Client Manager - Account Manager

ACCA Careers; Bath; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days' annual leave

Additional day off for your birthday

Annual salary review

Job summary

ACCA Careers in Bath seeks an experienced Client Manager/Adviser to nurture client relationships and provide expert accounting and business advice. You will oversee a varied portfolio, including statutory and management accounts, VAT, and tax work, with a meaningful advisory component and opportunities in forecasting and cloud accounting implementation.

The role emphasizes understanding client businesses, delivering proactive advisory services, and collaborating with specialists across the

Qualifications

• Experience with statutory accounts preparation and review.
• Ability to manage a portfolio of client accounts and deliver on deadlines.
• Proactive advisory approach with ability to identify value-added opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of business clients and oversee accounts assignments
• Plan work to ensure timely, budget-conscious delivery
• Prepare and review statutory and management accounts
• Support corporation tax computations and VAT
• Build strong client relationships and act as primary contact
• Lead project work including forecasting and systems reviews
• Support cloud accounting adoption and improvements
• Collaborate with colleagues across service lines
• Monitor budgets, WIP, and potential extra fees
• Provide guidance to junior team members and trainees

Skills

Client management

Financial reporting

Forecasting

Team collaboration

Communication

Problem-solving

Education

ACA/ACCA qualified

Tools

Xero

Cloud accounting platforms

Job description

As a Client Manager & Adviser in Bath, you'll play a key role in supporting clients with their accounting and finance needs while ensuring their business operations run smoothly. This permanent role is all about building strong client relationships and providing expert advice to help them achieve their financial goals.

Client Details

Our client is an established independent accountancy and tax practice based in the heart of Bath, advising more than 500 businesses alongside private individuals and families. The firm works closely with ambitious owner‑managed businesses and organisations across Bath and the surrounding region, combining traditional accounting and compliance with practical commercial, business and tax advice.

The practice places considerable emphasis on long‑term relationships and proactive advice, with clients supported across accounting, tax, outsourcing, cloud accounting and wider business matters. Its approach goes beyond producing year‑end accounts, helping clients understand their financial position, make informed decisions and identify opportunities as their businesses develop.

Description

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced practice accountant who enjoys being close to their clients and involved in more than routine accounts preparation.

As Client Manager / Accounts Manager, you will take ownership of a varied portfolio of incorporated and unincorporated businesses, overseeing accounts and business services assignments while developing strong, consultative relationships with clients.

There is a meaningful advisory and project element to the position. Alongside statutory accounts, management accounts, VAT and corporation tax work, you could become involved in financial forecasting, business valuations, accounting systems reviews and cloud accounting implementation.

You will be encouraged to understand what is happening within each client's business, identify where additional advice could add value and work collaboratively with colleagues across the firm's specialist services.

Principal Duties

• Manage a portfolio of business clients and oversee accounts assignments
• Plan work effectively to ensure assignments are completed on time and budget
• Prepare and review statutory and management accounts
• Support corporation tax computations, VAT and wider business tax matters
• Build strong relationships and act as a key day‑to‑day contact for clients
• Lead project work including forecasting, valuations and systems reviews
• Support clients moving towards cloud accounting and improved finance systems
• Identify opportunities where clients would benefit from additional adviceWork closely with tax and other specialist colleagues across the practice
• Monitor assignment budgets, WIP and potential additional fee opportunities
• Provide technical support to colleagues and junior members of the team
• Coach and develop trainees, helping them progress within the practice

Profile

You will have developed your career within accountancy practice and be comfortable managing relationships with owner‑managed business clients.

Ideally, you will be ACA or ACCA qualified, although strong candidates able to demonstrate equivalent technical knowledge and experience should also be considered.

You Are Likely To Bring

• Strong statutory accounts preparation and financial reporting experience
• Around 2 to 3 years' post‑qualified experience, or equivalent capability
• Experience dealing directly with clients and managing your own workload
• Good knowledge of management accounts, forecasting, VAT and corporation tax
• Confidence reviewing work and supporting less experienced colleagues
• Commercial awareness and an ability to identify opportunities to add value
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Experience with Xero or other cloud accounting platforms
• A proactive, organised and collaborative approach
• Most importantly, you will enjoy working directly with clients. This role would particularly suit someone who wants to move beyond purely transactional accounts work and become a wider business adviser.

Job Offer

• Annual salary between £40,000 and £50,000, dependent on the level of experience.
• Annual salary review.
• 25 days' annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Additional day off for your birthday.

People are at the heart of Michael Page. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment. As an inclusive recruiter we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities and experiences. If you require any adjustments or accommodations during the recruitment process, we'll work with you to ensure you can perform at your best.