Practice Manager

The Smart Business Lounge; Dunsborough; Hybrid; AUD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid birthday leave

Hybrid work options

Open-plan office in Dunsborough

Job summary

The Smart Business Lounge in Australia is seeking a Practice Manager – Strategy, Growth & Client Relationships to lead the firm’s strategic direction, financial health, and client services. This senior role partners with directors to steer growth and ensure high-quality outcomes for clients.

We value strategic thinkers who roll up their sleeves, build strong client and team relationships, and drive pricing and service development with a focus on profitability and compliance.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in a practice or professional services firm
• Strong commercial acumen with growth strategy experience
• Solid understanding of compliance and risk frameworks
• Experience managing budgets, forecasting, and financial reporting
• Experience developing pricing models and fee reviews
• Excellent relationship-building and stakeholder management
• Strategic thinker who can execute
• Highly organised with ability to manage multiple priorities
• Desirable tertiary qualifications in accounting or business
• Knowledge of Xero and cloud-based tools

Responsibilities

• Drive practice strategy and growth including business planning and service development
• Oversee compliance and risk management across the practice
• Manage internal finances: budgeting, cash flow, profitability reporting
• Build and maintain strong client relationships as senior point of contact
• Lead pricing strategy and annual fee reviews
• Monitor KPIs and report insights to directors
• Support leadership to foster a high-performing team culture

Skills

Practice leadership

Strategic thinking

Client relationships

Pricing strategy

Financial management

Risk & compliance

Team leadership

Education

Accounting/business degree (desirable)

Tools

Xero

Cloud-based practice management tools

Job description

Practice Manager – Strategy, Growth & Client Relationships

Ready to help shape the future of a growing bookkeeping and advisory practice?

The Smart Business Lounge is not your average bookkeeping and advisory firm. We’re a vibrant, forward-thinking team that loves helping businesses feel empowered, organised, and in control of their finances.

As we continue to grow, we’re looking for an experienced, commercially minded leader to step into a key senior role within our practice. This is a big-picture position for someone who loves strategy as much as relationships, and who wants a real seat at the table in steering where we go next.

About the Role:

This is a senior leadership role working closely with our directors and Practice Coordinator. You’ll take ownership of the practice’s strategic direction, financial health, and compliance framework, while being a trusted point of contact for our clients. It’s ideal for someone who can balance high-level thinking with practical follow-through, and who enjoys building something rather than just maintaining it.

Your Key Responsibilities:

• Drive practice strategy and growth, including business planning, service development, and identifying new opportunities
• Oversee compliance and risk management across the practice, including TPB obligations, policies, procedures, and quality control
• Manage the practice’s internal finances, including budgeting, cash flow, profitability reporting, and financial performance tracking
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key clients, acting as a senior point of contact and escalation
• Lead pricing strategy and annual fee reviews, ensuring our services are priced fairly, consistently, and profitably
• Monitor practice KPIs and report to the directors with clear insights and recommendations
• Work alongside the leadership team to support a high-performing, positive team culture

Who We Are Looking For:

• Proven experience in a practice management, general management, or senior leadership role, ideally within an accounting, bookkeeping, or professional services firm
• Strong commercial acumen with experience in business planning and growth strategy
• Solid understanding of compliance and risk frameworks (TPB/ATO knowledge highly regarded)
• Confident managing business finances, including budgets, forecasting, and financial reporting
• Experience developing pricing models and leading fee review conversations with clients
• Excellent relationship-building skills, with the ability to earn trust from clients and team members alike
• A strategic thinker who’s also happy to roll up their sleeves
• Highly organised, proactive, and comfortable managing multiple priorities
• Relevant tertiary qualifications in accounting, business, or a related field (desirable)
• Extensive knowledge with Xero and cloud-based practice management tools

What We Offer:

• Flexible working conditions & hours (work from home, office, or onsite with clients)
• A genuine leadership role with real influence on the direction of the practice
• Supportive & collaborative team environment
• Paid day off for your birthday
• Work from our open-plan offices in Dunsborough

Ready to take the next step in your leadership career?