Client Manager | International Business Services & Advisory

ABN Australia; Adelaide; Hybrid; AUD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Remote-friendly

Job summary

ABN Australia is seeking a Client Manager to lead relationships with a portfolio of international clients, guiding them through Australian tax, compliance, payroll and related obligations. You will review technical work, translate outcomes for clients, and coordinate with specialists as needed.

You’ll manage onboarding, pricing discussions, and day-to-day client queries, while ensuring deadlines are met and value-based pricing is applied.

Qualifications

• 3–7 years of experience in business services, accounting or a client-facing advisory role.
• Ability to explain Australian tax or compliance obligations to foreign CFOs without jargon.
• Ability to review technical work and translate outcomes into client-ready advice.
• Experience managing competing priorities across a portfolio of clients.

Responsibilities

• Guiding clients through Australian tax, corporate compliance, payroll and related obligations.
• Reviewing technical work and translating outcomes into actionable client advice.
• Managing onboarding from engagement through to business as usual; handling queries and escalations.
• Owning scope and pricing conversations within a value-based framework.
• Keeping clients ahead of compliance cycles and deadlines; briefing delivery teams.

Skills

Client relationship management

Communication skills

Portfolio management

Commercial negotiation

Tax/compliance knowledge

Education

Tertiary qualification in Commerce/Accounting/Business

CPA or CA qualifications or progress towards them

Tools

Xero

Practice management software

CRM systems

Job description

Client Manager | International Business Services & Advisory

Most business services roles promise client contact but still centre the job around production work. You may attend the occasional meeting, but much of your week is spent preparing returns while someone more senior owns the relationship.

This role is structured differently.

At ABN Australia, a dedicated technical team handles the preparation and lodgement work. As Client Manager, you focus on reviewing the position, advising the client and owning the relationship from onboarding through to business as usual.

ABOUT ABN AUSTRALIA

ABN Australia is a boutique corporate services and accounting firm specialising in international businesses entering and operating in Australia.

We work with clients across more than 50 countries, from early-stage businesses establishing their first Australian entity through to listed multinational groups.

In 2025 and 2026, we were a finalist in the Australian Accounting Awards for Fast-Growing Firm of the Year and Multiservice Firm of the Year.

A few things about how we operate:

We price based on scope and value, not hours. There are no timesheets.

We are cloud-based and paperless, with systems designed to keep client-facing people focused on clients.

We offer flexible working and leave arrangements and assess performance based on outcomes.

Our clients are international, so occasional calls outside standard Australian business hours may be required. We manage this through flexibility and time off in lieu.

Technical specialists are available to support complex matters, but the Client Manager remains accountable for the overall client experience and outcome.

THE ROLE

You will be the primary contact and advisor for a portfolio of international clients.

When a CFO in London, Singapore or New York has a question about their Australian operations, you will help them understand the issue, determine what needs to happen and coordinate the right response.

Your day-to-day responsibilities will include:

Guiding clients through Australian tax, corporate compliance, payroll and employment-related obligations in clear, practical language

Reviewing technical work and translating the outcome into advice the client can understand and act on

Recognising when a matter requires specialist tax, legal or regulatory advice and bringing in the right internal or external adviser

Managing new client onboarding from engagement and initial setup through to business as usual

Handling client queries and escalations directly, with support from a Senior Client Manager on more complex matters

Owning scope and pricing conversations within our value-based pricing framework

Keeping clients ahead of their compliance cycle, including BAS reporting, year-end requirements, deadline management and forward planning

Briefing the technical delivery team so that client priorities, risks and expectations translate into the right work

Reviewing open matters across your portfolio and ensuring responsibilities, deadlines and next steps remain clear

Working with directors and senior advisers on larger or more complex client matters

You will not spend your days preparing tax returns or BAS lodgements. However, you will need enough technical grounding to review the position, identify issues, ask the right questions and explain the outcome confidently to the client.

CAREER PROGRESSION

This role is designed as a pathway to Senior Client Manager.

You will gain direct exposure to pricing, complex advisory matters, portfolio leadership and senior client relationships while working under an experienced Senior Client Manager.

Progression will depend on your demonstrated technical judgment, commercial capability, portfolio management and ability to lead client relationships independently.

ABOUT YOU

You have approximately three to seven years of experience in business services, accounting or a client-facing advisory role.

You enjoy working directly with clients and are comfortable taking ownership of a relationship rather than waiting for someone more senior to lead every conversation.

You can explain an Australian tax or compliance obligation to a foreign CFO without unnecessary jargon. You stay ahead of deadlines, maintain control over open matters and communicate clearly when priorities or expectations need to be reset.

You will ideally bring:

A tertiary qualification in Commerce, Accounting, Business or a related field

A sound grounding in Australian tax and business services, including income tax, GST, PAYG withholding and corporate compliance

The ability to review financial and compliance work, identify potential issues and know when specialist advice is required

Strong written communication and confidence dealing with senior finance professionals

Experience managing competing priorities across a portfolio of clients

Commercial confidence when discussing scope, fees and client expectations

CPA or CA qualifications, or progress towards them, although advisory and commercial capability will carry significant weight

Experience with international or foreign-owned clients, although this is not essential

Familiarity with Xero, practice management software and CRM systems

This role may suit an experienced accountant or Assistant Manager who is ready to move away from a production-heavy position and take greater ownership of client relationships. You do not require international tax experience, as this can be learned on the job.

LOCATION AND WORKING ARRANGEMENTS

Full-time position

Remote

Hybrid working arrangement

Salary range: generous, depending on experience