Senior Accountant

Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions; Manchester; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Four-day working week

Cloud accounting technology

Job summary

Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions is seeking an experienced Senior Accountant to join its Greater Manchester team. This progressive, technology-led practice acts as an extended finance function for SME clients, handling accounts and tax while supporting client advisory work.

You will manage accounts and tax tasks, with a clear route toward Client Manager. The role offers £40,000 to £50,000 depending on experience, a four‑day week, and access to modern cloud accounting tools.

Qualifications

• Experience in UK Accountancy Practice required.
• Strong accounts prep and tax knowledge.
• Familiar with VAT and SME clients.
• Willingness to progress toward Client Manager.

Responsibilities

• Prepare annual accounts for limited companies, sole traders and partnerships.
• Produce accounts from reconciled working papers.
• Prepare Corporation Tax computations and returns.
• Prepare Personal Tax Returns (salary, dividends, property).
• Prepare and review VAT returns.
• Answer client accounts and tax queries.
• Support clients using Xero and cloud-accounting systems.
• Assist with management accounts and commercial reporting.
• Develop toward reviewing accounts and tax work.

Skills

Client communication

Accounts prep

Corp & Personal Tax

VAT knowledge

SME clients

Xero

Deadline management

Commercial mindset

Career progression

Education

ACA/ACCA/AAT

Tools

Xero

Job description

Location: Greater Manchester, accessible from Stockport and Warrington

Salary: £40,000 to £50,000, depending on experience

Working pattern: Four-day working week available

Job type: Permanent, full-time

Sector: UK Accountancy Practice

The Opportunity

A progressive, technology-led Accountancy Practice is seeking an experienced Senior Accountant to join its Greater Manchester team.

This is not a conventional compliance-only role. The practice supports entrepreneurial and growing businesses, typically with turnover between approximately £500,000 and £2 million, acting as an extended Finance function and helping clients make better commercial decisions.

You will manage accounts and tax work, answer client queries and develop broader experience across cloud accounting, management information and commercially focused client support.

There is a clear development route towards Client Manager, with training and support provided to build reviewing, tax-planning, client-meeting and team-management capability.

Responsibilities

You will:

• Prepare annual accounts for limited companies, sole traders and partnerships
• Produce accounts from reconciled working papers
• Prepare Corporation Tax computations and returns
• Prepare Personal Tax Returns, including salary, dividends and property income
• Prepare and review VAT returns
• Answer client accounts and tax queries
• Liaise with HMRC
• Support clients using Xero and other cloud-accounting systems
• Assist with management accounts and commercial financial reporting
• Support junior and overseas colleagues with technical queries
• Develop towards reviewing accounts and tax work
• Participate in client meetings as your experience develops

About You

You should have:

• Recent experience within a UK Accountancy Practice
• Strong annual accounts preparation experience
• Practical Corporation Tax and Personal Tax knowledge
• Good understanding of VAT
• Experience working with SME and owner-managed business clients
• Confidence communicating directly with clients
• Experience using Xero or similar cloud-accounting software
• Strong organisation and deadline-management skills
• A positive, commercially curious and proactive approach
• The ambition to progress towards Client Manager responsibility

ACA, ACCA or AAT qualification would be advantageous, although qualified-by-experience candidates with strong technical capability will also be considered.

Experience with Capital Gains Tax, Capital Allowances, Section 455 Tax, associated companies, R&D claims, management accounts or Fathom would be beneficial but is not essential.

Learning and Development

The practice is looking for someone who takes responsibility for continuing professional development and enjoys learning beyond routine compliance work.

You will receive support with unfamiliar areas, but should be willing to research technical matters, keep up to date with accounting and tax changes and develop greater confidence in advisory conversations.

Salary and Benefits

The opportunity offers:

• £40,000 to £50,000, depending on experience
• Four-day working week available
• Three-day weekend under the four-day pattern
• Modern cloud-accounting and reporting technology
• Varied entrepreneurial and owner-managed business clients
• Direct client contact
• Training in commercial and advisory work
• Increasing responsibility for review and client meetings
• Potential participation in a future Employee Ownership Trust, subject to the final structure and eligibility

A five-day working arrangement may also be considered.