Associate Director - General Practice

GET STAFFED ONLINE RECRUITMENT LIMITED; Ipswich; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment firm is seeking an experienced Associate Director to lead its General Practice team in Ipswich. The role involves managing a significant client portfolio, providing expert advice on tax and compliance, and ensuring high-quality service delivery. The ideal candidate is ACA or ACCA qualified with a strong background in accountancy practice, capable of overseeing client relationships and mentoring team members. This position offers competitive salary, flexible working, and opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

Hybrid working

Private healthcare

Enhanced pension scheme

Holiday purchase

Qualifications

• Significant post-qualification experience required.
• Strong background in UK accountancy practice essential.
• Experience managing a client portfolio is critical.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and manage a portfolio of clients.
• Advise on tax and compliance matters.
• Lead annual accounts meetings.

Skills

Client relationship management

Technical accounting knowledge

Audit familiarity

Leadership

Commercial acumen

Education

ACA or ACCA qualified

Job description

Associate Director - General Practice

Location: Ipswich

Full-time, Permanent

Salary: Competitive, depending on experience

Our client is seeking an experienced Associate Director to take a senior leadership role within their General Practice team in Ipswich.

This is a senior, client-facing role focused on owner-managed businesses, combining portfolio leadership, technical oversight and advisory input. While the role is not primarily audit-led, experience and confidence in audit work and audit clients is desirable.

You will act as a trusted adviser to business owners and directors, while playing a key part in managing workflow, maintaining technical standards and supporting the development of the wider team.

The Role

You will oversee a substantial portfolio of mainly owner-managed and family-run businesses, alongside supporting Directors with more complex or higher-risk assignments.

This is a senior position with responsibility not only for client service but also for team leadership, file quality, workflow and contributing to the direction and growth of the Ipswich office.

Key Responsibilities

Client Portfolio Leadership

• Managing a significant portfolio of limited companies, partnerships and sole traders


• Acting as a main point of contact and trusted adviser to business owners and directors


• Building strong, long-term client relationships across compliance and advisory matters


• Leading annual accounts meetings and wider business discussions


• Identifying opportunities to provide additional services and added value advice


• Supporting Directors with more complex client matters and larger assignments

Accounts, Compliance and Audit Exposure

• Overseeing the preparation and review of statutory accounts and management information


• Reviewing files prepared by managers, seniors and trainees, ensuring quality and efficiency


• Working with a number of audit clients, with involvement in planning, review or completion stages where appropriate


• Acting as a key contact on audit assignments alongside the audit team, particularly where wider accounts, tax or advisory input is required


• Ensuring assignments are delivered to deadline, within budget and to a high technical standard

Advisory and Technical Input

• Advising clients on corporation tax, personal tax, VAT and PAYE matters at a practical level


• Identifying issues relating to profit extraction, remuneration planning, CGT and IHT, working with tax specialists where needed


• Supporting clients with business performance, systems, and growth-related discussions


• Providing proactive, commercial advice rather than purely compliance-based support


• Contributing to proposals and meetings for new or prospective clients

Team Leadership and Development

• Supporting the management of workflow across the Ipswich general practice team


• Mentoring and developing managers, seniors, assistants and trainees


• Reviewing work, providing feedback and helping maintain strong technical standards


• Ensuring team members gain appropriate experience and exposure


• Promoting collaboration between accounts, tax and audit teams

Quality, Standards and Firm Contribution

• Taking responsibility for the quality and completeness of client files under your supervision


• Ensuring compliance with relevant accounting, tax and (where applicable) audit standards


• Supporting improvements in internal processes and ways of working


• Working closely with Directors on client, team and operational matters


• Contributing to the continued development and growth of the Ipswich office

Key Skills and Qualifications

• ACA or ACCA qualified with significant post-qualification experience


• Strong background in UK accountancy practice within general practice


• Experience managing a client portfolio and reviewing the work of others


• Comfortable working with audit clients and with exposure to audit assignments


• Confident advising owner-managed businesses and their directors


• High technical and practical ability with sound judgement


• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities


• Commercially aware, with a proactive and client-focused approach

What They Offer

• A senior role with real responsibility and influence


• A varied portfolio of established, owner-managed business clients


• A collaborative working environment across accounts, tax and audit


• The opportunity to shape client relationships and support office growth


• Direct exposure to Directors and strategic decision-making

Benefits

The salary package will be competitive, depending upon the level of qualification and experience. You will have an opportunity to progress and develop where applicable.

• Flexible working hours


• Hybrid working with fully hosted systems


• Progression opportunities


• Private healthcare


• Employee Assistant Programme


• Cycle to work scheme


• Electric car salary sacrifice scheme


• Holiday purchase


• Varied and successful clients, client contact and interaction


• Modern offices and working practices


• Social events


• Medical cash plan


• Enhanced pension scheme


• Group life assurance


• Charity events and paid volunteering day