Adviser and accounting software
We support and harden the platforms your firm runs — Xplan, Iress, Class Super, Practifi, MYOB, Xero and Reckon — including secure access, integrations and the data protection these systems demand.
Industries we serve
IT support for financial services Melbourne
IT support for Melbourne financial advisers, brokers and accountants: Xplan and Xero help, email fraud defence, 24/7 SOC monitoring and audit-ready compliance.
Last reviewed October 2026
The tools you already run
We know the software accounting and advice firms run on
Your team shouldn't have to explain their core systems to an IT provider. These are the systems we work alongside — assisting with support, integration and hosting or management — and we know our way around them.
Xero Xero Australia's leading cloud accounting platform — invoicing, payroll and GST/BAS.
MYOB MYOB Long-established AU accounting & payroll suite (incl. AE/AO practice management).
QuickBooks QuickBooks Intuit's cloud accounting & bookkeeping platform for smaller businesses.
Iress Xplan Iress Xplan Australia's dominant financial-planning platform — SoAs, modelling, risk and portfolios.
BGL Simple Fund 360 BGL Simple Fund 360 Leading cloud SMSF administration & compliance platform (270,000+ funds).
Class Super Class Super Cloud SMSF administration software, the main alternative to BGL.IT support for Melbourne financial services and accounting firms
Key IT provides IT support for financial services firms in Melbourne — financial advisers, AFSL licensees and their authorised representatives, and mortgage and insurance brokers. You get a helpdesk staffed by security-certified engineers (Mon–Fri, 8am–5pm), hands-on support for Xplan, Iress and Practifi, and 24/7 SOC monitoring that watches for the account takeovers behind payment fraud. Run an accounting practice, tax agency or bookkeeping business? Our page on IT support for accountants in Melbourne covers ATO online services access, tax time and TFN data in depth.
In finance, the costliest IT failure is rarely a broken laptop. It is a changed-bank-details email that reads exactly like your client wrote it, and a settlement paid to a fraudster before anyone thinks to pick up the phone. Business email compromise is one of the most common ways a firm loses client money and trust in a single day, so alongside the everyday support we build the email defences and payment-checking rules that stop it, and keep the compliance records that prove it.
Why do financial firms need specialist IT support?
Because a finance firm's biggest IT risks are fraud, regulatory scrutiny and data theft, not just downtime:
You move money
A single business email compromise can redirect a client's funds, and the firm wears the loss and the regulatory scrutiny.
You are heavily regulated
AFSL holders must manage cyber risk as part of their licence obligations, APRA-regulated entities must meet CPS 234, and accountants hold tax file numbers the Privacy Act protects. A regulator or licensee asking "show me your controls" with no documented answer is a serious problem.
Your data is high value
Client financial records are among the most valuable targets on the dark web, and the trust that took years to build is gone after one breach. A free dark web scan shows whether staff email addresses already appear in known breaches.
What does IT support for a financial services firm include?
With Key IT it covers four areas on top of everyday helpdesk support: your advice and accounting software, defence against payment fraud, documented compliance, and backups you can actually restore.
Payment fraud and BEC defence
We set up SPF, DKIM and DMARC so your domain is much harder to forge, filter look-alike domains, watch for the hidden forwarding and inbox rules attackers set up after taking over a mailbox, and help you put a call-back rule in writing for any change to payment details. Our SPF, DKIM and DMARC explainer shows how those three records help stop scammers sending email as your firm, and a free phishing simulation demo shows who on your team would click.
Documented compliance
We map your controls to the Essential Eight, your AFSL risk-management obligations (or your licensee's cyber standards, if you are an authorised representative), the Privacy Act and, if you are APRA-regulated, CPS 234 — then keep the evidence current, so a licensee review or insurer renewal means sending documents, not starting from scratch. For the security side in depth, see cybersecurity for financial services.
Continuity and backup
Immutable, tested backups of client data and advice records, with recovery objectives documented so you know exactly how fast you can be back online.
What security controls do ASIC and insurers expect from finance firms?
ASIC expects every AFSL holder to manage cyber risk adequately, and cyber and professional-indemnity insurers now ask for proof of working controls before they cover or renew you. In practice that starts with five basics: multi-factor authentication, a business password manager, monitored logging, encryption and audit-ready records. In 2022 the Federal Court found AFSL holder RI Advice breached its licence obligations by failing to adequately manage cybersecurity risk across its authorised representatives, and in 2026 FIIG Securities was ordered to pay a $2.5 million penalty, the first time the Federal Court has imposed civil penalties for cyber failures under the general AFS licensee obligations. FIIG's gaps included inadequate MFA for remote access users, no structured plan for security updates and no regularly tested incident response plan. The building blocks are clear and achievable:
Multi-factor authentication (2FA) on every login and device, including privileged and remote access.
A business password manager so every account has a strong, unique password.
A SIEM service centralising your logs and alerts, monitored by a 24/7 SOC so threats are caught fast.
Encryption of client financial data in transit and at rest.
Audit-ready logging that gives you a clear record for insurers, auditors and regulators.
Why security-first matters most in finance
Because in finance the cost of one bad day dwarfs the cost of prevention. With security-certified engineers at a Greensborough HQ, backed by Key IT's 24/7 SOC service, you have one local provider answerable for keeping your clients' money and data where it belongs.
The financial software we support
We support and secure the platforms financial firms run their advice and accounting on — Xplan, Iress and Practifi on the advice side; Class Super and BGL for SMSF administration; MYOB, Xero and Reckon on the accounting side — along with the integrations between them and the documents they generate. Securing access to these systems matters as much as keeping them running: they hold the client data and the transaction information attackers most want. We configure them with strong authentication, control who can reach them, and ensure the data inside is backed up immutably.
Which compliance rules affect IT for advisers, brokers and accountants?
Depending on your licence and your clients, several of these apply, and information security now runs through all of them:
AFSL general obligations
Licensees must have adequate risk-management systems, and the Federal Court has confirmed that includes cyber risk.
APRA CPS 234
APRA-regulated entities must be able to show their information-security controls work, notify APRA of material incidents within 72 hours, and assess the security of third parties that manage their information.
Privacy Act 1988 and the NDB scheme
Eligible data breaches must be reported to the OAIC and affected clients, and any business holding tax file numbers is covered for that data, whatever its size.
ASIC RG 271 (internal dispute resolution)
Complaints must be recorded and answered on time, so the systems holding complaint records need to be secure and available.
We align your environment to these and maintain audit-ready evidence, so a regulator, licensee or insurer asking "show me your controls" is met with an answer, not a scramble.
Why generic IT support fails financial firms
The threats that cost financial firms most — payment-redirection fraud, account takeover, a regulator finding undocumented controls — sit precisely where general IT support does not look. A provider focused only on keeping computers working will not harden your email against impersonation, will not monitor for the quiet account compromise that precedes fraud, and will not produce the compliance evidence you need. In a sector where one fraudulent transfer can exceed a year's IT budget, security-first, finance-aware IT is not a luxury — it is risk management.
A realistic scenario
An adviser's assistant receives an email, apparently from a client, asking to update the bank account for an upcoming withdrawal and process it urgently. The email is convincing — the attacker has been reading the real client's compromised mailbox for a fortnight and copied the tone exactly. Without controls, the funds go to the attacker. With the controls we implement — mailbox monitoring that should have flagged the original compromise, plus a firm rule that no payment detail changes without verbal verification on a known number — the request is checked, the fraud is exposed, and the client's money is safe.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is business email compromise and why does it target finance firms?
Business email compromise (BEC) is a scam where a criminal takes over, or convincingly fakes, the mailbox of a client, supplier or colleague, then asks for money to go to a new account — often a settlement, rollover or invoice. Finance firms are targeted because they authorise large transfers every week, so one success pays the attacker handsomely.
Does APRA CPS 234 apply to financial advisers and accountants?
Usually not directly. CPS 234 binds APRA-regulated entities such as banks, insurers and super funds, which must also check the security of providers handling their data. Advisers sit under their licensee's AFSL duty to manage cyber risk, which the RI Advice case showed reaches authorised representatives. Accountants holding tax file numbers are covered by the Privacy Act's TFN rules.
Does the Privacy Act apply to our AML/CTF records?
Yes, if you are an AML/CTF reporting entity. Businesses turning over $3 million or less are normally exempt, but the OAIC says the Privacy Act covers personal information that reporting entities handle for AML/CTF purposes, small businesses included. Since 1 July 2026, tranche 2 has also brought accountants, and trust and company service providers, into the regime when they offer designated services. The OAIC adds that, once your obligations start, the AML/CTF Act doesn't require you to keep scanned copies of ID documents, so recording the details you need and deleting the images shrinks what a breach could expose. Our guide to AML/CTF tranche 2 IT security shows where ID copies pile up. General information only; confirm your position with your compliance adviser.
Which financial software do you support?
Xplan, Iress, Class Super, Practifi, BGL, MYOB, Xero and Reckon are all common in the firms we support. We secure access to them and protect the data they hold.
How do you stop payment-redirection fraud?
By layering technology and habit. Technically: SPF, DKIM and DMARC on your domain, impersonation filtering, MFA on every mailbox and alerts on risky sign-ins. In process: no bank-detail change is actioned until someone calls the client back on a number already on file, never on an incoming call, because voice cloning can fake a familiar voice.
Can you provide evidence of our security for an audit or licensee review?
Yes. Key IT prepares an Essential Eight maturity report plus plain-English control documentation — who has admin access, how backups are tested, how MFA is enforced — written to answer licensee reviews, auditor requests and cyber-insurance questionnaires.
We are a small accounting practice — is this overkill?
No. A small practice holds the same kinds of data as a large firm — tax file numbers, bank details, ID documents — usually with fewer defences, which is exactly why attackers like them. The same basics simply scale down to fewer seats and a smaller budget.
How much does IT support cost for an accounting or financial advice firm?
Most firms pay a fixed monthly fee per user for managed IT. The general Melbourne market range is roughly $100–$200 per user per month, driven by how much security, backup and onsite time is included. Key IT quotes a fixed monthly per-user price after a free review of your systems, with no lock-in contract.
Do you support finance firms outside Melbourne?
Yes. Our Greensborough team looks after firms across Melbourne and the CBD in person, and supports practices in regional Victoria and elsewhere in Australia remotely, with the same 24/7 SOC monitoring.
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What our clients say
Imported from our Google reviews — real Melbourne businesses we look after, in their own words.
Read & review us on Google →Key IT are computer wizards who have become an important resource for the smooth running of our businesses. They are reliable, a pleasure to deal with and always willing to solve any technical emergency we may confront, whether it requires an on-site visit or via phone support. We highly value their work and recommend them unreservedly!
The team at Key IT have been extremely helpful to our organisation right from the beginning. They have left no stone unturned in their quest to fulfil all our IT needs — including reorganising our IT infrastructure, setting up our network and phone systems, and migrating us to Azure — and are always there to help us when needed. Their knowledge is second to none. Without the team our business would have been in turmoil.
I have always found the team at Key IT to be fast, knowledgeable and professional. We run a number of different businesses from the one server, and my office staff often need assistance solving varied issues. Key IT always comes to the rescue and gets us back on track in a timely fashion. I would have no hesitation recommending the team.
We couldn't be happier that Key IT's expert IT skills popped into our lives here at Premium Capital Finance. Their sheer professionalism is second to none, whether it's their accessibility over the phone or dropping into our office on site — they always do an exceptional job. Would recommend to anyone who needs a reliable, knowledgeable IT expert.
Thank you to the Key IT team. You have always been available, knowledgeable and ready to help with all our IT needs and issues — from expert advice and troubleshooting to hardware. We don't have the time or capability to do it ourselves, and are comfortable knowing you're just a phone call away. You consistently meet all our needs for timely service, quality workmanship, expert advice and competitive pricing. We highly recommend Key IT and their team.
We've been working with Elias at Key IT for our IT support for the last 8 years, and have been most satisfied with their knowledge and service. In an office of non-technically minded workers, whenever we face an issue, Key IT responds promptly. They are patient and professional, and explain issues in plain English. They understand our IT needs, and we call on them whenever we need an upgrade.
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From manufacturing and healthcare to finance, body corporate and professional services — a few of the businesses whose IT and security we run every day.
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