FairWork goes after accountants

A Melbourne accounting firm is being taken to court for providing payroll services to a fast-food outlet while allegedly knowing its client was underpaying its workers thousands of dollars.

The Australian Fair Work Ombudsman says Ezy Accounting 123 provided payroll services for Blue Impression Pty Ltd, operator of the Hanaichi QV fast-food restaurant in Melbourne, Queen Victoria building, while knowing the rates paid to some workers were below the minimum hourly rate.

It is alleged that Blue Impression and its operations manager, Sze Teng Wong, underpaid two Taiwanese workers on the 417 working visa $9549 between September 2014 and April 2015.

Fair Work said in a statement on Friday the two workers were allegedly paid a flat rate of $16.50 an hour, which it says is below the minimum hourly rate and not enough to cover public holiday and weekend penalty rates, or night and casual loadings.

The workers, in their mid-20s, were also allegedly denied appropriate meal and rest breaks.

It is the first time Fair Work has initiated legal action against an accountant.

Ombudsman Natalie James said Fair Work has been concerned about the role of key advisers, such as accounts and HR professions, in some "serious and deliberate contraventions" for years.

"Small business relies heavily on trusted advisers, and if they give bad or incorrect advice, or deliberately assist with the contravention, should they not be held accountable?" Ms James said.

When contacted for comment, Ezy Accounting 123 referred AAP to its lawyers for a response.

Damen Holmes, of Canaan Lawyers, said his client would not be commenting given that court proceedings were currently underway.

Hanaichi QV was also contacted for comment.

Blue Impression and Ezy Accounting 123 each face penalties of up to $51,000 per contravention, and Ms Wong faces fines of up to $10,200 per breach.