Associate Director

Wilson Partners Limited; Highweek; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Wilson Partners Limited is seeking an Associate Director to lead on client meetings, proposals and onboarding, while ensuring optimal resourcing and development of the client-facing team. The role focuses on expanding revenues and delivering exceptional service across advisory and outsourcing portfolios.

You will coach junior staff, manage complex client portfolios, and drive improvements in processes and risk controls. A strong ACA/ACCA and deep accounting knowledge are essential.

Qualifications

• Professional accounting qualification (ACA or ACCA)
• Proven experience in client-facing role with accounting knowledge
• Ability to coach and develop team members

Responsibilities

• Lead on new prospect meetings and client proposals
• On-board new clients with service level agreements
• Manage workload and resourcing for a growing client portfolio
• Coach and develop junior team members
• Delegate duties to more junior staff and maintain quality controls
• Collaborate across the business to share knowledge and improve performance
• Grow client services and revenue through effective client plans
• Identify process improvements to enhance client experience and internal controls
• Provide value-added advisory to advisory & outsourcing clients
• Keep up-to-date with legislation and technology changes to train teams and clients

Skills

Accounting software

Data analysis

Client management

Coaching

Education

ACA/ACCA qualified

Tools

Excel

Job description

The Associate Director will play a pivotal role within the organisation. They ensure that the team is engaged, utilised and continually developed, the client experience is exceptional and that commercially the team is adequately resourced and continues to be so, with future growth in mind. To continue to grow revenues and opportunities for the team, whilst continuing to identify ways for the company to streamline processes internally and reduce risk, where possible.

Duties & key responsibilities:

• Being the lead on new prospect meetings and subsequent client proposals
• On-boarding new clients, including prescriptive service level agreements
• Manage workload timings and resourcing of a growing client portfolio
• Coach and develop junior team members of the team
• Effective and appropriate delegation of duties to more junior members of the team
• Interact across the business to form a strong management peer group that communicate and share knowledge around key issues impacting business performance
• Develop own network of contacts/professionals that are additive to existing firm relationships
• Utilise contacts/professional network to support/bolster the client service where applicable
• Winning work for the accounting and business services team and the wider business through effective client growth plans and/or new client leads
• Identify and suggest improvements to systems – working as part of the wider team to improve the client overall experience and WPL’s internal processes
• Reviewing work (AP/CT/VAT/CIS/Management accounts) for more junior team members
• Providing value added advisory services to client portfolio (and outside your portfolio if needed)
• Client Manager responsibilities for portfolio of advisory & full outsourcing clients
• Keeping up to date with changes in legislation and technology to provide support and training both to the internal team and clients alike

Skills & Abilities

• Proficient in accounting software and related apps, Excel (data analysis), Word and PowerPoint.
• Ability to communicate with senior management and explain points clearly and concisely
• Ability to work and communicate with client personnel at all levels and explain points clearly and concisely
• Ability to coach and develop other team members
• Ability to deal with conflict resolution, both internally and with clients
• Ability to recognise and manage risk
• Ability to present

Knowledge & experience:

• Professional accounting qualification (ACA or ACCA)
• Sufficient post-qualified experience within a client facing role
• Excellent accounting knowledge
• Training and ability to coach other team members effectively
• Experience in managing clients with varying needs, across multiple service lines
• Understanding and the ability to advise on strategic and commercial matters arising within our client’s businesses
• Good knowledge of systems and process flows to advise clients on improvements (both efficiency and control framework)
• Good knowledge of the tax considerations facing UK businesses

Personal attributes:

• Highly commercial with excellent communication and rapport building skills
• Willing to embrace change and new ideas
• Desire to be accountable and take personal responsibility
• Analytical with precise attention to detail
• Be a good team player demonstrating commitment and respect to other team members

Wilson Partners was established in 2008 in the heart of Maidenhead, Berkshire, by two brothers, Allan and Chris. From day one, there has been a key focus on team culture, driven by the belief that our business is all about the people. Now with offices in Maidenhead, Cambridge, Exeter, Manchester, Nantwich, Newton Abbot, Oakham, Plymouth, Sevenoaks, Stellenbosch, Tonbridge, Wilmslow and Woking, and a team of 460 and counting, we’re here to make a positive impact. Our continued growth journey means we are always on the lookout for great talent.

We’re proud to do things a little differently, we’re business enthusiasts who just happen to be accountants, we want to challenge and be challenged. We strive for the best, and we want our clients and people to see the value in how we operate and that we can make a real difference.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

At Wilson Partners our approach to diversity is simple, we believe our strength lies in people. We are committed to creating a workplace where every individual can thrive.

We value diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds, knowing they fuel innovation, better decisions, and collective success.

Guided by our values of teamwork, expertise, attitude, innovation, and people, we actively foster an inclusive environment built on respect and opportunity.

We want our clients and our teams to feel empowered, supported, and able to contribute their best.

We are committed to ensuring an inclusive recruitment process. If you require reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know.

We want people with a passion for business, who love working in a team, can also thrive independently and who embrace change.