About Count Out Loud

Count Out Loud is the accountant for Australia’s creative industries. We work with a wide range of creative industry clients, from film and television production companies, documentary producers, post-production and VFX studios, content creators and creative freelancers across the country, the people making the work everyone else watches. Strength behind the spotlight is the whole idea, the financial backing that lets creative businesses do their best work.

Creative businesses earn differently to everyone else, with project-based revenue, seasonal cash flow, government offsets and income built on IP, which trips up plenty of firms and it is exactly the kind of work we built our entire practice around. We have been a Xero Platinum Champion Partner since 2016 and our work runs from Producer Offset claims and QAPE tracking through to business structuring, tax compliance and Virtual CFO advisory. We are a technology forward practice, and we use a broad set of tools to keep the work moving and the thinking clear, rather than buried in spreadsheets.

The role

We are looking for a Senior Accountant who wants their portfolio to be a genuinely interesting read. You will own a client list of production companies, creators and creative businesses, lead their compliance and advisory work end to end and help founders make sharper financial decisions about businesses you will actually find yourself curious about.

This is a senior seat with real client ownership and room to specialise. Depending on where your strengths sit, you can grow into advisory, Producer Offset work, or Virtual CFO engagements.

What you will be doing

• Managing income tax returns, BAS, FBT and payroll tax for a portfolio of creative industry clients
• Preparing and reviewing financial statements for production companies, content creators and creative freelancers
• Advising on entity structuring, asset protection and the SPV setups common in film and television production
• Supporting Producer Offset claims, including QAPE classification and tracking built directly into Xero
• Working alongside clients on cash flow forecasting, budgeting and KPI tracking as part of our Virtual CFO service
• Mentoring junior staff and reviewing their work
• Building real relationships with clients who want an advisor who actually gets their industry

What we are looking for

• CA or CPA qualified, with at least four to five years in public practice or business advisory
• Strong technical foundation across Australian tax compliance, structuring and financial reporting
• Confident in Xero, ideally with experience across the wider cloud accounting ecosystem
• Comfortable running your own portfolio and owning client relationships
• A clear communicator who can talk to creative founders and producers like a human, without the jargon
• Genuinely curious about the creative industries, the work, the money behind it and the people making it

Experience in screen, media, or entertainment accounting is a real advantage, though we are open to strong candidates from general practice who want to specialise. Familiarity with the Producer Offset, QAPE and Screen Australia processes will put you ahead.

Why join Count Out Loud?

Your clients will be building films, television series, documentaries and creative businesses, so the work stays varied and rarely feels routine. We are a specialist team, which means your contribution is visible, your ideas land and your development is taken seriously.

You get flexibility around how and where you work, ongoing professional development and the chance to become a recognised name in one of the most distinctive corners of Australian accounting.

How to apply

Send your CV and a short note on why creative industry accounting appeals to you. We review applications as they come in, so early interest is encouraged. Pop your favourite film or the last great thing you watched at the top of your note, we like knowing what moves you. Want a quiet chat before you apply? Call us on (02) 9043 1525.

Frequently asked questions

What qualifications do I need for the Senior Accountant role at Count Out Loud?

You will need to be CA or CPA qualified with at least four to five years of experience in public practice or business advisory. A strong technical foundation across Australian tax compliance, structuring and financial reporting is essential, along with confidence working in Xero. Experience in screen, media, or entertainment accounting is an advantage, though we welcome strong candidates from general practice who want to specialise in the creative industries.

Do I need film or entertainment industry experience to apply?

No. Experience with film, television, content, or creative businesses is a real advantage and familiarity with the Producer Offset, QAPE and Screen Australia processes will put you ahead. We are also genuinely open to experienced accountants from general practice who are curious about the creative industries and want to build a specialism. What matters most is strong technical ability and a real interest in the clients we work with.

Is the Senior Accountant role full time and where is it based?

The role is based in North Sydney, with flexibility around how and where you work. We are a specialist team, so the position carries real client ownership and room to grow into advisory, Producer Offset, or Virtual CFO work. If you would like to confirm the working arrangements before applying, you are welcome to call us on (02) 9043 1525 for a confidential chat.