by Optimum
Share
by Optimum
Share
The End of Financial Year is the most pressure loaded stretch of the calendar for any finance team. Here’s why Brisbane’s commerce and industry sector is turning to contractors to get through it — and what you need to know if you’re looking to hire or be hired.
The EOFY crunch is real — and it arrives every year
Every June, finance teams face the same collision: a mountain of year end obligations that simply cannot be pushed back. Year end close, statutory reporting, BAS reconciliations, payroll finalisation, superannuation processing and audit preparation all land within weeks of each other. For a team already stretched by business as usual reporting, this is the period where capacity gaps become genuinely painful.
The companies that navigate EOFY well are not necessarily the ones with the biggest permanent finance teams. They are the ones that plan ahead and bring in experienced contractors to absorb the additional workload before it becomes a crisis.
What is piling onto finance teams in June 2026
This year carries more pressure than most. On top of the standard year end workload, finance teams are navigating a significant legislative change: Payday Super takes effect on 1 July 2026. Under the new rules, employers must pay superannuation contributions within seven business days of each payday — ending the quarterly super model entirely.
For payroll and finance teams, this means reviewing systems, updating cash flow models, reconciling super obligations and ensuring processes are ready to go live on day one of the new financial year. That is a considerable body of work landing on top of everything else June already demands.
Why contractors are the right answer right now
A permanent hire takes weeks to recruit, onboard and get up to speed. A contractor can be briefed and contributing within days. For EOFY, where deadlines are fixed and immovable, that speed is the point.
Contractors also bring something else: they have typically done this before, across multiple organisations and sectors. An experienced contract Senior Accountant has closed off more year ends than many permanent team members will encounter in a career. They do not need to be told what to do. They step in, identify the gaps and get to work.
- No lengthy notice periods — contractors are available quickly, often within days.
- Defined engagement length — hire for 4 weeks, 3 months, or whatever the workload demands. No long-term commitment required.
- Experienced from day one — the best contractors have navigated EOFY across multiple industries and hit the ground running.
- Cost effective for a defined workload — a contractor’s day rate is straightforward to cost against a project or period, with no super, leave or ongoing employment costs on top.
- A foot in the door — contract engagements frequently convert to permanent roles when the right fit becomes apparent.
For contractors: this is your busiest season
If you are an experienced finance professional open to contract work, June and July represent the strongest demand period of the year in Brisbane. Companies are actively looking, decisions are being made quickly, and engagements are starting immediately. Having your CV current and a clear summary of your EOFY and statutory reporting experience is essential.
CPA or CA qualifications significantly strengthen your position for most Senior Accountant/Financial Controller contracts.
Act before the window closes
Optimum Consulting is currently working with numerous companies right now, sourcing experienced finance contractors at short notice. Whether you need a Senior Accountant for year end close, a payroll specialist for payday super readiness, or a Financial Controller to oversee statutory reporting, we can help you move quickly.
Marianne Savas, Divisional Manager – QLD
If you are looking to hire contractors over Year End or looking for your next contract, please call Marianne Savas, Divisional Manager, on 0413 850 114 for a confidential discussion.
I’m a diehard St George Illawarra Dragons fan. I’ve tipped them every single week this season. Every. Single. Week. And every single week, they’ve let me down. After 11 straight losses, the Dragons finally did what a lot of us had been waiting for and parted ways with Shane Flanagan. And honestly, as painful as it is to admit, it […]
We talk a lot about retention strategies. Salary benchmarking, flexible work arrangements, career progression frameworks. These things matter, but in my experience rarely explain why someone actually hands in their resignation. More often than not, the real reason is simpler: they didn’t feel seen. I’ve spoken to hundreds of candidates over the years, and a […]
