Assistant / Client Accountant

Fisher German Llp; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job description

At Fisher German our people and clients are at the heart of what we do. This is a unique opportunity to join a leading Client Accounting Services team in a role where you will join a small accounting team managing the portfolio of the firm’s largest client.

The client is an asset management client with a diverse and active portfolio. You will be responsible for ensuring all new assets are onboarded into business as usual with minimal risk to the client and the firm, you will also be responsible for managing all disposals under your allocation and ensuring that a sufficient handover is provided to the new owners of the asset.

The individual shall also be responsible and contribute towards the overall client relationship management, developing those relationships and gaining insights into our clients priorities and how we can adapt and further our services to them.

You will act as the key finance representative to all stakeholders of the business in managing the portfolio you are responsible for, providing financial insight to those that manage budgets, and ensuring cash levels are sufficient, and ensuring the ledgers remain free from items that could become a legacy issue for the client.

This will include responsibility for specific ledger balances and associated financial transactions, reporting the financial data directly to the client with commentary and supporting documentation. The role will also involve liaison with external clients and internal clients such as asset managers and property managers.

You will also be responsible for month and quarter end reporting requirements to the client on your allocation of the portfolio in a KPI driven environment.

This is a permanent full-time position, based in Birmingham on a 37.5-hour contract. We operate a hybrid working policy.

In return, beyond your base salary you will be included in:

• A discretionary bonus scheme
• A generous holiday scheme which commences at 25 days with a sliding scale up to 30 days plus an additional day for your birthday, and additional days to cover the festive period!
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave
• An online money saving portal
• Death In Service cover, alongside access to an Employee Assistance Programme which includes health appointments for you and your family
• Volunteering Leave equating to 2 days per year (pro rata if you’re part-time)

Duties will include:

• Process changes to the property database relating to both the rent and service charge ledgers.
• Consistent review of the trial balance and investigating discrepancies.
• Generate any miscellaneous charges arising because of the changes made to ensure the tenancy schedule is always correct.
• Act as Finance Business Partner to internal stakeholders as part of the overall service delivery to the client.

Monthly Tasks

• Report financial data to the clients as requested in line with our KPI’s.
• Review the bank reconciliation and ensure that any reconciling items are actioned correctly.
• Understanding the trial balance and post journals where required, to show true position.
• Ensure that the cash position for all legal entities is sufficient for budget holders to carry out their work, and to provide insight to budget holders on the cash positions and bringing solutions to cashflow situations that may occur.
• Take responsibility for management of arrears, working with the credit controller to ensure that all tenant queries are resolved promptly.
• Working with internal and external stakeholders to meet KPIs.
• Ensuring all client deadlines are met.
• Ensure all billings for rent, insurance and associated charges are complete.
• Initiate, document and record payment of rental monies to the client.
• Record miscellaneous receipts and payments.
• Ensure all reconciliations are complete in a timely manner.
• Develop and maintain a good working relationship with our onboarding team for all new assets that are acquired by the client and ensure handover information is collated.

The successful candidate will have...

• Studying towards ACCA/CIMA or have a good understanding of financial statements and the general ledger
• Experience in working with non-finance colleagues.
• Ability to manage a busy workload with limited supervision.
• Property experience would be ideal although not essential.

Why Fisher German?

We’ve been around for a while, but it doesn’t mean we are behind the times! Across our office network we offer a hybrid working approach to help our colleagues design their working day to suit their diaries. Some days you might be in the office enjoying a collaborative team day, and other days might see you focusing on project work at home. Wherever you choose to work, you’ll be part of a social and digitally connected workforce with the chance to get involved in a variety of activities, like sports events, pop-up bars, BBQs, CPD days, live leadership updates on Zoom, picnics in the park and lots more.

What’s not to love? We work hard but we also have lots of fun! If that sounds like something you would enjoy, then please get in touch.

We have a history going back as far as 1830 but have been Fisher German since 2000. We operate UK wide advising and managing a range of client portfolios with national visibility across all the 12-property market sectors; agriculture, commercial, education, green energy & sustainability, healthcare, minerals & waste, public sector, residential, rural, telecoms, third sector and utilities and infrastructure.

Bring Yourself to Work

It’s simple really, we are passionate about what we do, and we want you to be driven to succeed with us. For this to happen, you need to feel supported and included which is why we’re proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer.