management accounts and the annual statutory financial statements for presentation to the CEO, directors and the College’s governing body

Assist in formulating and maintaining the College’s budgetary and accounting policies, including the annual budget by campus, course delivery area and international student revenue stream.

Examine operating costs and the College’s income and expenditure course- and campus-level profitability, trainer and staff payroll, agent commissions and student fee collection and report variances with recommendations.

Provide assurance on the accuracy of financial information and its compliance with statutory requirements, including ATO obligations, ASQA and CRICOS financial viability reporting, and state and Commonwealth funding acquittals.

Conduct financial investigations and prepare reports on fee refunds, bad debts, enrolment irregularities and agent commission discrepancies, and act as the College’s key liaison for the annual external audit.

Prepare and lodge taxation returns and statements BAS, PAYG withholding, payroll tax and FBT and prepare year-end income tax workpapers in conjunction with the College’s external tax agent.

Provide financial and taxation advice to management on business structures, course pricing and margin, capital plans and the tax treatment of new activities.

Liaise with banks and finance brokers to establish and review funds management arrangements, including overdraft and equipment finance facilities, merchant facilities and student payment plans.

Introduce and maintain the College’s accounting systems, including the interface between the student management system and the general ledger, and advise on the selection and application of computer-based accounting systems and reporting tools.

Maintain and improve internal control systems delegations, segregation of duties, fee collection and refund controls, purchasing and the multi-campus asset register.

Appraise cash flow and the financial risk of capital investment projects such as training kitchen, workshop and campus fit-out projects, and prepare business cases for approval.

Key requirements

Bachelor's degree or higher qualification in accounting (ANZSCO Skill Level 1), or a recognised equivalent.

At least two years’ relevant post-qualification experience in a comparable financial accounting or management accounting role.

Demonstrated experience preparing statutory financial statements and management reports under Australian Accounting Standards.

Working knowledge of GST, FBT, payroll tax and PAYG withholding, with hands-on BAS lodgment experience.

Advanced Excel skills and experience with computerised accounting systems (for example Xero or MYOB) and integrated student management or ERP systems.

Proven internal control, audit liaison and process improvement experience.

CPA Australia, CA ANZ or IPA membership (or progress toward it) and experience in the vocational education sector are desirable.

What we offer

Salary plus 12% superannuation, commensurate with skills and experience.

Four-campus exposure across VET, CRICOS and domestic delivery, with direct access to the executive team.

CAC is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.