Accounts Associate

Scrutton Bland LLP; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

36 days holiday including bank holiday

Health plan (Health Shield)

Pension contribution

Employee referral scheme

Job summary

Scrutton Bland LLP is seeking an Accounts Associate in Ipswich to advance your accounting career. The role blends hands-on accounts work with structured training toward a chartered qualification, within a supportive team.

You’ll join with prior accounting experience and progress through statutory statements, management accounts, and tax compliance while building client relationships. The position offers a collaborative environment, opportunities for professional development, and a pathway toward

Qualifications

• Partway through ACCA or ACA qualification or be AAT qualified
• Experience in an accounting or finance environment
• Strong analytical and interpretation skills
• Excellent client relationship abilities and initiative with technology

Responsibilities

• Support preparation and review of statutory financial statements to ensure accuracy and compliance
• Assist with management accounts preparation, analysis, and commentary
• Support tax compliance work, including personal and corporate returns and deadlines
• Build and maintain strong client relationships
• Collaborate with team to meet deadlines and share knowledge

Skills

ACCA/ACA progress

Analytical thinking

Client relationship skills

Education

ACCA/ACA progress or AAT qualified

Accountancy experience

Tools

Xero

Microsoft Office

Job description

Accounts Associate

Take the next step in your accountancy career with an exciting opportunity at Scrutton Bland, a forward-thinking and well-established practice, and part of the wider Sumer Group. We are seeking a motivated and ambitious individual to join us as a Trainee Client Support. This opportunity would suit candidates with prior experience in an accountancy or finance environment who are ready to build on their existing knowledge.

This role offers a strong combination of hands‑on experience, structured training, and professional development, supporting you as you progress towards your chartered qualification. If you are detail-oriented, eager to develop, and looking to grow within a supportive and collaborative team, we would love to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will join a dynamic and collaborative team, where they will have the opportunity to combine their existing accounting experience with a fresh, innovative approach to client service. This role is well‑suited to an individual who is keen to take the next step in their career, building on their technical knowledge while developing strong client relationships. You will be responsible for undertaking and reviewing accounts preparation work as directed, while playing a key role in delivering a high standard of service to a varied client portfolio.

The successful candidate will be responsible for:

• Supporting the preparation and review of statutory financial statements, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and adherence to relevant accounting standards.


• Assisting with the production of management accounts, including analysis and commentary, as well as contributing to the preparation of financial forecasts.


• Providing support with tax compliance work, including the preparation of personal and corporate tax returns and ensuring deadlines are met.


• Building and maintaining strong client relationships.


• Collaborating with colleagues across the team to meet deadlines, share knowledge, and contribute to a positive and professional working environment.

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

The successful candidate will:

• Be partway through studying towards their ACCA or ACA qualification or be AAT qualified as a minimum


• Have work experience in a similar environment


• Be able to analyse and interpret information


• Be personable and enjoy building and maintaining client relationships


• Be able to demonstrate their ability to use their initiative in the application and use of technology


• Be competent using Microsoft Office and ideally, have experience of Xero and other cloud accounting software packages.

Job Benefits

We offer an attractive reward and flexible benefits package which you can tailor to suit your needs.

• Flexible working alongside a culture that promotes work life balance


• Commitment to continued learning & development


• 36 days holiday (including 8 bank holidays and 3 days Christmas closure)


• Option to purchase a further 5 days holiday


• Life Assurance up to 4x salary and contribution towards the Firm’s pension scheme


• Access to our health cash plan (Health Shield) day one, where you can claim towards your dental, optical, health and wellbeing expenses – we believe health and wellbeing is so important


• Employee referral scheme, paying up to £5,000 for a successful referral


• Employee health and wellbeing program


• Regular social and informal events within the organisation

About Scrutton Bland

Scrutton Bland is one of the UK’s top 15 accounting firms, focused on serving the SME market. In 2024, we became part of Sumer, a collaboration of leading regional accountancy practices with a shared vision to champion local small to medium‑sized enterprises. We are a forward‑thinking accountancy practice that values creativity, collaboration, and innovation. With our team‑focused culture and commitment to delivering excellence, this is an exciting opportunity for someone ready to make a real impact