CPA Australia
    (46 reviews)

    Company Reviews

    Working at CPA Australia

    2.946 ratings in total
    5
    10
    4
    5
    3
    9
    2
    13
    1
    9
    92%
    Rate salary as high or average
    43%
    Employees recommend this employer to friends
    Work/Life balance
    3.4(45 ratings)
    Career development
    2.6(45 ratings)
    Benefits & perks
    2.8(44 ratings)
    Management
    2.5(45 ratings)
    Working environment
    2.8(45 ratings)
    Diversity & equal opportunity
    3.4(44 ratings)
    Ratings for CPA Australia are shared as-is from employees in line with our community guidelines

    Reviews

    Showing 46 reviews sorted by most recent
    Sort by
    most recent
    2.0
    GMX Team
    Feb 2026
    Southbank VIC 30061 to 2 years in the role, current employee
    Leadership is constantly receiving the same negative feedback, which they constantly ignore.
    The good thingsMembers are great and some colleagues are amazing. It used to be good for hybrid work but that is changing.
    The challengesLeadership is toxic, aggressive leaders are promoted over competent staff who are overworked until they burnout and leave.
    2 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Project Delivery
    Nov 2025
    Southbank VIC 3006Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Employer of Last Resort
    The good thingsGreat at entertaining with food and drinks.
    The challengesHeavy workloads with unrealistic requirements and expectations. When issues were encountered, it became a case of shoot the messenger.
    1 person found this helpful
    1.0
    Administration
    Sep 2025
    Southbank VIC 30065 to 6 years in the role, current employee
    CPA Australia offers flexible working arrangements and above-average pay for customer service and administration roles. Unresolved system issues, reliance on outdated processes, and an unaddressed toxic culture that avoids accountability can make the work repetitive and dealing with misconduct frustrating.
    The good thingsThe biggest benefit of working at CPA Australia is the flexible working arrangements, which make it much easier to balance work and personal life. The organisation also pays above-average wages for customer facing and administration roles, which is a real positive compared to many similar employers. For someone looking for stability, good work–life balance, and competitive pay, CPA Australia can be a solid option.
    The challengesI started in customer facing role before moving into an office position, not through career growth but because of workplace misconduct that leadership and HR ignored. Speaking up about misconduct only led to further punishment, while the actual behaviour was brushed aside. The culture discourages accountability, with a heavy reliance on outsourcing to Malaysia and little investment in developing or training local staff. Repetitive tasks are common due to unresolved system faults, and staff are pressured to meet service levels that management won’t admit we’re consistently operating outside of. A lot of “busy work” exists to preserve outdated processes that don’t benefit members, despite the very high fees they pay. Staff wellbeing and development take a back seat to protecting leadership and maintaining the status quo.
    2 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Manager
    Jun 2025
    Melbourne VIC 30002 to 3 years in the role, current employee
    unorganised and high pressure
    The good thingsGreat people to work with on the ground.
    The challengesMarketing function is highly unorganised, micromanagers, has poor work processes. Company is prone to restructures every few years. Lack of vision from senior leadership and middle management. high pressure for no reason
    1 person found this helpful
    2.0
    Membership Executive
    Jan 2025
    Melbourne VIC 3000
    Do a good research about the organisation if decided to join.
    The good thingsFlexible work arrangements. Good interaction with members.
    The challengesThe organisation's values have changed drastically in recent years. Leadership no longer cares about its members, focusing only on profits. Staff have been treated poorly. The recent restructure felt like Squid Game, where even those who survived are left unhappy.
    5 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Technology Specialist
    May 2024
    Lovely Banks VIC 32133 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    I learned a lot
    The good thingsWork life balance is good.
    The challengesManagement is unorganised
    2 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Manager
    Jan 2024
    Melbourne VIC 30001 to 2 years in the role
    Disappointing but on reflection absolutely not surprised. An outdated organisation with archaic practices and thinking.
    The good thingsThe organisation has pockets of good people but nowhere near enough.
    The challengesLack of authentic leadership and accountability. Poor culture creating apathy and outdated practices.
    5.0
    IT
    May 2023
    Southbank VIC 3006Less than 1 year in the role, current employee
    Challenging but in a good way.
    The good thingsManagers care how the company is working for you and how they can make you more comfortable with your role/ help you with the resources. Plenty of opportunities and resources to learn. Managers have an open mind to your ideas even though you may think differently than them.
    The challengesThe induction/ introduction to the existing platforms could be better.
    2.0
    Administrator
    Nov 2022
    Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Treat it as an experience and move on.
    The good thingsSome colleagues were good to work with, inspiring and very supportive.
    The challengesThe managers have unrealistic expectations and skewed ideas of what is needed. Office vibe a bit weird and some people like to cling to their own circle.
    1.0
    Marketing and Events
    Feb 2021
    former employee
    Like the Hunger Games. Worst place I've ever worked!
    The good thingsGood location and excellent in-house catering for events.
    The challengesPoor leadership. Lots of internal conflict which is overlooked by HR. High staff turnover. Complete lack of diversity.
    9 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Events
    Sep 2020
    7 to 8 years in the role, former employee
    CPA offer me great support and career advancement and a critical time in my career.
    The good thingsCarreer Advancement, Training and support
    The challengesA number of restructures
    3.0
    Administration Role
    Mar 2020
    Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Easy life, not a great atmosphere
    The good thingsGood location, convenience
    The challengesPoor management, unfriendly atmosphere
    7 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Business Analyst
    Mar 2020
    Less than 1 year in the role, current employee
    Happy and excited
    The good thingsAs a contractor I am lucky to be part of this organisation and a great team with a really competitive daily rate.
    The challengesNil till date. I find the organisation and the processes to be well structured.
    1.0
    Member Service Adviser
    Feb 2020
    3 to 4 years in the role
    I am glad i got opportunity to work in a divisional office. The colleagues were really supportive and good. The role was stagnant after a point as there was no advancement opportunities available.
    The good thingsstaff in local office is great.
    The challengesNo progression. Inconsiderate management. No proper planning and the KPI's and goals change .
    2 people found this helpful
    3.0
    Administrator
    Jan 2020
    former employee
    The organisation is experiencing extreme change fatigue
    The good thingsAlthough the organisation is quite formal and structured, there are great people who work there and there is a nice sense of 'family' amongst staff members. I had some fantastic colleagues and made some great friends and contacts. I also had the opportunity to stretch my skills and work on different projects, which kept the role interesting. The pay is also above market rates.
    The challengesDue to all the organisational changes that started a couple of years ago, towards the end of my time there, a lot of people were experiencing change fatigue. Staff turnover was increasingly high and the organisation was extremely siloed. Most of the time, business units were against each other, rather than supporting each other. Management in my team was also shocking. People got away with bad behaviours due to their level of seniority and the leadership style completely lacked compassion and empathy. Managing up was more important than looking after the mental health of staff that reported to you. I no longer work at CPA Australia, but still keep in contact with those that are still there, and have been told that the environment is only becoming increasingly more ambiguous and uncertain, and more and more staff are leaving. Almost the entire team has turned over since I started my role.
    8 people found this helpful
    1.0
    IT
    Nov 2019
    Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    If you love yourself stay away from this place
    The good thingsClose to the train station
    The challengesThe management is really disconnected with the team members. Toxic environment. HR policy is a joke.
    7 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Manager
    Sep 2019
    Avoid
    The good thingsPeople at lower levels
    The challengesUnaligned management endorsing poor behaviours and terrible culture
    7 people found this helpful
    3.0
    Member Education
    Aug 2019
    7 to 8 years in the role, former employee
    Crucible of fire
    The good thingsFlexible hours, autonomy to do the work, great location in Southbank. Working with the members. Seeing all your hard work payoff and smiles on the faces of the members. Grew and developed alot in this role. Great staff perks and benefits.
    The challengesExtremely siloed culture, granted they are trying to work on this but it will be a long uphill battle as they have not put in place the required experienced leaders to execute it. Organisation going through massive restructure so sense of staff disconnect is heightened. Internal stakeholder management was by far the most draining aspect of this job- was an anchor dragging you down in trying to deliver results for the organisation. Worked very long hours to get things over the line- exhausting and stressful that took it's toll and in the end had to leave for the sake of my health.
    5 people found this helpful
    3.0
    CPD
    Jun 2019
    If you care more about money than your wellbeing, you've found the place.
    The good thingsChristmas parties, annual raise and bonus
    The challengesIts not fun, it used to be but not any more. Depending on your manager, experiences vary.
    3 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Call Centre Role
    May 2019
    Started off great but went sour. They will tell you that you can move up into better roles, however, they play favourites. If you're not liked, don't expect anything good to come your way but expect to be targeted by your superiors.
    The good thingsThe pay is very good
    The challengesLack of moving forward career wise and management.
    5 people found this helpful
    3.0
    Member Experience Consultant
    May 2019
    1 to 2 years in the role, current employee
    Okay, better if you work in the head office
    The good thingsWorking with a small office, means there's no \"cliques\"
    The challengesBeing based in a \"regional\" office there isn't limited to no opportunity to develop career wise.
    2 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Marketing Assistant
    May 2019
    It has been challenging with not much support and a poor culture. Change is slow and difficult stakeholders
    The good thingsLocation and good facilities
    The challengesPoor culture, change is very slow and demanding stakeholders
    1 person found this helpful
    2.0
    Assistant
    Dec 2018
    All Australia1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    good for working experience
    The good thingscolleagues are pleasant to work with
    The challengessalary is low.........
    2 people found this helpful
    3.0
    Membership
    Nov 2018
    NSW Division is (mostly) great
    The good thingsMost staff are fun and friendly and generally it’s an enjoyable place to work
    The challengesDifficulties with culture (toxic masculinity) and silos
    2 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Finance Role
    Nov 2018
    Passive
    The good thingsgreat work-life balance
    The challengesIf it ain't broke don't fix it seems to be the moto for this society of a bygone era.
    1 person found this helpful
    2.0
    Security Guard
    Jul 2018
    Not good
    The good thingsThe personnel at the work front where very much a team
    The challengesThe supervisor has the position on a who knows who basis NOT profesional
    1 person found this helpful
    2.0
    Technology business unit
    Mar 2018
    1 to 2 years in the role, current employee
    Talented people with 0 people skills and professionalism
    The good thingsPeople are helpful Flexible Less pressure
    The challengesPeople always talk in other language other than English. Some employees are quiet unprofessional. Management doesn’t care about being professional as long as the job is being done. Very bad environment.
    3 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Member Service Advisor
    Feb 2018
    All Australia
    My last day was my best day
    The good thingsThe people you work with are nice
    The challengesNo communication and absolutely no culture
    3 people found this helpful
    3.0
    Customer Services Officer
    Dec 2017
    5 to 6 years in the role, former employee
    Good and bad, wish it was more great though.
    The good thingsThe people, made many long time friendships.
    The challengesMicro management at its best. They don't like feedback unless they like it themselves. Lack of support for frontline staff with difficult customers.
    1 person found this helpful
    2.0
    Solutions Architect
    Oct 2017
    Less than 1 year in the role, current employee
    Very easy to have full understand of ICT landscape, business model
    The good thingsgood work life balance for staff members, not for contractors
    The challengesPoor management, with little knowledge of architecture
    3 people found this helpful
    Company Reviews published on our site are the views and opinions of their authors and do not represent the views and opinions of SEEK or its personnel. SEEK does not verify the truth or accuracy of any reviews and does not adopt or endorse any of the comments posted. SEEK posts reviews for what they are worth and for informational purposes only to assist candidates to find employment.