Job Description
Senior Accountant / Client Manager
Salary: £38,000–£48,000 + bonus
Location: South Manchester
Hybrid + flexi-time
If you’re an experienced UK practice accountant who enjoys owning client relationships (not just ticking compliance boxes), this is a brilliant opportunity to step into a senior, client-facing role with real variety: year-end, tax, management accounts and advisory, plus the chance to coach others and help shape how the portfolio is delivered.
Our client is a well-established, growing accountancy practice in South Manchester, investing in cloud systems and proactive advisory. You’ll manage your own portfolio end-to-end, supported by a wider team, with hybrid working and flexible start/finish times to suit your life outside work.
The Role: What you’ll be doing
Client portfolio ownership (compliance + delivery)
- Preparation and filing of year-end accounts and corporation tax computations/returns for limited companies, LLPs, partnerships and sole traders
- Preparation and filing of Self Assessment and personal tax computations/returns
- Preparation and filing of Capital Gains Tax computations
- Support with R&D tax claims within accounts and tax returns (where applicable)
- Completing compliance work within 8–10 weeks after the period end, in line with internal target dates
- Providing practical tax planning to reduce the burden of taxation for businesses and owners
- Completing the initial review of year-end assignments and tax work prior to manager/Director review
Outsourcing & advisory (value-add work)
- Managing a portfolio for bookkeeping, VAT and management accounts
- Reviewing bookkeeping, VAT returns and management accounts for accuracy prior to manager review
- Ensuring client records are received on time and returned promptly once work is completed
- Supporting payroll services across the wider client base (as needed)
- Preparation, review and filing of P11D returns
- Producing management information and performance analysis within 10–20 working days after period end
- Supporting clients to improve profitability and efficiency through better controls and systems
- Assisting with cashflow management and use of appropriate cloud software/apps
- Preparing budgets, forecasts and integrated projections (P&L, balance sheet, cashflow)
- Preparing break-even analysis, business plans, and supporting finance-raising discussions
- Conducting business valuations (where required)
People, process and practice development
- Supporting Directors/Associate Directors/Senior Client Managers with portfolio delivery
- Coaching and developing junior team members (Client Accountants/Senior Client Accountants/trainees)
- Training colleagues and clients on cloud accounting systems and apps
- Helping drive the practice’s adoption and development of cloud accounting and supporting applications
- Supporting billing processes and keeping portfolio admin accurate and up to date
What we’re looking for (requirements)
Essential
- 5+ years’ UK accountancy practice experience (this role is not suited to industry-only backgrounds)
- Strong hands-on experience preparing year-end accounts and UK tax returns across a mixed client base
- Confident managing deadlines and client communication across your own portfolio
- Working knowledge of Xero and cloud accounting workflows
- Experience using UK compliance software such as TaxCalc (or similar)
Ideal
- AAT and/or ACCA qualified, part-qualified, or QBE
- Experience reviewing work prepared by others and supporting junior staff development
- Comfortable producing and explaining management accounts and performance insights to clients
Salary, benefits and working arrangements
- Salary: £38,000–£48,000 (dependent on experience and portfolio responsibility)
- Rewards incentive scheme: % bonus linked to your involvement in sourcing/signing new business (based on a percentage of first-year fees)
- Hybrid working
- Flexi-time working
- 25 days’ holiday (includes 3 days at Christmas/New Year when the office is closed)
- Extra day’s leave for your birthday
- Additional annual leave after 3 years’ service (up to 30 days maximum)
- Dress Down Friday + smart business casual dress code
- Regular team socials
- Private medical insurance after 2 years’ service
- Clear scope to grow into broader advisory, portfolio leadership and mentoring responsibility as the client base expands
Interested? Apply confidentially
To apply or have a confidential chat first, contact: