Senior Tax & Business Services Accountant (Australia Practice)

Job Title: Senior Tax & Business Services Accountant (Australian Practice) Location: Remote Role Type: Full-Time Working Hours: Must align to Australia (9:00am–5:00pm AEST, Mon–Fri) Who Are We? At Reef, we connect elite talent with high-growth companies building world-class teams. We work exclusively with the top 3% of candidates and match them with established companies across Australia, New Zealand, the US, and UK that are serious about investing in their people and operational infrastructure. We support your integration into these companies by providing additional training, admin/HR support, and access to our growing community of high-performing professionals. About the Role We’re seeking a senior, client-facing Tax & Business Services Accountant to join a growing Australian accounting practice and take ownership of a portfolio of SME clients. This is not a pure compliance role - you will be responsible for managing end-to-end client relationships, delivering high-quality tax compliance work, and supporting tax planning and advisory initiatives. You will work across a diverse portfolio including companies, trusts, partnerships, and individuals, handling everything from financial statements and tax returns to BAS, payroll, and ongoing client queries. This role requires someone who is comfortable operating with autonomy, managing deadlines across multiple clients, and contributing to both compliance and advisory work. You’ll work closely with senior accountants and leadership while also acting as a key point of contact for clients, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and proactive communication at all times. Key Responsibilities: Manage and own a portfolio of SME clients across multiple entity types Prepare and lodge tax returns for companies, trusts, partnerships, and individuals Prepare financial statements, working papers, and year-end adjustments Handle BAS, IAS, GST reconciliations, and activity statement lodgements Manage monthly bookkeeping, reconciliations, and general ledger accuracy Prepare and review payroll, STP, and superannuation compliance Assist with tax planning, structuring, and advisory work (including Div7A, CGT, FBT) Review and resolve discrepancies, tax issues, and compliance gaps Collaborate with senior accountants on complex client matters and advisory projects Maintain strong client relationships and respond to tax and accounting queries Ensure all work is completed accurately and in line with ATO requirements Identify process improvements and contribute to operational efficiency Maintain up-to-date knowledge of Australian tax legislation and regulatory changes Excellent spoken and written English 3–5+ years of experience in an Australian accounting practice environment Strong hands-on experience with tax across companies, trusts, partnerships, and individuals Proven experience managing client portfolios independently Strong knowledge of Australian tax legislation, BAS, GST, and superannuation Experience with Div7A, CGT, FBT, and year-end compliance Proficiency in Xero (required) and Xero Tax or similar tax software Experience with Karbon or similar practice management tools Strong reconciliation and financial reporting skills Ability to manage multiple clients, deadlines, and priorities independently Strong attention to detail and ability to identify discrepancies Comfortable working remotely with minimal supervision Proactive communicator with ability to manage client expectations Desirable CA/CPA qualification or working towards Experience with MYOB Experience with Dext, Hubdoc, or similar tools Exposure to tax planning and advisory work Competitive salary based on experience Performance-based salary progression Direct employment with established Australian accounting practices Exposure to diverse client portfolios and complex tax work Opportunity to grow into senior or advisory-focused roles Support for CA/CPA progression and ongoing technical development Flexible remote working environment