Senior Trust Accounts Officer

• Drive high‑volume trust account operations in the fast‑paced finance team of Australia's largest legal partnership, where precision, compliance, and impact are at the core of every transaction
• Melbourne and Sydney applicants are welcomed to join our genuinely integrated national finance team
• Flexible 4:1 work arrangements and generous leave policies

About us

HWLE is not your typical law firm. Our rapid rise to become the largest legal partnership in Australia shows that in our case, the differences are real. We deliver first class legal advice to our government and commercial clients in every state and territory across Australia. Firm wide, we have over 270 Partners and 1700 people.

The opportunity

We are looking for an experienced Senior Trusts Accounts Officer to join our National Finance team. You will support the National Accounts Supervisor by leading day-to-day workflow allocation, mentoring and training junior staff, resolving complex trust matters, and ensuring high-quality service delivery to partners and legal teams.

You'll be busy with

• Leadership & Oversight
• Direct workflow, mentor team members, and resolve complex issues across trust operations.
• Transaction Governance
  -
  Review
  , approve, and oversee trust receipts, transfers, payments, PEXA settlements, and controlled money transactions in line with LPUL and firm policies.
• Complex Case Management
• Handle multi‑party settlements, cross‑jurisdictional trust requirements, and large‑scale client transactions with precision and compliance.
• Financial Integrity
• Ensure accurate trust‑to‑office transfers, reconciliations, and statutory record management.
• Audit & Reporting
• Lead trust account audits, prepare periodic reports, and manage lodgements to meet regulatory obligations.
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Act as a trusted advisor to partners, practice groups, and corporate services, providing clear communication and guidance on trust processes.
• Capability Building
• Train staff on trust accounting systems and processes, embedding best practice across the wider firm

To succeed in this role, ideally you'll have

• 4 + years' experience, preferably within a law firm environment and familiarity with trust accounts
• knowledge of Australian trust accounting regulations (LPUL, state law society rules)
• demonstrated experience overseeing workflow or supervising a finance/trust team
• strong reconciliation and analytical skills with high attention to detail
• experience managing complex trust transactions and settlements
• excellent accuracy with processing volume
• strong time management, attention to detail, and organisational skills
• experience with our practice management system (Aderant) is advantageous, strong Excel skills, plus intermediate skills in Microsoft Office
• experience in national multi-office trust account operations desirable
• exposure to trust account audits and regulatory reporting across multiple jurisdictions desirable
• experience with PEXA settlements and controlled money management

What we offer

• Unrivalled career pathways:
  Our 180-day career forecasting sessions provide the platform to fast-track your progression.
• Location:
  Our cutting-edge office is conveniently located in the heart of the Melbourne CBD amidst a fast-pace, high-networking legal community. Enjoy working in a state-of-the-art office environment with access to modern end of trip facilities.
• Culture:
  Be part of a firm renowned for its friendly and down-to-earth culture.
• Prestige:
  Join a firm consistently ranked at the forefront of the Australian legal market, where your work is recognised nationally.

How to apply

To apply, please submit your CV via the 'Apply' function. Applicants must have full working rights in Australia to apply. HWL Ebsworth also strongly encourages applications from the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community.

HWL Ebsworth strives to create an inclusive environment where our people want and feel comfortable to bring their entire selves to work. Varied perspectives contribute to our collective success so whatever your background, we'd love to hear from you and encourage you to apply. If you have reasonable accessibility requirements that will enable you to participate equitably in our recruitment process, please reach out to Gabrielle Saunders for a confidential discussion.