Client Accounting Manager (Client Finance - Birmingham)

Full job description
The Role

The Client Accounting Manager works with a small team of other Client Reporting Accountants and is responsible for all aspects of client and property accounting within a designated portfolio. The Client Accounting Manager is the focal point for co-ordinating our accounting service delivery to both external and internal clients. In addition, there may be a requirement from time to time to work on project type activities. In respect of such projects, there may be a direct reporting line to a member of the Client Finance Senior Management Team.

Key deliverables and responsibilities

Act as the principal contact point for clients, surveyors, and other relevant parties on all aspects of accounting service delivery for a designated portfolio of properties
Responsible for the accuracy and completeness of designated client accounting records, including client statements and/or profit and loss and balance sheet reporting, VAT and other tax reporting, charges to tenants and clients, rent deposits, and bank, cash, and service charge reconciliations, maintaining and collating supporting information as required
Understand and document specific client reporting requirements and operating procedures, and ensure that services are delivered in accordance with the agreed contract
Respond promptly to routine queries from clients, tenants and colleagues
Ensure that data pertaining to the portfolio is complete and accurate
Ensure that postings are made promptly, efficiently, and accurately, performing checks of work undertaken on the portfolio by other members of the Client Finance team in accordance with agreed procedures and controls
Attend client meetings as required and work with clients to understand their needs
Compile, check and deliver regular reports in accordance with agreed timescales, ensuring all necessary reviews have been undertaken and signed-off before issue
Regularly review funding to ensure clients’ payment obligations can be met and that monies collected are paid over without delay in accordance with banking requirements
Ensure at all times that client bank accounts are not overdrawn
Review property expenditure on a regular basis, agreeing the accuracy of coding with surveyors and facilities managers, resolving queries with suppliers and actioning any amendments required
Monitor rent, service charge, rates, and similar payments made on the clients’ behalf, ensure that these are made in accordance with the terms and, where appropriate, that associated tax receipts are obtained and filed or passed to the client as required
Ensure all service charge reconciliations are completed within three months of period end in accordance with client requirements and that any balancing charges and/or adjustments are processed promptly
Liaise with the credit control team to understand the arrears position and report to clients accordingly
Supervise the day to day activities of other client and assistant accountants assigned to assist on the portfolio
Complete month/quarter and year end processes and ensure appropriate accounting periods are maintained
Ensure routine charges are raised on a timely basis in accordance with lease and budgetary requirements
Agree interest charges on late payments and write-off of uncollectable charges with the surveyor responsible
Complete all statutory reporting required on behalf of the client
Assist in internal and external audits of financial information, procedures and controls
Calculate and compile completion statements on sale of properties or their transfer to other agents
Assist in identifying and resolving the allocation of unidentified receipts
Adhere to all agreed procedures and controls
Report client service delivery issues and routine key performance indicators
Oversee the set up and continued maintenance of the chart of accounts, sub ledger structure, banking rules and transaction types pertaining to the allocated portfolio
Specific project deliverables as may arise from time to time, as defined by the Client Finance Senior Management Team
Financial

Has an awareness of wider team or department budget
Participation in the annual property budget process through to submission to the client
Participation in ensuring the property decisions are made in support of achieving the budgeted result
Clients and Business Development

Assist in business development with new clients by demonstrating systems, processes and procedures operated by client finance
Report to clients based on trial balance to include profit and loss and balance sheet control account reconciliation to include input to the quarterly FMP for sensitive accounts
Prepare monthly reporting to the client to include variance analysis and commentary against budget and re-forecasts throughout the year
Ensure that data held on Tramps maps to the client systems chart of accounts and the all transactional reporting is in a format which can be uploaded to the client’s financial systems
Is proactive in building relationships with internal clients and responsive and helpful to external clients
Functional or specialist competence with relevant understanding of business/ departmental context
Completes own work under minimal supervision/guidance
Can deal with novel or difficult situations within context of own function or specialism
People

Active team player
Proactively communicates to colleagues and shares expertise
Systems and Process

Ensure that processes and procedures are adopted across disciplines to ensure that accurate and timely accrual based accounting entries are calculated and posted monthly for deferred income and expenditure, accrued income and expenditure, prepayments and accruals
Manages, co-ordinates, implements and develops a range of important activities, processes, functions or relationships
Makes some decisions within field of expertise
May contribute to, or be expected to lead projects from time to time.
Person specification

QUALIFICATIONS
Qualified or part-qualified in a recognised accounting qualification (CIMA, ACCA, AAT) with an appreciation of client reporting requirements, ideally in a property related role, or qualified by experience with at least three years property finance experience in a client facing role
SKILLS
Demonstrable understanding of basic bookkeeping, internal and external financial reporting, financial operations and associated processes and controls. Knowledge of property accounting, service charges, CIS and/or property VAT an advantage
Proficient in MS Office
Property management and accounting packages for managing agents
EXPERIENCE
Highly numerate with strong attention to detail and excellent verbal and written communication skills
Self-motivated, responsible and organised.
Committed to the provision of excellent customer service and to meeting deadlines
Ability to juggle priorities and recognise when to ask for guidance Read more