Finance Officer

AR Energy; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

AR Energy, a rapidly growing solar installation business in Adelaide, seeks a hands-on Finance Officer to own day-to-day finance, payroll and compliance. You will work closely with the CEO and management to deliver timely financial information and support business decisions.

Your role covers Xero accounting, reconciliations, monthly P&L and reports, BAS/IAS, PAYG withholding and superannuation, plus accounts payable/receivable, cash flow and process improvements as we grow.

Qualifications

• Several years' experience in finance/accounting or senior bookkeeping.
• Strong working knowledge of Xero.
• Experience with BAS, IAS, PAYG withholding and superannuation.
• Experience managing payroll and regular pay runs.
• Strong reconciliation and attention‑to‑detail skills.
• Experience with accounts payable and accounts receivable.
• Experience preparing and understanding P&L and management reports.

Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate financial records and perform regular bank, credit card and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Prepare monthly P&L and management reports for CEO and management.
• Manage BAS/IAS, PAYG withholding and superannuation compliance.
• Oversee end-to-end payroll and payroll reporting.
• Administer accounts payable and accounts receivable and supplier relations.
• Provide financial information to support operational decision making and cash flow management.

Skills

Xero

Payroll management

BAS & IAS compliance

PAYG withholding

Reconciliations

Accounts payable

Accounts receivable

P&L & management reports

Education

Formal accounting qualifications (preferred but not essential)

Tools

Xero

Job description

We are a rapidly growing solar installation business that has grown from its foundations as an electrical contracting business into a company with annual turnover exceeding $15 million.

As the business continues to grow, we are looking to strengthen our internal financial capability with the appointment of an experienced, hands‑on Finance Officer.

This is an important role within the business. The successful candidate will take ownership of the day‑to‑day finance function, provide accurate and timely financial information to management, and work closely with the CEO, administration team, project and installation managers, trades staff and external accountants.

The role will bring the day‑to‑day finance function in-house, replacing the current outsourced bookkeeping arrangement and providing the business with greater financial oversight, accountability and support.

The Role

This is a broad, hands‑on finance role covering day‑to‑day accounting, compliance, payroll, accounts payable and receivable, financial reporting, cash flow and general administration.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate and up‑to‑date financial records in Xero.
• Perform regular bank, credit card and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Review transactions and ensure income and expenses are correctly coded and allocated.
• Prepare monthly P&L and management reports.
• Provide the CEO and management team with regular financial information and reporting.
• Assist management to understand revenue, margins, overheads, profitability and cash flow.
• Monitor actual financial performance against budgets, forecasts and expectations.
• Identify unusual transactions, variances, errors or emerging financial issues and bring them to management's attention.
• Assist with budgeting, forecasting and cash‑flow management.
• Provide financial information and analysis to assist management with operational decision‑making.
• Assist with developing appropriate financial controls as the business continues to grow.

Compliance

• Prepare and lodge BAS and IAS requirements.
• Manage PAYG withholding obligations.
• Manage superannuation obligations and payments.
• Ensure payroll‑related compliance requirements are met.
• Maintain appropriate financial and compliance records.
• Ensure accounting and payroll obligations are completed accurately and on time.
• Work closely with external accountants on EOFY accounts, tax returns and statutory compliance.
• Prepare information and supporting documentation required by the external accountants.
• Assist with audits, reviews and other external requirements where required.

Payroll

• Manage the end‑to‑end payroll process.
• Process regular pay runs accurately and on time.
• Maintain employee payroll records.
• Process leave, allowances, deductions and other payroll adjustments.
• Ensure PAYG withholding and superannuation obligations are correctly processed.
• Liaise with employees and managers regarding payroll queries.
• Work with relevant administration and management staff to ensure payroll information is accurate and received on time.

Accounts Payable

• Manage the accounts payable function.
• Receive, review, code and process supplier invoices.
• Ensure invoices are appropriately approved before payment.
• Manage supplier payment runs and payment schedules.
• Monitor supplier accounts and payment terms.
• Follow up outstanding approvals or documentation required to process payments.
• Assist with cash‑flow planning and supplier payment priorities.
• Resolve supplier queries and discrepancies.
• Maintain good working relationships with key suppliers.

Accounts Receivable

• Manage customer invoicing and receipting.
• Ensure invoices are raised accurately and promptly.
• Follow up overdue accounts and assist with collection of outstanding amounts.
• Maintain accurate customer records.
• Investigate and resolve billing discrepancies.
• Provide management with regular information regarding outstanding receivables and cash collections.
• Work with project and administration teams to resolve customer invoicing issues.

Finance & Operational Coordination

• Liaising with administration staff, project managers, installation managers, supervisors and trades staff regarding financial matters.
• Working with operational teams to ensure supplier invoices, purchase orders, expenses and other financial documentation are received and processed correctly.
• Following up missing invoices, approvals, purchase orders or supporting documentation.
• Assisting managers and operational staff with queries regarding supplier accounts, customer payments, employee expenses and other financial matters.
• Coordinating with managers to ensure payment requirements are understood and communicated clearly.
• Assisting project and operational teams with financial information they require.
• Identifying operational issues that may have a financial impact and bringing them to the attention of management.
• Developing strong working relationships across the business so that finance is viewed as a practical support function rather than simply an administrative requirement.

Cash Flow & Financial Control

• Maintain oversight of daily cash position.
• Assist the CEO with cash‑flow forecasting.
• Monitor incoming customer receipts and outgoing supplier and payroll commitments.
• Assist with prioritising payments where required.
• Monitor key financial controls and identify potential issues.
• Ensure appropriate separation of approval and payment processes.
• Assist in developing processes that provide greater visibility and control as the business grows.
• Provide management with early visibility of potential cash‑flow or financial issues.
• Take ownership of the day‑to‑day accounting function within Xero.
• Ensure Xero records are maintained accurately and efficiently.
• Review and improve existing accounting processes.
• Identify opportunities to automate or streamline repetitive financial tasks.
• Work with management and external advisers on improvements to accounting systems and processes.
• Ensure financial information can be readily extracted and reported to management.
• Assist with the implementation of new systems and processes as the business grows.

Process Improvement

• Review existing finance processes and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Introduce greater consistency and financial discipline.
• Reduce unnecessary manual processes.
• Improve the flow of financial information between administration, operations and management.
• Develop practical procedures and controls appropriate for a $10m+ growing business.
• Identify inefficiencies and recommend better ways of doing things.
• Help establish a finance function that can scale with the business.

General Administration

• Provide financial and administrative support to the CEO and management team.
• Assist with financial documentation, reconciliations and reporting.
• Liaise with suppliers, customers, employees, banks, insurers and professional advisers as required.
• Assist with ad hoc financial analysis and business projects.
• Provide general administrative support relating to the financial operation of the business where required.

External Accountants

The Finance Officer will work closely with the company's external accounting firm.

• Company and trust tax returns where applicable.
• Higher-level taxation advice.
• Strategic accounting and tax advice.
• Other specialist accounting matters as required.

The Finance Officer will be responsible for ensuring the underlying financial records are accurate, complete and maintained throughout the year and that the external accountants receive the information they require in a timely and organised manner.

The successful candidate will effectively become the internal finance point of contact between the business and its external advisers.

About You

We are looking for an experienced finance professional who is practical, commercially minded and comfortable being hands‑on.

You will ideally have:

• Several years' experience in a finance, accounting or senior bookkeeping role.
• Strong working knowledge of Xero.
• Experience with BAS, IAS, PAYG withholding and superannuation.
• Experience managing payroll and regular pay runs.
• Strong reconciliation and attention‑to‑detail skills.
• Experience with accounts payable and accounts receivable.
• Experience preparing and understanding P&L and management reports.
• The ability to work independently and take ownership of the finance function.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• The confidence to deal directly with the CEO, managers, administration staff and tradespeople.
• A practical, organised and problem‑solving approach.
• The ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced and constantly evolving environment.

Formal accounting qualifications will be viewed favourably but are not essential. Relevant practical experience and the ability to take ownership of a finance function are equally important.

The Person We Are Looking For

This role would suit someone who enjoys being the person who knows what is happening financially across the business.

You will not be working in a large finance department with narrowly defined responsibilities. You will be involved across the entire finance function and will have direct access to the CEO.

We are looking for someone who:

• Takes ownership rather than waiting to be told what to do.
• Notices when something doesn't look right and investigates it.
• Can explain financial information clearly and in plain English.
• Is comfortable dealing with both detailed transactions and the bigger picture.
• Can work effectively with accountants, administrators, managers and tradespeople.
• Understands that finance needs to support the operational side of the business.
• Can bring structure and financial discipline to a rapidly growing business.
• Is commercially minded and understands that accurate financial information is there to help management make better decisions.
• Enjoys improving systems and processes rather than simply maintaining the status quo.
• Is comfortable working in a business where priorities can change quickly and where there is plenty to do.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to join a successful and rapidly growing solar business at an important stage of its development.

The business has grown beyond the point where a basic outsourced bookkeeping function is sufficient. This role provides the opportunity to take genuine ownership of the internal finance function and work directly with the founder and management team.

You will have the opportunity to make a meaningful difference to the way the business manages its finances and to help establish the systems, processes and financial discipline required to support its continued growth.

As the business continues to grow, there is significant scope for the role and its responsibilities to develop with it.