Practice Manager - Chartered Accounting Firm

Lawson Elliott Recruitment; Ballarat; Hybrid; AUD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

WFH 1 day/week

Job summary

Lawson Elliott Recruitment is recruiting for a Practice Manager at a regional Australian Chartered Accounting Firm. The role focuses on ownership of workflow, capacity planning and operational performance with a tech-forward practice using Xero, XPM and FYI.

The successful candidate will lead staff, drive process improvements and build a culture of ownership while ensuring high-quality client service and timely information flow.

Qualifications

• Experience in an Australian public accounting practice with strong people-management and workflow skills.
• Ability to lead staff, manage capacity and improve practice operations.
• Proactive and client-focused with effective communication.

Responsibilities

• Plan resources, prioritise deadlines and allocate work to optimise team capacity.
• Oversee jobs from start to finish and ensure timely client information updates.
• Lead regular workflow and team meetings with clear expectations and accountability.
• Identify bottlenecks and implement process improvements using XPM, FYI and other systems.
• Coach the team and work with Principal to reduce hands-on involvement over time.

Skills

People management

Workflow management

Organisational skills

Communication

Leadership

Tools

Xero

XPM

FYI

Job description

Practice Manager - Chartered Accounting Firm

Growing accounting firm, team of 12

High impact operational role

Work from home flexibility 1 day per week

My client is an established regional accounting practice with approximately $2.2 million in annual fees and a team of 12, including the Principal. The practice provides accounting, taxation and advisory services predominantly to privately owned business groups, with client t/o in the range of $5m - $30m. The firm is now looking to appoint a Practice Manager to take ownership of the workflow, capacity, team coordination and operational performance of the practice.

The ideal candidate will possess experience within an Australian public accounting practice, with strong people-management, organisational and workflow management skills, confidence to lead staff, and a practical understanding of practice operations. They will be proactive and client-focused, with strong communication skills and an ability to identify and implement practical improvements.

The firm is tech-focused, with experience using Xero, XPM and FYI highly regarded. Please note, the balance of the position responsibilities can be tailored to the experience and strengths of the successful candidate.

Manage team capacity and workflow by planning resources, prioritising deadlines and allocating work effectively.

Oversee jobs from commencement to completion, ensuring matters progress smoothly and outstanding client information is followed up promptly.

Lead regular workflow and team meetings, setting clear expectations and holding team members accountable for agreed responsibilities and deadlines.

Identify and resolve workflow bottlenecks, recurring errors and process gaps before they impact quality, turnaround times or client service.

Drive systems, process and technology improvements, including the effective use of XPM, FYI and other practice systems to improve efficiency and consistency.

Coach and develop the team while building a culture of ownership and continuous improvement, working closely with the Principal to progressively reduce their involvement in routine workflow and staff management.