Practice Accountant

Eaton Syalon Ltd; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Eaton Syalon Ltd is recruiting an experienced Practice Accountant / Accounts Senior in North Derbyshire. The role offers a 35-hour week with the option for four days, and a friendly, close-knit team in a small independent practice.

You’ll manage a varied portfolio, handling accounts prep, tax work, VAT and client support while using Xero and other software. AAT qualification or equivalent is preferred, with strong client-facing skills.

Qualifications

• A good track record in accountancy practice.
• Experience preparing accounts for sole traders and limited companies.
• Experience with self-assessment tax returns, VAT and year-end accounts.
• Strong knowledge of Xero; exposure to Sage/QuickBooks or tax software.
• Confident handling own workload and direct client communication.
• Friendly, approachable and supportive of colleagues in a small team.

Responsibilities

• Prepare year-end accounts for sole traders and limited companies.
• Prepare self-assessment tax returns and supporting computations.
• Prepare and submit VAT returns.
• Manage own portfolio of work, meet deadlines, progress jobs to completion.
• Liaise directly with clients, answer queries, gather information.
• Use Xero and other accounting software to maintain records.
• Support colleagues and ensure smooth day-to-day practice operations.

Skills

Accounts preparation

Tax returns

VAT returns

Xero

Sage/QuickBooks exposure

Client communication

Workload management

Team player

Education

AAT qualification or equivalent by experience

Tools

Xero

Sage

QuickBooks

Job description

Practice Accountant / Accounts Senior

£35,000–£45,000 | North Derbyshire | 35-hour week | 4 or 5 days

Looking for a role in practice where you can enjoy work life balance and be part of a genuinely friendly, close-knit team?

Eaton Syalon are working with a small, independent, owner managed accountancy practice based in North Derbyshire to recruit an experienced Accounts Senior.

This is a lovely opportunity for someone who enjoys working in practice but perhaps wants something a little different from a larger firm. Somewhere you can take ownership of your work, make a real contribution and enjoy a good work-life balance along the way.

The practice supports a well established portfolio of predominantly sole traders and limited companies, providing a personal, hands on service to its clients.

With a small, supportive team and an approachable working environment, this is a business where everyone plays an important part. There isn't a culture of long hours or unnecessary pressure, and the owners are keen to find someone who will enjoy being part of the team for the longer term.

The role offers a 35 hour working week, with the option to work four days (28 hours) for someone looking for a little more flexibility.

The Role

Working closely with the practice owners and wider team, you'll take responsibility for a varied workload across accounts preparation, tax and client support.

• Preparing year-end accounts for sole traders and limited companies.
• Preparing self-assessment tax returns and supporting tax computations.
• Preparing and submitting VAT returns.
• Managing your own portfolio of work, ensuring deadlines are met and jobs are progressed through to completion.
• Liaising directly with clients, answering queries and gathering information.
• Using Xero and other accounting software to prepare and maintain accurate financial records.
• Supporting colleagues and contributing to the smooth day-to-day running of the practice.

It's a hands-on, varied role, ideally suited to someone who enjoys the practical side of accountancy and takes pride in delivering a good service to their clients.

About You

We're looking for someone who has built a solid foundation in accountancy practice and is confident managing a broad range of accounts and tax work.

Ideally, you'll be AAT qualified, although we would be equally interested in speaking with someone who is qualified by experience and has developed strong technical knowledge through their time in practice.

• A good track record working within an accountancy practice, with experience and stability in previous roles.
• Strong experience preparing accounts for sole traders and limited companies.
• Practical experience of self-assessment tax returns, VAT and year-end accounts.
• Good working knowledge of Xero; exposure to Sage, QuickBooks or tax software would be useful.
• Confidence managing your own workload and dealing directly with clients.
• A friendly, approachable manner and a willingness to support colleagues within a small team.

Above all, we're looking for someone who enjoys what they do, takes ownership of their work and would value being part of a smaller practice where their contribution really matters.

Why This Role?

Not everyone wants to work in a large accountancy firm, manage a big team or pursue the next qualification or promotion.

For some, finding a business where they feel valued, enjoy the people they work alongside and can do a good job without sacrificing their evenings and weekends is just as important.

That's very much what this opportunity offers.

Whether you're currently working in a larger practice and would welcome a more personal environment, or you're already in a smaller firm and looking for your next long-term home, we'd love to have a conversation