Published: October 2025
For small and medium businesses across Australia, building an effective finance team is one of the most critical steps towards sustainable growth. Whether you need a bookkeeper to manage daily transactions or a finance analyst to drive strategic insights, hiring the right people can transform how your business handles money.
This guide walks you through hiring the most common finance roles for Australian SMEs, from understanding what each position does to identifying the skills that matter most.
Before you start recruiting, it's essential to understand which finance roles your business actually needs. Many Australian business owners conflate different positions or hire for the wrong level of expertise. Here's a breakdown of the most common finance roles for businesses managing operations under a finance manager.
Bookkeepers are the foundation of your finance function. They handle day-to-day financial transactions, maintain accurate records, and ensure your books are up to date for tax and compliance purposes.
Key responsibilities include:
When to hire: From startup phase onwards. Every business needs accurate bookkeeping from day one, and poor financial records create significant problems down the track.
Salary range in Australia: $55,000 to $75,000 per year for experienced bookkeepers, depending on location and complexity of the role.
An accounts payable clerk specialises in managing what your business owes to suppliers and vendors. As your business grows and transaction volume increases, this becomes a specialised role rather than a general bookkeeping task.
Key responsibilities include:
When to hire: When your business processes more than 50 invoices per month or when managing supplier relationships becomes time-consuming.
Salary range in Australia: $50,000 to $65,000 per year.
Similar to accounts payable, accounts receivable becomes its own role as your customer base grows. This person ensures your business actually gets paid for the work it does.
Key responsibilities include:
When to hire: When you have more than 30 active customers with recurring invoices, or when cash flow management becomes a daily concern.
Salary range in Australia: $50,000 to $70,000 per year.
Finance analysts take your financial data and turn it into actionable business insights. They work with historical data and forecasting models to help you make smarter business decisions.
Key responsibilities include:
When to hire: Once your business has consistent revenue over $2 million annually and you need strategic insights beyond basic reporting.
Salary range in Australia: $70,000 to $95,000 per year.
As your headcount grows, payroll becomes complex enough to warrant its own specialist. This role ensures your employees are paid correctly and on time while managing all associated compliance requirements.
Key responsibilities include:
When to hire: When you have more than 15 employees or when payroll compliance becomes complex due to awards, shifts, or multiple employment types.
Salary range in Australia: $60,000 to $80,000 per year.
The Australian market for finance professionals is competitive, particularly in major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. Understanding current market conditions helps you set realistic expectations for hiring timelines and compensation.
Recent trends show that qualified bookkeepers and finance professionals expect flexible working arrangements, competitive salaries, and clear career progression pathways. Businesses that offer these conditions attract better candidates faster.
Many SMEs struggle to compete with larger corporations on salary alone. This makes it essential to highlight other benefits such as variety in work, direct impact on business outcomes, and opportunities to work across different areas of finance.
When hiring for finance roles in Australia, certain qualifications and skills are non-negotiable, while others depend on your specific needs.
Effective interviewing separates candidates who look good on paper from those who will actually perform well in your business. Here are practical questions for each role:
Watch out for warning signs during the recruitment process:
Once you've hired the right person, effective onboarding sets them up for success. Finance roles require access to sensitive information and systems, so this process needs careful planning.
Week one should cover:
Month one should include:
Traditional full-time hiring isn't always the right solution, particularly for businesses in early growth stages or those with seasonal fluctuations.
Many Australian SMEs now leverage outsourced finance services instead of hiring in-house. This approach provides access to experienced professionals at a fraction of the cost, with the flexibility to scale services up or down as needed.
Outsourcing works particularly well for:
Hiring someone for 2-3 days per week can be an effective middle ground. This works well for senior roles like finance analysts where you need expertise but don't yet need someone full-time.
Six or twelve-month contracts allow you to test fit before committing to permanent employment. This reduces risk and gives both parties time to ensure the arrangement works.
When hiring finance staff in Australia, you must comply with several legal requirements:
Fair Work obligations: All employees must receive written employment contracts that meet minimum standards under the Fair Work Act. This includes details about salary, leave entitlements, notice periods, and role expectations.
Superannuation: You must pay superannuation guarantee contributions (currently 11.5% of ordinary time earnings) to your employee's nominated fund within 28 days after the end of each quarter.
Privacy requirements: Finance staff handle sensitive personal and business information. Ensure your employment contracts include confidentiality clauses and that you comply with the Privacy Act 1988 when handling employee data.
Professional insurance: If your finance hire will be providing BAS services or other regulated activities, verify they hold appropriate professional indemnity insurance.
Looking for finance support without the full-time hiring commitment?
Scale Suite provides comprehensive finance services to Australian small and medium businesses, offering an alternative to traditional hiring. Our Sydney-based team integrates seamlessly with your operations, providing:
We work with businesses at all stages, from startups to established companies with up to 100 employees. Our services scale with your needs, and you can pause or adjust at any time without the obligations of permanent employment.
As registered BAS Agents, certified Xero Partners, we deliver the expertise you need at a fraction of the cost of hiring full-time staff.
Book a free consultation to discuss how ScaleSuite can support your finance function without the challenges of traditional hiring.
How much should I pay a bookkeeper in Australia?
Experienced bookkeepers in Australia typically earn between $55,000 and $75,000 per year for full-time positions, depending on location and complexity. Sydney and Melbourne rates tend to be higher, while regional areas may be slightly lower. The hourly rate for contractors ranges from $40 to $80 per hour.
Do I need to hire someone with a BAS Agent registration?
If you need someone to prepare and lodge your Business Activity Statements on your behalf, yes. Under Australian law, only registered BAS agents, tax agents, or accountants can lodge BAS for other businesses. If your staff member only prepares the information but doesn't lodge it, registration isn't required.
What's the difference between a bookkeeper and an accountant?
Bookkeepers handle day-to-day financial transactions and maintain accurate records. They process invoices, reconcile accounts, and prepare basic reports. Accountants typically focus on higher-level tax planning, financial strategy, and compliance with complex accounting standards. Most SMEs need a bookkeeper for daily operations and an accountant for annual tax returns and strategic advice.
Should I hire someone with industry-specific experience?
While helpful, it's not essential for most bookkeeping and finance roles. Strong technical skills and understanding of Australian tax obligations matter more than industry knowledge, which can be learned on the job. However, for highly regulated industries like construction or healthcare, industry experience becomes more valuable.
How long does it typically take to hire a finance professional in Australia?
For bookkeeping and entry-level finance roles, expect 4-8 weeks from posting the position to having someone start. This includes 2-3 weeks for applications, 1-2 weeks for interviews, and 2-3 weeks for notice periods. More senior roles like finance analysts may take 8-12 weeks.
Can I hire finance staff as contractors instead of employees?
This depends on the nature of the arrangement. The ATO has strict guidelines about what constitutes a genuine contractor versus an employee relationship. Generally, if someone works regular hours under your direction using your systems, they're likely an employee regardless of what your contract says. Misclassifying employees as contractors can result in significant penalties. Seek advice before making this decision.
What happens if I can't afford a full-time finance person?
Many Australian SMEs use fractional or outsourced finance services to access professional expertise without full-time salaries. Services like ScaleSuite provide bookkeeping, financial reporting, and CFO-level guidance on a flexible, pay-for-what-you-need basis. This allows you to delay full-time hires until your revenue justifies the cost.
Do finance staff need to work in the office?
Modern cloud accounting software like Xero and MYOB enables finance work to happen remotely. Many Australian businesses now offer hybrid or fully remote arrangements for finance roles. However, some businesses prefer finance staff on-site, particularly during onboarding or when handling physical paperwork. Consider your actual requirements before making this decision.
Scale Suite delivers embedded finance and human resource services for ambitious Australian businesses.Our Sydney-based team integrates with your daily operations through a shared platform, working like part of your internal staff but with senior-level expertise. From complete bookkeeping to strategic CFO insights, we deliver better outcomes than a single hire - without the recruitment risk, training time, or full-time salary commitment.
Considering hiring finance staff? Let's compare what you'd get with an internal hire versus our embedded team approach.
Our experts will show you the complete picture - costs, capabilities, and flexibility - so you can make the right decision for your business.
No lock-in contracts and 30 day money back guarantee.
