Position Summary
The Associate is a senior leadership role within the accounting practice, responsible for managing and growing a substantial portfolio of clients while providing high-level taxation, compliance, and strategic advisory services. The role acts as the primary client relationship owner and plays a key part in people leadership, quality control, compliance oversight, and business growth. The Associate leads advisory discussions and planning engagements and supports the ongoing development of FPA Accounting.
This role is located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Primary Responsibilities
Client Leadership & Advisory
- Act as the primary relationship manager for a diverse and complex portfolio of clients, including high net worth individuals and entities
- Lead client advisory meetings, strategic planning sessions, and business reviews
- Provide proactive, practical, and commercially focused advice across taxation, structuring, and business strategy
- Communicate complex technical matters clearly and succinctly to clients
- Maintain extensive and ongoing client contact, ensuring a high level of service and responsiveness
Accounting, Taxation & Compliance
- Oversee and review the preparation of annual financial statements and income tax returns, including complex client structures
- Ensure full compliance with taxation legislation, accounting standards, professional obligations, and ATO requirements
- Act as a Supervising Tax Agent, overseeing compliance and technical accuracy of work prepared by team members
- Manage and mitigate tax risk while identifying opportunities for optimisation and planning
- Apply advanced technical expertise across areas including:
- Self-Managed Superannuation Funds (SMSFs)
- Division 7A
- Capital Gains Tax (CGT) concessions
Quality Control & Risk Management
- Uphold rigorous quality control standards across all client deliverables
- Ensure compliance with internal policies, professional standards, and regulatory requirements
- Review and sign off work in accordance with delegation and authorisation frameworks
People Leadership & Development
- Provide leadership, coaching, and mentoring to team members
- Support the development of technical capability and client management skills within the team
- Contribute to performance management, workflow allocation, and capability development
- Foster a collaborative, accountable, and high-performance culture
Business Growth & Practice Contribution
- Contribute to business growth through client retention, upselling advisory services, and identifying new opportunities
- Support practice development initiatives and continuous improvement of systems and processes
- Apply strong business acumen and understanding of small business operations to enhance client outcomes
- 10+ years’ experience in business services, taxation, and financial reporting within a Public Practice environment
- Proven experience managing a portfolio of complex and high net worth clients
- Strong capability in reviewing and completing tax returns and financial statements
- Extensive technical knowledge, particularly in SMSFs, Division 7A, and CGT concessions
- Demonstrated people leadership experience
- CPA or CA qualification
- Certificate of Public Practice (CPP)
- Registered Tax Agent, with experience acting as a Supervising Tax Agent
- Relevant tertiary qualifications in Accounting or a related discipline
- Strong business acumen with a deep understanding of small business operations
- Proven capability in business growth and advisory-led client relationships
- Proactive and solutions-focused approach to client and team leadership
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About Focus Partners Australia
Focus Partners Australia, the Australian business unit of Focus Partners, offers integrated capabilities in wealth advice, accounting, lending, insurance and related services from its offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Guided by a client-first ethos, Focus Partners Australia leverages the global expertise, platforms and capital strength of Focus Financial Partners to deliver holistic, fiduciary guidance across strategic planning, portfolio management, insurance, credit and tax. By fusing local insight with world-class resources, Focus Partners Australia helps its clients protect, grow and transition their wealth at every life stage.
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