Professional Director (North Sydney)

AusBusinessRegister.com.au helps overseas companies establish and run their Australian operations. One of the requirements we solve for clients is the appointment of a director who genuinely resides in Australia. We are looking for an experienced professional to take on that role properly, as a named director on client boards, not a passive figurehead.

About the role

You will be appointed as the resident director (and, for branches, the local agent) of a portfolio of foreign-owned Australian companies, satisfying the requirement under Section 201A of the Corporations Act 2001 that a proprietary company have at least one director ordinarily resident in Australia. These are real appointments with real duties. You will sit behind the ASIC record, understand each client’s business well enough to discharge your statutory obligations, and work closely with our compliance and tax teams so that nothing is signed without the right context. This is a position of genuine responsibility, supported by professional indemnity cover, clear engagement terms, and a firm that takes governance seriously.

What you will do

• Accept appointment as resident director or local agent on a portfolio of foreign-owned Australian entities
• Discharge directors’ duties under Sections 180 to 184 of the Corporations Act, including the duties of care and diligence, good faith, and proper use of position and information
• Review and authorise ASIC lodgements, resolutions, and material company decisions before signing
• Maintain a clear understanding of each client’s activities, solvency, and obligations so that director liability is properly managed
• Work with our ASIC and tax teams to ensure annual reviews, statutory registers, and notifications stay current
• Engage with overseas beneficial owners to understand instructions and flag where a proposed action conflicts with Australian law or your duties
• Help shape the firm’s risk framework, onboarding due diligence, and director engagement terms
• Keep accurate records of decisions, approvals, and the basis on which they were made

What you will need

• A CA, CPA, or GAICD qualification, or equivalent governance credentials, with the standing to act as a company director
• A strong working knowledge of the Corporations Act 2001, particularly directors’ duties, solvency, and ASIC obligations
• Experience as a director, company secretary, or senior governance professional, ideally with foreign-owned entities
• Sound judgement and the confidence to decline or question instructions that create unacceptable risk
• A genuine and ordinary residence in Australia, with the right to take on director appointments here
• Strong attention to detail and disciplined record keeping
• The ability to communicate clearly with overseas clients across time zones and cultures
• Personal integrity and a clear understanding that your name and reputation sit on the public record

Why join us

You will work directly with James Carey (CA, CTA, JP) and a focused team that does this work properly, with proper indemnity, proper due diligence, and a portfolio of interesting international clients. This is a rare chance to make professional directorship a genuine career, supported rather than exposed.