Outsourcing Manager

Ensors Chartered Accountants; Ipswich; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading accounting firm in Ipswich is seeking a highly skilled Manager/Senior Manager in Business Services & Outsourcing. This role involves managing client relationships, providing financial insights, and driving improvements across finance functions while leading a dynamic team. Ideal candidates will hold accounting qualifications and possess strong leadership and communication skills.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Comprehensive in-house training program

Supportive and friendly team environment

Qualifications

• Strong accounting and financial management skills are essential.
• Proven team leadership and client communication capabilities.
• Experience drafting management accounts and handling VAT is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Prepare management accounts for various business types and provide actionable insights.
• Assist junior team members with queries and tackle clients' financial processes.
• Review and recommend improvements for clients' finance systems.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Technical Proficiency

Adaptability

Education

ICAEW/ACCA/CIMA qualification

Tools

Xero

Quickbooks

Sage

Excel

Job description

We are seeking a dynamic team member to join our friendly and supportive Business Services and Outsourcing team. The role will be recruited at either Manager or Senior Manager grade, subject to the level of prior experience. This full-time role (37.5 hours per week) can be combined with an element of home-working under the firm’s agile working policy, once up to speed in the role.

About The Team

Our Business Services team supports businesses in a variety of sectors and business structures including limited companies, partnerships, sole traders, not for profit organisations/charities, and professional firms. The team provide a mix of services which cover bookkeeping, management accounts, year-end accounts preparation, VAT, personal & corporate tax, and other accounting matters.

The successful candidate will need to be equally effective in working both as part of a team, and alone, either within our office or at client sites. Whilst the team is based at our office in central Ipswich, we may consider candidates wishing to be based at another Ensors location (Bury St Edmunds, Saxmundham, Norwich, Cambridge or Huntingdon). However regular travel to client sites and to the Ipswich office will be required.

About The Role

This is not your average Business services accounts practice role. This role includes working with clients to enhance their internal finance function in various ways from acting as one of their finance team to helping them streamline their accounts processes.

The role will predominantly involve preparing managements accounts for sole traders, partnerships and limited companies, along with supporting the junior team with queries.

This role also involves reviewing client records and making recommendations for improvements and assisting the clients with implementation projects including planning and training.

Key Responsibilities

• Dealing with clients – to review their processes to make recommendations for improvements.
• Management Accounting: Produce timely and accurate management accounts that serve as a trustworthy foundation for financial planning and strategy for clients.
• Management Reporting: Assist in developing a comprehensive management reporting pack to empower the clients with the data needed to make informed strategic decisions.
• VAT Returns: Produce and review VAT returns for a variety of clients in a variety of industries.
• Team support and Development: Cultivate a high-performing team through effective leadership, training, support and development.
• Systems and Processes Improvement: Continuously assess and enhance finance systems and processes to support clients.
  
  

The ideal candidate will demonstrate outstanding performance in the following areas:

• Technical Proficiency: Possess strong accounting and financial management skills.
• Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead, inspire, and develop a team.
• Communication: Excellent communication skills to build confidence and influence across all levels of the organisation.
• Proactive Learning and Adaptability: Eager to embrace growth, learn continuously, and initiate change effectively.
• Strategic Insight: Ability to grasp complex business operations quickly and provide insightful financial and operational information to support executive decision-making.
  
  

Essential Skills And Experience

• You should hold the ICAEW/ACCA/CIMA qualification, or be able to demonstrate that you are qualified by experience to a similar level, and should have a solid background in finance operations work, with prior experience in a similar position
• Previous experience within an accountancy/bookkeeping practice or professional services environment would be preferred, but is not essential.
• A high level of IT proficiency and the ability to use various packages: Xero, Quickbooks, Sage and others. High level Excel skills.
• Prior practical experience of drafting management accounts, producing and reporting on management accounts, setting up accounting systems/functions plus experience of completing VAT returns.
• Excellent communication skills: confident and articulate in dealing with a wide range of clients.
• A strong grasp of ICT/ relevant software systems, and a willingness to utilise them to their full potential, coupled with the ability to re-evaluate existing systems/processes with a view to continuous improvement.
• A proven track record of working to deadlines and effectively handling multiple priorities, with a positive attitude to problem-solving and working in a team.
• A vigilant approach to dealing with sensitive information and maintaining confidentiality.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills and a keen eye for detail.A confident approach in dealing with clients is essential.
• Self-motivated and able to work without supervision.
• Must have a full UK driving licence with access to own transport, to facilitate client visits
• Tenacious, thorough and self-motivated attitude with an expert eye for detail, good organisational skills and the ability to identify and deal with potential issues.
  
  

Desirable

• Practice experience within a digital team providing clients with software recommendations.
• Previous experience of assessing and enhancing finance systems and processes to support an efficient and accurate accounts process
• Knowledge of complex VAT matters and ability to provide initial VAT advice to clients
• Previous experience in carrying out training of others
  
  

The Package Includes

The role offers a great opportunity to gain experience within a prestigious team that has gained significant recognition. Ensors has been shortlisted for ‘Pensions Accountancy Firm of the Year’ at the 2024 Pensions Age Awards. The firm was also shortlisted at the Central & East Insider Dealmaker Awards in 2024, 2023, and won Deal of the Year in 2022. Ensors also secured 1st place in the Experian 2020 Corporate Finance Adviser League Table. See more on our website here.

We offer an attractive salary with many benefits in a friendly working environment. We have an extensive in-house training programme for all staff. Read more about working at Ensors here.

To apply, please submit your CV together with a covering letter stating your current salary via the 'Apply for this job' button. Please note we are only accepting applications via our recruitment portal for this vacancy. Should you not receive an acknowledgement email in response to your application, please check your spam folder.