Client Manager

TPF Recruitment Ltd; Lewes; Hybrid; GBP 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary of £60,000+

4% portfolio bonus

Hybrid working: 5 days in office for 3

Established client portfolio

Job summary

TPF Recruitment Ltd seeks an experienced Client Manager in the Lewes area to own and develop an established client portfolio worth c.£200,000 in annual fees. You will serve as the main contact, delivering proactive, personalised service with a focus on client relationships.

The role is predominantly client-facing, with initial three months in-office five days a week, followed by one in-office day per week, enabling a flexible hybrid pattern as you build long-term client partnerships.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA or Chartered) with practice experience.
• Experience managing a client portfolio and supervising accounts and tax work.
• Strong client relationship management and organisational skills.
• Ability to work independently and liaise with Partners.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of circa 180–200 clients across barristers, judges, property and trusts.
• Act as the primary point of contact, building relationships and understanding client needs.
• Oversee delivery of accounts, tax returns and other compliance work.
• Coordinate work with the wider team for timely, consistent service.
• Respond to client queries and provide practical accounting/tax guidance.
• Proactively manage deadlines, workflow and expectations within your portfolio.
• Identify opportunities to deepen client relationships and portfolio performance.
• Maintain high standards of client service, professionalism and technical quality.
• Work closely with Partners and colleagues to ensure smooth portfolio operation.

Skills

Client relationship management

Portfolio management

Tax compliance

Accounts delivery

Deadlines management

Education

ACA/ACCA or Chartered

Job description

This is an excellent opportunity for a qualified accountant looking for a senior, client focused position with strong earning potential, an attractive working arrangement and the opportunity to build long term relationships with an established client base.

The firm operates from a modern, open plan office and has an exciting opportunity for an experienced professionals to take ownership of an established portfolio worth approximately £200,000 in annual fees.

The portfolio comprises around 180 to 200 clients, including barristers, judges, limited companies, property clients and trusts. This provides an interesting and varied workload, with the opportunity to work closely with clients who often require a specialist and personalised accountancy service.

Importantly, this is a role focused purely on client management. There are no formal line management responsibilities or additional operational duties, allowing you to concentrate on managing your portfolio, delivering excellent client service and maximising your earning potential.

Following an initial three month period working from the office five days per week to help you settle into the business and get to know the team, the ongoing requirement is just one day per week in the office, offering an excellent level of flexibility.

Key Responsibilities

As Client Manager, you will take ownership of an established portfolio of clients, acting as their main point of contact and ensuring they receive a high quality, proactive and personalised service.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Managing a portfolio of approximately 180 to 200 clients across a range of specialist areas, including barristers, judges, limited companies, property and trusts.
• Acting as the primary point of contact for your clients, building strong relationships and developing a thorough understanding of their individual requirements.
• Overseeing the delivery of accounts, tax returns and other compliance work, ensuring assignments are completed accurately and within agreed deadlines.
• Coordinating work with the wider team to ensure clients receive an efficient and consistent service.
• Responding to client queries and providing practical guidance on accounting and tax matters within your area of expertise.
• Proactively managing deadlines, workflow and client expectations across your portfolio.
• Identifying opportunities to enhance client relationships and ensure the portfolio continues to deliver strong commercial performance.
• Maintaining high standards of client service, professionalism and technical quality.
• Working closely with the Partners and colleagues to ensure the smooth running of the portfolio.

This is a predominantly client facing role, with no formal responsibility for managing a team or taking on wider operational duties

Requirements

We are looking for an experienced and qualified accountant who enjoys building client relationships and taking ownership of their own portfolio.

You will ideally have:

• ACA, ACCA or another relevant recognised accountancy qualification, or be a chartered accountant.
• Previous experience working within an accountancy practice at Client Manager or a similar senior level.
• Experience managing a portfolio of clients and overseeing accounts and tax compliance work.
• Strong client relationship management skills, with the ability to build trust and provide a personalised service.
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage a varied portfolio of clients and competing deadlines.
• A proactive, commercially aware approach, with a focus on delivering excellent service and maintaining strong client relationships.
• The confidence to work independently, take ownership of your responsibilities and liaise directly with Partners and clients.
• Experience working with professional services clients, particularly barristers, judges, property clients or trusts, would be advantageous, although candidates with a strong general practice background will also be considered.

Benefits

This opportunity offers an attractive combination of seniority, flexibility and earning potential, without the additional responsibilities often associated with more traditional management positions.

• Salary of £60,000+: A competitive starting salary, dependent on experience.
• 4% portfolio bonus: Additional earning potential linked to the portfolio.
• Exceptional hybrid working: Five days in the office during your first three months, followed by just one required office day per week.
• Established client portfolio: Take ownership of an existing portfolio worth approximately £200,000 in annual fees.
• Client focused position: Concentrate on managing your clients and delivering excellent service, without formal line management responsibiliti