Community Operations Accountant

Lifestyle Communities; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional development

Collaborative environment

Lifestyle Long Weekends

Lifestyle Hours

Paid parental leave

People excellence culture

Job summary

Lifestyle Communities seeks a Community Operations Accountant to deliver accurate financial reporting across our community portfolio from our Southbank office in Melbourne. You will strengthen controls, support budgeting and forecasting, and translate numbers into practical insights for decision-makers.

You will move beyond reporting, understanding drivers of performance and providing actionable analysis to improve financial outcomes.

Qualifications

• Tier 1 accounting degree in accounting/finance or related field.
• CA or CPA qualification preferred or required.
• Experience in management and financial accounting as well as property accounting.
• Strong month-end accounting and balance sheet reconciliation experience.
• Experience analysing financial results and drivers.
• Strong Excel skills and ERP familiarity.
• Understanding of accounting principles and controls.
• Experience in property/retirement living multi-site operations welcomed.

Responsibilities

• Month-end accounting and management reporting for the community portfolio.
• Prepare and review monthly profit and loss and other management reporting.
• Prepare journals, accruals, prepayments and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Develop understanding of financial and operational drivers of performance.
• Identify trends, risks and opportunities and communicate to stakeholders.
• Support annual budgets and periodic forecasts for the portfolio.
• Finance checks over settlements and validate key financial info.
• Ensure settlements are complete and reflected in records.
• Assist with half-year and year-end statutory reporting.
• Prepare schedules and analysis for external audit.
• Maintain strong financial controls across processes.
• Improve financial capability across the business.

Skills

Management accounting

Financial accounting

Property accounting

Month-end accounting

Financial analysis

Excel

ERP systems

Accounting principles

Multi-site operations

Education

Tertiary qualification in Accounting/Finance

CA or CPA qualified

Tools

ERP software

Job description

About us

Lifestyle Communities is a leading provider of affordable, inclusive and vibrant independent living communities across Victoria. Our mission is to enrich the lives of our homeowners by fostering a sense of belonging, independence and wellbeing. With a focus on community, connection and an active lifestyle, we are committed to creating exceptional experiences for our homeowners.

About the role

We are seeking a Community Operations Accountant responsible for delivering accurate and timely financial reporting across the community portfolio, maintaining strong financial controls and providing meaningful analysis of financial and operational performance.

The role will support month-end management reporting, budgeting and forecasting, year-end statutory reporting and continuous improvement of finance processes and controls.

A key focus of the role is to move beyond reporting the numbers to understanding what is driving performance, identifying trends and opportunities, and providing practical financial insights that support better business decisions.

This role is predominately based in our ultra-modernSouthbank support office.

As the Community Operations Accountant, your days will involve;

• Month-end accounting and management reporting for the community portfolio
• Prepare and review monthly profit and loss and other relevant management reporting.
• Prepare journals, accruals, prepayments and balance sheet reconciliations and ensure appropriate supporting documentation is maintained.
• Develop a strong understanding of the financial and operational drivers of community performance.
• Identify trends, emerging risks and opportunities and clearly communicate these to the Senior Finance Business Partner and operational stakeholders.
• Support the preparation of annual budgets and periodic forecasts for the community portfolio.
• Perform Finance checks over home settlements, validating key financial information including sale price, deposits, incentives, adjustments and settlement proceeds.
• Ensure settlement transactions are complete, accurate and appropriately reflected in the financial records
• Assist with half-year and year-end statutory reporting requirements.
• Prepare supporting schedules, reconciliations and analysis for external audit.
• Maintain strong financial controls across community accounting and reporting processes.
• Help improve financial capability across the business by making financial information clear and commercially relevant.

What you’ll bring to the role:

• Financial rigour: You produce accurate, reliable financial information and bring strong attention to detail.
• Commercial curiosity: You are curious about what is driving financial performance and look beyond simply reporting the numbers.
• Analytical capability: You can translate financial and operational data into clear insights and practical actions.
• Controls mindset: You understand the importance of reconciliations, effective controls and disciplined financial processes.
• Continuous improvement: You look for better, simpler and more efficient ways of working.
• Business partnering: You build credibility with non-finance stakeholders and make financial information clear and commercially relevant.
• Ownership: You take accountability for your deliverables, follow issues through to resolution and work effectively within reporting deadlines.
• Communication: You communicate clearly and concisely, particularly when explaining financial matters to non-finance stakeholders.

Your Experience

• Tertiary qualification in Accounting, Finance or a related discipline.
• CA or CPA qualified.
• Experience in management accounting, financial accounting or property accounting.
• Strong month-end accounting and balance sheet reconciliation experience.
• Experience analysing financial results and explaining key performance drivers.
• Strong Excel skills and experience working with ERP and financial reporting systems.
• Sound understanding of accounting principles and financial controls.
• Experience within property, retirement living, land lease communities, hospitality or another multi-site operational business would be highly regarded.

What we offer

• Ongoing professional development and training opportunities
• A collaborative and supportive work environment
• Lifestyle Long Weekends (4 additional paid days per year to take a long weekend)
• Lifestyle Hours (finish work early on a Friday)
• Generous Paid Parental Leave
• Be part of a workplace that values curiosity, innovation, collaboration, and people excellence!