Bookkeeper

The Local Project; Sydney; On-site; AUD 70,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

The Local Project, a fast-growing design publication and content studio, seeks a meticulous Bookkeeper to manage AP/AR, payroll, and month-end close across AU and US entities. You’ll work with Xero and coordinate with an external accounting provider to keep financials accurate and timely.

Ideal candidates bring experience in start-up or founder-led environments, a keen eye for detail, and strong communication skills to collaborate with management and teams.

Qualifications

• Prior experience in AP/AR or bookkeeping roles.
• Familiarity with Xero or willingness to learn accounting software.
• Excellent attention to detail and strong organisation.
• Clear written communication with management and teams.
• Experience handling multiple currencies/entities (AU/US).

Responsibilities

• Manage accounts payable: process supplier invoices and schedule payments.
• Handle accounts receivable: issue invoices and reconcile payments.
• Perform daily bank reconciliations and liaise with external providers.
• Coordinate fortnightly payroll processing and payslips.
• Complete month-end reconciliations and support BAS prep.
• Review commissions and ensure accurate payments.

Skills

Accounts payable

Accounts receivable

Bookkeeping

Attention to detail

Communication

Tools

Xero

Job description

The Local Project is Australia, New Zealand, and North America’s fastest growing design publication, celebrating extraordinary local design to our global community. With a focus on uncovering and understanding the impact that design makes on everyday experiences, The Local Project celebrates honest and human-centred design through premium print, digital, editorial, video and social content, with over 100,000,000+ impressions per month across our owned, operated and third-party platforms. In 2024 we launched The Local Production, a full-service specialist agency focused on creating content to truly elevate brands.

Reporting to the Founder/CEO with a dotted line to our external Financial Advisors, the Bookkeeper is responsible for the day-to-day management of Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, bank reconciliations, payroll processing and month-end close, ensuring accurate and timely financial processing across the business, in Xero and in coordination with the external accounting provider.

Some of the things you’ll be working on…

Accounts Payable

• Process supplier invoices approved by management and schedule payments in Xero.
• Maintain and update the AP cashflow forecast, ensuring it reflects all amounts actually due.
• Prepare and circulate weekly payment summaries for approval.
• Process payment runs (international and domestic), batching payments and monitoring account balances.
• Process supplier remittances following payment.

Accounts Receivable

• Process and issue client invoices in a timely manner.
• Monitor and reconcile incoming client payments across AU and US entities.
• Follow up on overdue invoices and maintain accurate records of collection activity.
• Liaise with the Sales team on invoice status, changes, and client queries.
• Maintain the void tracker and ensure any voided invoices are properly recorded.

Bank Reconciliations

• Perform daily reconciliation of business transaction accounts.
• Coordinate with the external accounting provider on reconciliation of card accounts (Stripe, PayPal, Amex).
• Follow up on missing receipts or unapproved transactions.

Payroll

• Coordinate fortnightly payroll processing, including leave data collection and validation against Xero.
• Prepare payroll for review and approval, ensuring superannuation and PAYG are processed correctly and on time.
• Issue payslips to employees following each pay run.

Month End

• Complete month-end reconciliations across bank and card accounts.
• Provide estimates and reporting to support BAS preparation.
• Manage the international GST journal.

Commissions

• Review sales commissions for accuracy prior to payment.

Working Pattern

This role follows a recurring weekly cycle (daily reconciliation and invoicing tasks, AP/AR processing, mid-week payment approvals, end of week payment processing and remittances/payslips), plus a fortnightly payroll cycle and monthly close process.

Experience you’ll need…

• Prior experience in an accounts payable, accounts receivable, or broader bookkeeping/accounts role, ideally in start up or Founder led business.
• Working knowledge of Xero (or willingness to learn) and general accounting software proficiency.
• High attention to detail and strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage recurring weekly and fortnightly deadlines.
• Clear written communication skills for liaising with management, external accountants, and internal teams.
• Comfortable working with multiple currencies/entities (AU and US).