Client Accountant

Ashdown Phillips & Partners; City Of London; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employer pension 3%

Life assurance 2x salary

Income protection

Season ticket loan

Bonus scheme

Wellbeing days and discounts

Job summary

Ashdown Phillips & Partners in London is seeking a meticulous Client Accountant to join our London team. You will deliver high-quality financial management and reporting for a diverse property portfolio, handling service charge and rent accounting with strong attention to detail.

You will collaborate with property management teams, clients, and external stakeholders to provide insightful financial information, while upholding our values and professional standards.

Qualifications

• Excellent organisation and time management, able to meet tight deadlines and respond to urgent requests.
• Good IT skills including Word, Excel, SharePoint and TRAMPS.
• Strong communication skills across levels and teams.
• Sound understanding of RICS regulations, CIS, VAT and NRL requirements.

Responsibilities

• Direct responsibility for timely and accurate client accounting, rent and service charge invoicing, VAT reporting and client reporting.
• Liaise with surveyors, managers, auditors and solicitors to support client needs.
• Attend client meetings and manage deadlines for accounting deliverables.
• Prepare and reconcile service charges and client statements; ensure handovers for property management.
• Apply double-entry accounting and ensure accurate client reporting.

Skills

Organisational skills

Interpersonal & communication

Self-motivated

Attention to detail

RICS/CIS/VAT knowledge

Tools

TRAMPS

Job description

About the Role

We are looking for an enthusiastic and detail-oriented Client Accountant to join our London team. This is an exciting opportunity to work with a prestigious property portfolio, delivering high-quality financial management and accounting services to a diverse client base.

As a Client Accountant, you will play a key role in ensuring the accurate and timely reporting of financial information, maintaining strong client relationships, and supporting the efficient management of service charge and property accounts. You will work closely with property management teams, clients, and external stakeholders to provide exceptional service and financial insight.

We pride ourselves on providing a brilliant service, so strong organisational skills, attention to detail, the ability to manage competing priorities, and a proactive approach are essential. We are offering a genuine opportunity to develop your career within a company renowned for nurturing talent and providing exposure to an impressive client portfolio.

Acting as a visible ambassador for the company's values, you will consistently demonstrate them through your behaviour, decision-making, and interactions with colleagues and clients. You will help foster a culture where our values are embedded in everyday activities, contributing to the achievement of wider business objectives while delivering excellent client outcomes.

At Ashdown Phillips, we celebrate diversity, embracing individuals from all backgrounds and experiences. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace where everyone can thrive and be themselves. We believe that by bringing together unique perspectives, we create dynamic, forward-thinking teams.

Communication Lines

• Head of Client Accounting
• Company Secretary
• Administration Manager
• Support team colleagues.
• Surveyors
• Directors
• Senior Leadership Team
• Clients/Customers

Key Objectives

Supervision/Management

• Ability to implement department directives/initiatives.
• Ability to apply consistencies and standards to client accounting work and see task to conclusion.

Bank Reconciliations

• Ability to prepare reconciliations using manual cash books or Tramps.
• Ability to apply RICS regulations to everyday situations.

Rent Accounting to Client

• Ability to identify funds available for transfer to client and reconcile rental balance held.
• Ability to produce accurate client statements on a timely basis.
• Application of Excel to client reporting.
• Ability to adapt client reporting to meet client-specific requirements.
• Understanding and application of double-entry accounting.

Service Charges

• Ability to reconcile service charges and prepare service charge cash reconciliations.
• Ability to identify the cause of service charge funding issues and provide solutions.

VAT

• Understanding of general VAT accounting laws and requirements.
• Understanding and application of VAT in commercial property.

Client Service

• Understanding the significance of client service and ability to attend client meetings, unaccompanied where appropriate.
• Ability to understand client deadlines for accounting deliverables.

Property Sales & Management Handover

• Understanding of accounting requirements on inward and outward handover.
• Ability to effectively transition clients and properties into and out of AP&P management.
• Ability to calculate service charge cash surplus/deficit on sale.

Key Accountabilities

• Direct responsibility for timely and accurate client accounting, rent, service & insurance charges to tenants, VAT invoices, rent deposits, cash receipts, transfer of rental income to clients, reconciliation of Service Charges, VAT reporting, client reporting and any other ad hoc reports as appropriate.
• Ensure all Service Charges are closed within 3 months of year end or within contractually agreed deadlines.
• Ensure preparation and review of all annual service charge cash reconciliations, and clearance of reconciling items.
• Liaise with relevant surveyors, Centre Managers, Facilities Managers acting on and providing information as required.
• Liaise with Auditors and Solicitors as appropriate.
• Attendance at meetings with clients, and working with clients to understand their needs, interpret their demands and respond as appropriate.
• Calculation and compilation of completion statements, rent review calculations and interest.
• Work within the team and develop excellent working relationships with Client's account team.
• Ensure there are no backlogs of work and report to line manager if there are any problems.

Personal Specification

These are the minimum key areas of knowledge, skills, and experience.

• Good IT skills in particular Microsoft Word, Excel, SharePoint and TRAMPS.
• Excellent organisation and time management, able to meet tight deadlines and respond to urgent requests.
• Self-motivated and able to work on own initiative.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills able to effectively communicate at all levels and operate comfortably as part of a multi skills.
• Compliance- Sound understanding and knowledge of RICS regulations, CIS, VAT and NRL requirements.

Why Join Us?

• Gain exposure to a diverse range of clients and assets, providing opportunities to broaden your technical and commercial accounting expertise.
• Join a business with strong values and ambition, where your contribution is recognised and celebrated.
• Make a real impact, partnering closely with clients and operational teams to deliver exceptional financial insight and service.

Competitive Package

Growth and Development - We offer extensive opportunities and support for personal and professional development including sponsorship for professional qualifications.

Financial: Employer Pension contribution 3%, life assurance at 2 x basic salary, group income protection (long term disability insurance), interest free season ticket loan, bonus scheme, financial and mortgage advice through AP rewards.

Health & Leisure: 23 days annual leave + public holidays and 3 additional wellbeing days, wellbeing support, mental health support, 2 volunteering days per year, cycle to work scheme, eye care voucher, AP Rewards offering 100's of discounts for everyday needs. Employee Assistance Programme, Help@Hand, a collaborative company culture and social events.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to making reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process and all disabled candidates (as defined by the Equality Act 2010) who satisfy the minimum criteria for the role will be guaranteed an interview. If this is required, please contact us. Applications from candidates irrespective of their background, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion or age are welcomed, providing the required criteria is met.