Senior Accountant

Senior Accountant

Sydney, NSW

Permanent, Full-time

Join P&J Harris & Sons, a prominent family-owned Australian agribusiness. While they have deep roots in the sector, this isn't a business stuck in the past. They are currently navigating a significant phase of modernisation, investing in new technology, rethinking operations, and scaling for the future.

This is a rare opportunity to join a business at a pivot point. They are moving away from legacy processes and building a best-in-class finance function. They need a Senior Financial Accountant who wants to be part of that build, not just someone to maintain the status quo.

This role is reporting directly to the CFO and Financial Controller, you will be stepping into a lean, high-energy team where you will have genuine influence.

This is a true end-to-end role. You won’t be siloed into just tax or just payables. You will manage the core financial processes while gaining deep exposure to the operational side of agriculture, understanding how livestock movements, commodity tracking, and input costs translate into the P&L.

Key Deliverables:

• Own the Financials: You will take ownership of the month-end process (entity & group), general ledger integrity, and balance sheet reconciliations. You will be the gatekeeper of accurate numbers.
• Operational Accounting: This role requires commercial logic. You will handle operational finance, including tracking livestock and commodity movements, reviewing cost allocations, and ensuring inventory data aligns with the books.
• Process Improvement: The business is modernising its tech stack (Xero ecosystem). You will identify bottlenecks in AP/AR and reporting, then design and implement smoother workflows.
• Analysis & Insight: You will assist the FC and CFO with cash flow forecasting, budgeting, and variance analysis that feeds directly into board reporting.
• Compliance: You will oversee the statutory side (BAS, FBT, Payroll Tax) and manage the liaison with external auditors and tax advisors.

Who fits this role? We are looking for a specific blend of high-level technical training and down-to-earth communication.

• The Pedigree: You are CA/CPA qualified, and you likely started your career in a Top 10 / Mid-Tier accounting firm. You have that ingrained discipline regarding workpapers, technical standards, and process rigor.
• The Industry Knowledge: Experience in Agriculture, Manufacturing, Wholesale, or FMCG is highly regarded. You need to understand stock, inventory, or biological assets - service industry experience alone likely won't be enough.
• The "Country" Connection: You need to be as comfortable chatting with a farm manager as you are presenting to the CFO. We need someone down-to-earth who can build genuine relationships with people on the land. You don't hide behind email; you pick up the phone, have a chat, and solve the problem.
• Tech-Savvy: You know the Xero ecosystem (including add-ons like Approval Max) inside out, and your Excel skills extend to financial modelling and complex pivots.
• A "Fixer" Mindset: You enjoy tidying up messy ledgers and setting up processes that ensure they stay clean.

Why apply?

• Direct Access: No middle management layers. You will work directly with C-suite leadership.
• Real Impact: You will see the direct results of your work in the company’s efficiency and reporting speed.
• Agility: Decisions are made quickly in this family-owned environment.
• Growth: As the business expands and modernises, this role offers a clear pathway for professional development.

Your Next Step If you are a driven Senior Accountant ready to shape the financial future of a thriving Aussie business, I want to hear from you.

Apply now or enquire in confidence by contacting Sam Kitchen at sam.kitchen@randstad.com.au

(Must be an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident with unrestricted Australian working rights.)

At Randstad, we are passionate about providing equal employment opportunities and embracing diversity to the benefit of all. We actively encourage applications from any background.