Client Manager

Smooth Accounting Limited; Portsmouth; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Enhanced annual leave

Private medical

Team events

Job summary

Smooth Accounting is seeking a Senior Client Manager to lead a UK client portfolio and develop a small pod. The role is client-facing with full responsibility, requiring independence, delivery of client-ready work, and leadership from the front.

You will manage UK and UAE clients, oversee a team, ensure deadlines, KPIs, and quality, and play an active role in sales and value-adding services. Remote-friendly with occasional office visits.

Qualifications

• 2+ years post-qualification experience in practice.
• Ability to prepare and review accounts and tax work without further review.
• Strong knowledge across statutory accounts, management accounts, personal tax, VAT.
• Confident managing client relationships independently and leading a pod.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of UK & UAE clients and ensure timely delivery.
• Lead a small pod and develop junior team members.
• Prepare and review accounts and tax work to a final, client-ready standard.
• Oversee bookkeeping, VAT, payroll, CIS, management accounts, statutory accounts and tax returns.
• Ensure zero errors in all client work.
• Participate in sales calls and upsell services.

Skills

Client management

Team leadership

Accounts preparation

Tax knowledge

VAT

Xero

Time management

Sales & upsell

Tools

Xero

Job description

Client Manager – Smooth Accounting (UK Team)

£45,000 – £55,000 per year

Full-time

Job Description

Smooth Accounting UK & UAE is growing, and we are looking for ahigh-calibre Client Managerto join our UK team.

This is asenior, client-facing rolewith full responsibility for a portfolio of clients and a team (“pod”). It is not a training role, you will be expected to operate independently, deliver client-ready work, and lead from the front.

Location:Hampshire, UK (can be mainly remote, but must be within reasonable distance of our Fareham office for occasional visits)

The Role

As a Client Manager, you will take full ownership of a portfolio of UK and UAE clients, ensuring all work is delivered accurately, on time, and to a consistently high standard.

You will also manage and develop a small team, ensuring your pod delivers against deadlines, KPIs, and quality expectations.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of corporate and individual clients (UK & UAE)
• Act as the main point of contact for all client queries
• Prepare andreview accounts and tax work to a final, client-ready standard
• Oversee bookkeeping, VAT, payroll, CIS, management accounts, statutory accounts, and tax returns
• Ensurezero errorsin all work sent to clients
• Allocate, review, and manage work across your pod
• Train, support, and develop junior team members
• Monitor deadlines, workflow, and pod performance
• Conduct client meetings, handle queries, and provide proactive advice
• Identify opportunities to add value and upsell services
• Take part in sales calls, proposals, and converting prospects into clients
• Take ownership of billing, ensuring all work is invoiced correctly and on time

What We Need (Non-Negotiable)

• Minimum2+ years post-qualification experience in practice
• Proven ability toprepare and review accounts and tax work without further review
• Strong technical knowledge across:
• Statutory accounts
• Management accounts
• Personal tax
• VAT
• Confident managing client relationships independently
• Experience reviewing work and managing junior staff
• Highly organised with the ability to manage multiple deadlines
• Strong working knowledge of Xero

What Success Looks Like

• Work delivered with no review points
• Deadlines consistently met across your portfolio
• High levels of client satisfaction and retention
• Strong contribution to business growth through upselling and efficiency

This Role Is NOT Suitable If You:

• Require significant technical review of your work
• Are stepping up from a senior role but not yet operating independently
• Prefer a purely compliance-based role without client interaction
• Are not comfortable managing staff or leading client relationships

Why Join Smooth Accounting?

• Collaborative and supportive team environment
• Clear progression opportunities
• Forward-thinking, modern tech-heavy practice
• Results-only working (no timesheets or set hours)
• Enhanced annual leave
• Private medical
• Team events
• A business that values initiative, accountability, and high performance

Please note: This can be a fully remote role but you MUST be commutable distance to Portsmouth.

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