Head of Client Accounting

UK Agri-Tech Centre; Stirling; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A professional services firm in Stirling is seeking a Head of Client Accounting to lead their Client Accounting team, manage compliance, and enhance accounting processes. The ideal candidate will have a professional accounting qualification and substantial experience in financial reporting and team leadership. This role offers a chance to shape accounting systems and promote a collaborative culture within the firm.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in financial reporting, client accounting or FD Services.
• Experience leading teams and managing performance.
• Strong knowledge of VAT and payroll regulations.

Responsibilities

• Manage the Client Accounting team and oversee client banking platforms.
• Enhance client accounting systems and ensure compliance with regulations.
• Develop a positive team culture and maintain stakeholder relationships.

Skills

Leadership and team management

Accounting standards

Regulatory compliance

Process improvement

Communication skills

Education

Professional accounting qualification (CA / ACCA / CIMA)

Tools

Modern accounting platforms

Job description

Galbraith is a multi-disciplinary professional services firm with offices across the UK, deeply rooted in the rural, energy, forestry, property, and commercial sectors. With a team of over 200 employees we offer an unparalleled breadth of skills in all property sectors.

Specifically, we deliver property sales & lettings, benchmarked rural and land advisory services, surveying, forestry & estate management and specialist financial, administrative, and valuation services. Our culture blends technical excellence with a strong client-focus, collaborative teamwork, and respect for the communities we serve.

About the role

We are seeking a seasoned, strategically minded accounting leader to head up our Client Accounting team, based in Stirling. This is a high-visibility role, working across our Rural Client Accounts portfolio, acting as our client’s primary strategic and technical authority as well as the leader shaping the service, systems, and compliance framework for client accounting at Galbraith.

You will report to senior management and partner with stakeholders across the business to ensure accuracy, consistency, and continuous improvement in our accounting operations.

Key responsibilities

As Head of Client Accounting you will:

• Be the main point of contact for technical accounting matters: accounting standards, VAT, payroll, and regulatory compliance (notably RICS Client Money Regulations).
• Lead, mentor and develop the Client Accounting team: conduct performance-check ins, guide on best practice, coach on soft skills/emotional intelligence alongside technical capability.
• Own and enhance client accounting systems and processes: identify opportunities for automation, efficiencies, process improvements, and ensure robust controls.
• Oversee client banking platforms: ensure correct user access, proper control around bank profile/ matrix, transaction approvals.
• Manage or approve payroll and benefits related processing (including P11D obligations).
• Promote a positive, energised, high-trust culture, maintaining strong relationships with internal stakeholders and external clients, ensuring excellent service delivery.

Candidate requirements

We are looking for someone who brings:

• A professional accounting qualification (CA / ACCA / CIMA) together with proven experience in financial reporting, client accounting or FD Services.
• Significant experience of leading teams, mentoring staff, managing performance, with an awareness of emotional intelligence and soft skills being as important as technical ability.
• Strong technical knowledge of accounting, VAT, payroll, regulation around client money (RICS standards would be beneficial).
• Excellent organisational, analytical, and communication skills; highly detail-oriented. Ability to prioritise and deliver under pressure.
• Experience of systems/process improvement, ideally with exposure to modern accounting and banking platforms.

To apply, please send your CV to Michael Dickson, Director at FWB, to [e-mail] or for an initial confidential discussion, please contact him on 0131 539 7087.