Client Accountant

Fisher German; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonus

Holiday up to 30 days + birthday

Enhanced parental leave

Online money saving portal

Death In Service

Volunteering Leave 2 days

Job summary

Fisher German is seeking a Client Accountant to manage a portfolio of commercial property clients, delivering accurate financial reporting and strong financial controls. You will partner with Property Managers and Asset Managers, providing insight to improve cash flow and risk management.

The role is permanent, full-time (37.5 hours) with hybrid working from our Birmingham office, offering a discretionary bonus, generous holiday, enhanced parental leave, and other benefits.

Qualifications

• Qualified or part-qualified accountant with strong accounting skills.
• Experience in client accounting within property management preferred.
• Ability to interpret financial information and explain it clearly.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of commercial property clients and their entities.
• Prepare monthly/quarterly client reporting with insightful commentary.
• Monitor cash flow, arrears, and working capital for portfolios.
• Partner with Property Managers and Asset Managers to improve financial performance.
• Ensure compliance with RM regulatory requirements and internal controls.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Excel

Communication

Financial accounting

Education

Accounting qualification or ACCA/CIMA pursuit

Tools

Yardi Voyager

Job description

Client Accountant

The Team & Focus of the Role

At Fisher German, our people and clients are at the heart of what we do.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a leading Commercial Property Management team in a role that combines technical accounting expertise with commercial business partnering. The Client Accountant is responsible for the financial management of a portfolio of commercial property clients and acts as a trusted adviser to Property Managers, Asset Managers and clients.

The role goes beyond traditional accounting responsibilities. The successful candidate will use financial information to provide insight, challenge assumptions, identify risks and opportunities, and support operational decision-making. They will help stakeholders understand financial performance, improve cash flow, manage risk and drive excellent client outcomes.

The Client Accountant will be responsible for delivering accurate financial reporting, maintaining strong financial controls, managing client money in accordance with regulatory requirements and building strong relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.

This is a permanent, full-time (37.5 hours) role based at our Birmingham office. We also 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 appoints for you and your family
• Volunteering Leave equating to 2 days per year (pro rata if you're part-time)

Duties will include:

Client Portfolio Management

• Take ownership of a portfolio of commercial property clients and associated entities.
• Ensure all financial records are accurate, complete and maintained in accordance with company procedures and regulatory requirements.
• Build trusted relationships with clients and become the primary financial contact for client accounting matters.
• Deliver a high-quality service in line with agreed client KPIs and service levels.

Finance Business Partnering

• Act as Finance Business Partner to Property Managers, Facilities Managers, Surveyors and Asset Managers.
• Support operational teams in understanding financial performance, budgets, arrears positions and cash flow.
• Provide insight and commentary to explain trends, risks and opportunities across client portfolios.
• Challenge stakeholders where required and provide recommendations to support effective financial decision making.
• Attend client meetings and portfolio reviews as required.
• Support clients through acquisitions, disposals and property transitions by evaluating financial impacts and identifying key risks.

Financial Reporting & Analysis

• Prepare and review monthly, quarterly and ad hoc client reporting packs.
• Deliver meaningful commentary that explains financial results rather than simply reporting numbers.
• Analyse financial performance against budget and forecast.
• Investigate variances and provide recommendations for corrective action.
• Support preparation of annual budgets and forecasts.

Cash Flow & Working Capital Management

• Monitor cash positions across client portfolios.
• Proactively identify potential funding requirements or cash flow risks.
• Work with stakeholders to develop solutions to cash flow challenges.
• Ensure client funds are appropriately managed and available to meet operational requirements.

Arrears & Credit Control Oversight

• Work collaboratively with the Credit Control team to improve debt performance.
• Review tenant arrears and assist with resolution strategies.
• Support clients and Property Managers in managing tenant queries and disputes.
• Provide insight into arrears trends and recommend improvement actions.

Financial Control & Compliance

• Review and approve reconciliations, journals and financial transactions.
• Ensure compliance with RICS Client Money regulations and internal controls.
• Maintain accurate bank reconciliations and trial balances.
• Support internal and external audit requirements.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen processes and controls.

Systems & Process Improvement

• Promote best practice use of Yardi and associated finance systems.
• Identify opportunities for automation, standardisation and continuous improvement.
• Support implementation of new processes, system enhancements and AI-enabled ways of working.
• Contribute to wider Accounting & Delivery strategic initiatives.
  You will also maintain key relationships with both internal (Property Managers, Facilities Managers, Asset Managers, Credit Control team, Service Charge Accounting team, Onboarding team, Finance Operations team, Systems team, Senior Leadership team) and external (Property owners and investors, Asset Management companies, Auditors, Solicitors, Managing Agents, Tenants and Tenant Representatives) stakeholders.

The successful candidate will have...

Essential

• Accounting qualification or actively studying ACCA, CIMA or equivalent. Non qualified will also be considered.
• Strong financial accounting and reconciliation experience.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong Excel skills and ability to manipulate large datasets.
• Ability to communicate complex financial information in a clear and practical way.
• Experience managing multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Strong stakeholder management skills.
• Commercial awareness and customer focus.

Desirable

• Commercial property accounting experience.
• Knowledge of Yardi Voyager or similar property management systems.
• Understanding of RICS Client Money regulations.
• Experience producing client-facing reporting and financial commentary.
• Experience in a business partnering or advisory role.

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 focussing 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.