Careers at PAL

Pull up a seat at the leadership table.

SENIOR MANAGER - BUSINESS SERVICES & TAX | Newtown, Geelong

Apply or Enquire

✔️ Leadership team ✔️ Direct path to partner ✔️ Profit share model
✔️ $120k-160K+ super ✔️ 6 weeks annual leave

‍Sound good? Keep reading.

Do great work. Grow into more. Do it with good people.

We're not trying to be the biggest firm in Geelong. Just the best one to grow a career at.

Apply or Enquire

YOUR WORK MATTERS

Help business owners win at life. Work directly with them to solve real problems & build relationships.

YOUR CAREER MOVES

Real responsibility, complex work, clear progression and investment in your development.

IMPACT IS REWARDED

Performance incentives, trust, and freedom to work in the way that gets the best outcomes.

GOOD HUMANS ONLY

Humble, hungry, people-smart; serious about the work without taking ourselves too seriously.

YOU HAVE A VOICE

Ideas reach decision-makers, good ideas get acted on, and people can shape how PAL grows.

All grind and no growth?
No thanks.

But don't take our word for it, Ask the people living it.

“There's a real focus on family! I enjoy that PAL is a close knit team where the leaders care about the lives of team members, in and out of work. As a part of the leadership team, I get input into the direction of the business and the satisfaction of knowing I drove change.”

  – Reagan, Manager SMSF

“It’s been amazing to see the practice evolve and our people grow over the years. I’ve seen team members travel the world, pursue further education, buy houses, have babies, and kick big career goals. That’s the part I love most.”

  – Kat, People and Experience

The best part about PAL is the people and the opportunity to have an impact on where we’re heading. It’s an environment where I can be myself and bring my own personality and ideas to the role. As a manager, I enjoy being able to help shape the business, support the team to grow and be part of building a firm that’s always looking to get better.

  – Kris, Manager Business Services and Tax

As a senior manager,
here's what you'll own

Client Advisory ✔

Own a diverse SME portfolio: Tax planning, structures, CGT, estate planning

Team Leadership ✔

Coach, mentor, and review work. Grow people into their next level.

Practice Strategy ✔

Seat at the leadership table shaping where PAL goes next.

Save yourself the interview
if this isn’t you.

Who this IS for 👍

You're ambitious about your career
Managed people or workflow, enjoyed it
Commercially sharp
Want influence now, not in 5 yrs
People who read this entire page and felt their pulse go up.

Who this is NOT for 👎

You want a quiet compliance seat
Client work stops at the tax return
Need heavy oversight to hit deadlines
Chasing a title, not the responsibility
Clock-watchers who care more about when the day ends that what got done

Position description:
senior manager

Mission: A business services and tax weapon to own a diverse SME portfolio, lead a small team and work shoulder-to-shoulder with our Director, Marc.

Role Responsibilities:
‍
In a nutshell - run a portfolio like an owner, build the next generation of PAL leaders and play a key role on the Leadership Team driving how the business grows.
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1- Run your portfolio like a business
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✔️ Own a significant SME client portfolio
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✔️ Advise across tax planning, structures, CGT, Division 7A, estate planning and advisory
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✔️ Stay across WIP, billing, write-offs, capacity and opportunities to add value
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✔️ Be the go-to 'rock' for clients.
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2 - Build great people
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✔️ Lead and coach a small team of accountants (1-2 direct reports within 12 months)
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✔️ Delegate well, hold the standard, keep workflow moving and on point
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✔️ Give clear feedback and help people step up
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3 - Help lead PAL
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✔️ Work alongside our Director, step up when needed
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✔️ Have a say in how PAL operates, grows and improves
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✔️ Bring ideas, make good calls and help turn them into action

You you bring

CA/CPA qualified (or near completion)
7+ yrs AU public practice
Strong Business Services & Tax experience across complex SME groups
Experience leading, coaching or managing accountants is a big plus
Strong technical judgement across tax planning, structures, CGT, Division 7A and complex group matters
Unusually humble, hungry, and people-smart
Currently based in Australia with full working rights
Proven experience managing client relationships, portfolios and workflow

What you get

$120K-160K base + super (aligned to experience)
Sign-on bonus (direct hires)
Profit share
$2K a year personal development budget
6 weeks paid annual leave
Mentorship from director
Clear path to partner / equity
Freedom to own your role (flex start + finish times / WFH options)
A down-to-earth team in the heart of Pako, Newtown
Relocation support if you're moving for the role (and great surfcoast lifestyle!)

Why you'll like it here:
‍
PAL is a boutique Geelong accounting and advisory firm built around a simple idea...

Do great work.
Grow fast.
And do it with good people.
‍
We work closely with SME owners on the stuff that actually matters. Tax planning, structuring, advisory, SMSF and some beautifully completed compliance jobs because, sadly, the ATO remains a thing. 😅
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At PAL you get the freedom to work like an adult. Start early, duck out when you need to, WFH options. (We care about outcomes, not clock-watching)
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You’ll work with good humans who give a sh*t about the work (and pass the pub test).🍻
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A-players (like you) get the trust and freedom to own their role, get great outcomes and make work fit sustainably around life.

We welcome applications from strong Seniors through to Associate Director-level candidates, with the scope of the role, remit, and salary package tailored to you.
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So, are you an A-player ready for a bigger seat?
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Apply with your CV and we’ll take it from there. We review all applications and enquiries, and will respond within 48hrs.

** All enquiries are confidential 🔐 We know the industry is small.

Apply

FAQ

Do I need to already be partner-track?

No.

We care more about what you can do than what your current title says. If you can run a complex portfolio, lead people well, make good commercial calls and want more influence over the business, we should probably talk.

What does the hiring process look like?

Thorough? Yes. Ridiculous? No.
‍
We’re hiring for a pretty important seat, and it's a big decision for you too.
So we want both sides to know it’s right.

Is this actually hybrid / flexible?

Yes.

There’s already plenty of freedom built into how we work day-to-day, and ad hoc WFH is completely fine when life calls for it. If having a couple of set WFH days is important to you, we’re open to agreeing those too.

At this level, we care far more about outcomes, clients and culture than where you happen to open your laptop.

The only catch: leadership is a team sport. Being present and connected still matters.

I'm in Melbourne — is the move worth it?

We think so.

Admittedly, we’re slightly biased. You get a senior leadership opportunity, complex SME work and a genuine voice in the business — without needing to spend your week trekking into the Melbourne CBD.

If you’ve been thinking about making the Surfcoast home, this could be a pretty good reason to finally do it.

Is the path to partner real, or just a line?

It’s real.

This role is designed for someone who wants to grow beyond managing a portfolio and into helping shape the business.

You’ll have a seat at the Leadership Team table from day one, real influence over how PAL grows and a genuine pathway to partnership if that’s where you want to take your career.

What if I'm not sure I'm ready?

Get in touch with Katherine (People and Experience) at katherine@palaccounting.com.au for a confidential chat about the role.

At the end of the day, we’re looking for capability, judgement and leadership potential — not someone who ticks every box perfectly.

If you’re already doing much of the job but haven’t been given the title, autonomy or seat at the table yet, you may be more ready than you think.

Your seat at the table is open.

APPLY OR ENQUIRE NOW

Still after more info?

DOWNLOAD OUR HANDBOOK

Curious about the role, but not ready to apply just yet?
‍
E-mail Katherine, our People & Experience Manager for a confidential 15 minute chat at katherine@palaccounting.com.au