Senior Financial Accountant

The Perkins is seeking a skilled Senior Financial Accountant to drive excellence in financial reporting and compliance. This position is offered on a full-time permanent basis, located at our state-of-the-art medical research facilities in Nedlands.

Reporting to the Finance Manager, this key role is responsible for strengthening financial integrity, streamlining processes and providing insights that empower Perkins to achieve its purpose. You will play a central role in ensuring accurate statutory reporting, managing audits, and optimising financial processes, all while supporting the sustainability of our groundbreaking research. This is a unique opportunity to apply your expertise in a purpose-driven environment where your work contributes to discoveries that change lives.

We are committed to a safe, equitable and inclusive culture where every person can innovate and thrive.

• Lead the preparation and review of statutory financial reports, including consolidated financial statements for the Perkins Group, in compliance with AASB and ACNC standards.
• Oversee group consolidation activities on a periodic basis, ensuring consistency in accounting policies across the group.
• Conduct compliance research and prepare high-quality papers for the Executive, Board and Audit & Risk Committee on technical accounting and reporting matters, including compliance with new and existing accounting standards.
• Participate in the audit process, acting as a key liaison with auditors to ensure smooth and timely completion.
• Prepare and lodge Business Activity Statements (BAS) and Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) returns in compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Manage grant accounting and provide support for both internal and external stakeholders.
• Perform and coordinate month-end and year-end closing activities, including journal entries and balance sheet reconciliations within scheduled timeframes, and ensuring accurate and timely group financial submissions.
• Oversee Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable and Payroll functions to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with accounting standards and ATO requirements.
• Manage company treasury duties including daily cash and investment reporting, initiating term deposits, maintaining operating bank account balances, coordinating bank users and credit card changes and reviewing weekly bank payments.
• Provide accounting support for capital projects and facility management activities.
• Prepare budgets and forecasts for assigned business units in collaboration with the Financial Planning & Analysis Partner.
• Ensure financial integrity across all reporting systems and processes, safeguarding data accuracy and consistency.
• Support initiatives to enhance internal controls and optimise financial processes for improved efficiency.
• This role would suit someone with strong technical accounting expertise and a passion for ensuring financial integrity.

• Tertiary qualification in Finance or Accounting (or similar) with professional membership as a Chartered Accountant or Certified Practicing Accountant.
• Proven expertise in statutory and management reporting, ensuring compliance with Australian Accounting Standards (AASB) and industry regulations.
• Knowledge of complex accounting standards including revenue recognition and reporting. An understanding of compliance relevant to the medical research sector is desirable.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating external audits, managing audit deliverables, and addressing audit queries effectively.
• Familiarity with ERP systems and financial reporting tools and the ability to contribute to process improvements and system optimisations. Experience with Technology One is desirable.
• Experience supporting budgeting and forecasting processes with strong analytical skills to assess variances and financial trends.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to build relationships with diverse stakeholders across senior management, operational teams and auditors.
• Proven ability to analyse complex financial information, identify key issues, and propose practical solutions.
• Experience mentoring junior staff and working collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams to achieve financial objectives.
• Experience in the medical research, healthcare, or not-for-profit sectors or familiarity with grant and fund accounting processes (desirable).
• Satisfactory National Police Certificate.

• Flexible working options
• A supportive and passionate team
• The opportunity to make a positive impact in a community-focused organisation with global reach
• The ability to salary package up to $18,550 annually, meaning you can legitimately pay less tax and increase your tax-home pay
• Generous leave benefits, including 3 days paid extra leave at the end of the year; up to 16 weeks paid parental leave; 2 days of paid cultural and community engagement leave

To apply, please submit your cover letter (addressing the selection criteria) and your resume. Applications close on 26 September 2025; we'll begin interviewing as soon as we hear from the right people – so don't wait to apply

The Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, affectionately known as 'the Perkins', is Western Australia's leading medical research facility, investigating the diseases that most impact our families including cancers, heart disease, diabetes and rare genetic diseases. We support WA's best medical researchers to beat the world's toughest diseases and help people live longer, healthier lives.