Team Leader Accounts

Merri-bek; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Monthly RDO

Training & career development

Salary sacrifice options

Work-life balance & flexible options

Study assistance schemes

Wellness programs

Job summary

Merri-bek City Council is seeking a hands-on Team Leader Accounts to guide a four-person AP/AR team, manage payments, invoicing and debt recovery, and drive process improvements. You will coach staff, maintain financial controls and ensure timely service while embracing automation and change.

The role is based in Victoria with hybrid options (2 days in office) and a 38-hour week. Excellent benefits include training, salary sacrifice and work-life balance support.

Qualifications

• A diploma or degree in Accounting, Finance, Business or a related discipline, or extensive relevant experience.
• Strong end-to-end AP/AR knowledge, covering payments, invoicing, debt recovery, reconciliations, accounting principles and GST.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop a collaborative, accountable team through clear expectations, coaching, while coordinating high-volume workloads to deliver consistent service standards.
• Experience planning, implementing and reviewing operational change, engaging stakeholders, explaining change, addressing concerns and training staff to embed improved workflows and automation while maintaining services and controls.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and advanced Excel skills, with attention to detail and the ability to investigate discrepancies, interpret reports and reconciliations, identify control weaknesses and prioritise improvements.
• Clear communication and customer service skills to resolve complex enquiries and build productive stakeholder relationships.
• Proficiency in integrated financial systems, troubleshooting and user support, with a focus on data quality, workflow improvement and automation (TechnologyOne Financials experience is desirable).

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of four across AP and AR delivering accurate, timely financial services.
• Oversee supplier payments, debtor invoicing and debt collection.
• Set workload targets and coach staff to build capability and accountability.
• Adopt practical improvements to processes, systems and workflows including automation.
• Ensure compliance with legislative requirements and Council policies.
• Engage staff and stakeholders early to explain change and training for new practices.

Skills

AP/AR end-to-end

Team leadership

Operational change management

Analytical thinking

Advanced Excel

Communication & customer service

Data quality & automation

Education

Accounting/Finance/Business degree or diploma

Tools

TechnologyOne Financials

Integrated financial systems

Job description

• Hybrid Working (2-days in the office) #LI-Hybrid
• Full-time permanent role (based on 38 hours per week)
• Monthly RDO
• Develop your team (4 staff) and drive practical improvements and automation
• Ability to transfer or take LSL (Long Service Leave) within Local Government

About Merri-bek City Council

Merri-bek City Council is a progressive council of 195,125 residents: one community, proudly diverse. Our council area sits within the banks of the Merri Creek and the Moonee Ponds Creek, and includes Brunswick, Coburg, Fawkner, Glenroy, Gowanbrae, Hadfield, Oak Park and Pascoe Vale. Our city is vibrant and energetic, known for its active community, cultural diversity, creative industries and the arts. Our long-term vision has ambitious goals for environmental sustainability, social justice, community wellbeing, and creating great places. With the Civic Centre located in Coburg, 8 kilometres north of Melbourne’s CBD, there are excellent public transport options and great food and cafés right at the doorstep.

Merri-bek Council strives to be a contemporary, innovative and collaborative organisation with a deep commitment to engaging and supporting the Merri-bek community. Our organisational vision is to be one team, brave and diverse, making a difference.

We pride ourselves on being an inclusive and welcoming workplace. We offer flexible and hybrid work options and genuinely care about providing our staff work/life balance. With the Civic Centre located in Coburg, 8 kilometres north of Melbourne’s CBD, there are excellent public transport options and great food, cafés, parks and a cinema right at the doorstep. Merri-bek is a great place to live, work and play.

About the role

Bring strong technical finance expertise, confident people leadership and a practical approach to change to Merri-bek City Council as our Team Leader Accounts.

Reporting to the Financial Accounting Coordinator, you will lead a team of four across the accounts payable (2.6 FTE) and accounts receivable (1.0 FTE) team to deliver accurate, timely and customer-focused financial services. You will oversee supplier payments, debtor invoicing and debt recovery, set clear expectations, coordinate workloads and service targets, and coach staff to build capability, accountability and confidence. Success in this role requires a hands‑on leader who can provide sound technical guidance, resolve complex issues and maintain reliable services while introducing new ways of working.

You will lead practical improvements to processes, systems and workflows, including automation, while strengthening financial controls and supporting compliance with legislative requirements and Council policies. This means engaging staff and stakeholders early, explaining the reasons for change, responding constructively to concerns, and providing training and support so new practices become part of everyday work. Working closely with staff across Council, suppliers and customers, you will resolve complex account enquiries, monitor payment and collection performance, maintain accurate records that support audit requirements, and ensure improvements deliver more efficient and responsive services without compromising accuracy or control.

Skills and experience required to perform the role

• A diploma or degree in Accounting, Finance, Business or a related discipline, or extensive relevant experience.
• Strong end-to-end AP/AR knowledge, covering payments, invoicing, debt recovery, reconciliations, accounting principles and GST.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop a collaborative, accountable team through clear expectations, coaching, while coordinating high-volume workloads to deliver consistent service standards.
• Experience planning, implementing and reviewing operational change, engaging stakeholders, explaining change, addressing concerns and training staff to embed improved workflows and automation while maintaining services and controls.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and advanced Excel skills, with attention to detail and the ability to investigate discrepancies, interpret reports and reconciliations, identify control weaknesses and prioritise improvements.
• Clear communication and customer service skills to resolve complex enquiries and build productive stakeholder relationships.
• Proficiency in integrated financial systems, troubleshooting and user support, with a focus on data quality, workflow improvement and automation (TechnologyOne Financials experience is desirable).

What the role can offer

• Monthly RDO
• Extensive opportunities for training & career development
• Salary sacrifice options
• A real sense of work-life balance & flexible work options
• Employer-supported study assistance schemes
• Wellness programs

Further support offered for our staff

• Up to 20 weeks primary & up to 5 weeks secondary parental leave
• Purchase leave
• Ceremonial leave
• Gender affirmation leave
• Family violence leave

For further information about this position please contact Andrew Moldrich (Acting Financial Accounting Coordinator) on 9350 8795.

Applications close: 11:30pm, Wednesday 18 November 2026.
*in the case that we receive a high volume of applications, we reserve the right to close this advertisement before the current closing date.

We encourage everyone to apply and discuss opportunities to develop your knowledge and experience. Council is committed to removing barriers and access to employment where possible at any point in the recruitment, onboarding and during your time at Council. For further information regarding access or modifications you may require for a recruitment process please contact Danni Jovanovic, Recruitment Business Partner on [e-mail]

Our Commitment

In May 2021, Merri-bek Council adopted a revised Statement of Commitment to Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung People and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities of the municipality. The statement recognises the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people as the traditional owners of the lands and waterways of our municipality.

Merri-bek City Council is committed to being a Child Safe Organisation and has zero tolerance for child abuse.We believe children and young people have the right to be and feel safe and that their safety and wellbeing is the responsibility of everyone. You can read more about our Child Safety Commitment Statement on our website.