Client Manager

Sumer; Wealden; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and performance-related bonuses

Comprehensive pension scheme

Private health insurance

Life Insurance – death in service

Ongoing professional development and training opportunities

Flexible working arrangements

Job summary

A leading accountancy practice in Uckfield is seeking a Client Manager to lead their bookkeeping and outsourced finance service. This client-facing role involves effective service delivery and team management across multiple offices. The ideal candidate has substantial bookkeeping knowledge and experience, as well as strong leadership qualities. The practice offers a competitive salary, performance-related bonuses, and professional development opportunities, supporting a flexible work-life balance.

Qualifications

• Ideally be AAT, ACCA or ACA qualified or qualified by experience.
• Experience working within accountancy practice.
• Highly organised, with previous bookkeeping and people management skills.
• Good VAT knowledge.
• Self-motivated and able to work on their own initiative.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain professional relationships with clients.
• Lead the bookkeeping team across multiple offices.
• Review bookkeeping and management accounts completed by team members.
• Manage the workflow of the Bookkeeping team.
• Oversee VAT applications and registrations.

Skills

AAT, ACCA or ACA qualified or qualified by experience

Experience working within accountancy practice

Highly organised with bookkeeping and people management skills

Good VAT knowledge

Strong IT skills and experience with accountancy systems

Self-motivated and able to work on their own initiative

True team player

Prioritise communication

Education

AAT, ACCA or ACA qualification

Tools

Xero

Sage

Dext

QuickBooks

ApprovalMax

Job description

Client Manager

Department: Accounting

Employment Type: Permanent

Location: Uckfield

Description

Fl3xiBooks is the Bookkeeping and Outsourced Finance team within Simmons Gainsford, providing practical, high-quality support to growing businesses across a wide range of sectors. We focus on building long‑term client relationships, delivering work to a consistently high standard, and using technology to make finance work better for our clients.

Simmons Gainsford is part of Sumer, a growing group of leading accountancy practices across the UK and Ireland. Being part of Sumer gives us access to shared expertise, investment in systems and people, and the opportunity to collaborate across firms – while still keeping our local identity and close‑knit culture.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Client Manager to join the Fl3xiBooks team in Uckfield and play a key role in leading our bookkeeping and outsourced finance service.

This is a client‑facing role with responsibility for both service delivery and team leadership. You'll work closely with the Outsourcing Partner and our London‑based Outsourcing Manager and liaise with other partners and managers in Simmons Gainsford.

Key Responsibilities

• Be client focused, work towards and maintain professional and good relationships with clients.
• Work with our London based Outsourcing Manager to lead a team across our Uckfield, London, South African and Polish offices, with Partner Support and to inspire, motivate and coach the team to be the best they can be.
• Lead on the conversion of new business opportunities and delivering proposals to prospects through building internal relationships and external networking.
• Be able to demonstrate that they have an extensive pragmatic working knowledge of bookkeeping.
• Be able to confidently use software such as Xero, Sage, Dext, QuickBooks, and ApprovalMax as well as training others in the team to use them in an efficient way.
• Review bookkeeping, management accounts CIS and VAT returns completed by team members.
• Manage the workflow of the Bookkeeping team. Review weekly work plans & ensure the team is working towards deadlines throughout the week, as well as ensuring that quality standards are maintained.
• Review weekly timesheets completed by the team ensuring that time posted to clients and non‑chargeable assignments are consistent.
• Agree on client timelines of when to receive information to complete bookkeeping and VAT returns.
• Oversee VAT application and de‑registrations and VAT enquiries.
• Lead on ensuring compliance standards are updated, met and maintained on all work.
• Lead on finding ways to improve delivering an exceptional service to clients at a fair price, whilst making sure processes are established and maintained to be as effective and efficient as possible.
• Assist with raising bills to clients and monitoring recoveries.
• Embrace technological change in the accounting space and ensure these are embedded in our portfolio of client solutions.

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

The successful candidate will:

• Ideally be AAT, ACCA or ACA qualified or qualified by experience.
• Experience working within accountancy practice.
• Highly organised, with previous bookkeeping and people management skills.
• Good VAT knowledge.
• Strong IT skills and experience working with different accountancy systems (such as Xero, Sage, Dext, ApprovalMax & QuickBooks).
• Self‑motivated and able to work on their own initiative.
• Be a true team player.
• Prioritise communication as a key attribute.

Job Benefits

We offer a competitive package that includes:

• Competitive salary and performance‑related bonuses.
• Comprehensive pension scheme.
• Private health insurance.
• Life Insurance – death in service.
• Ongoing professional development and training opportunities.
• Flexible working arrangements and a supportive work‑life balance.

Belong @ Sumer

At Sumer, we know everyone's journey is different. That's why we're committed to fairness, removing barriers, and giving people the support they need to do their best work. If you need any support during the hiring process, just let us know.

Our values represent what matters most to us and guide how we work every day:

• We Shine Together
• We Do the Right Thing
• We Make It Count

We know diverse teams make us stronger. That's why we're creating an inclusive workplace where everyone belongs and differences are valued and celebrated.