Senior Client Advisory Manager

The Employer Agent; Brighton; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Commission 5% of fees (first 12 months

Equity opportunity

Remote work flexible up to 2 days/week

Holiday 30–35 days

CPD & training support

Job summary

Collective Concepts, based in Central Brighton, seeks an experienced accountant and tax professional to lead the client advisory function, combining technical leadership with commercial acumen. You will manage a portfolio of 20-30 clients and guide a small team, advancing the advisory and tax services for growth-focused founders and SMEs.

You will shape strategy, recruit and develop talent, and contribute to the evolution of a modern, cloud-based accounting practice, with hybrid working options

Qualifications

• Newly qualified ACA/ACCA/CTA or equivalent.
• Significant experience in accounting, advisory, and Tax Compliance services.
• Strong experience managing diverse and complex personal tax portfolios.
• Crypto tax, CGT, non-resident and non-dom rules, and HNW structures.
• Experience managing teams in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong technical knowledge of UK tax laws and HMRC practises.
• Excellent communication skills, able to simplify complex financial information.
• Experience delegating effectively and developing autonomy within a team
• Experience managing performance and having constructive difficult conversations
• Experience in a leadership role within a growing professional services business
• Experience developing managers or future leaders
• Experience contributing to business growth or service development

Responsibilities

• Lead the accounting consulting function, delivering strategic advisory work and accounting compliance.
• Provide expert tax advice across owner-managed businesses, including director personal tax returns.
• Oversee preparation and timely submission of director tax returns and review complex computations.
• Lead tax planning projects for owner-managed businesses and support HMRC enquiries.
• Act as senior escalation point for client complaints and ensure client satisfaction.
• Manage a client portfolio of 20-30 clients, and develop relationships for growth.
• Lead strategic financial conversations and service delivery improvements.
• Support recruitment and onboarding, capacity planning and succession planning.

Skills

ACA/ACCA/CTA or equivalent

Accounting & advisory

Tax compliance

UK tax knowledge

Leadership experience

Client relationship skills

Communication excellence

Change management

Education

ACA/ACCA/CTA or equivalent

Tools

Xero

Dext

Iris Elements or similar

Job description

• Working: Up to two days working from home, after passing probation
• Location: Brighton

The Opportunity

• Entrepreneurial accountancy practice that has great relationships with their clients.
• Their values are trust, respect, excellence, collaboration and kindness.
• They are looking for someone with the potential to become the ‘head of Brighton’, to free up Chris to grow the business further.
• You will manage your own clients, and also provide guidance and escalation for three other employees.
• Help Chris to grow the company, by bringing your own ideas, attracting clients, and delivering excellent client work.
• Chris is highly motivated to grow the business, which means there will be consistent opportunities to progress your career - so come and get involved, and help this entrepreneurial business to grow!

Company Overview

Collective Concepts is an accountancy business supporting founders, creatives and growing independent businesses.

Team Overview

Four years old, five person Accountancy business working with clients in Sussex, alongside a sister company who provides outsourced bookkeeping services. They are a growing team with an ambitious vision, and are developing how they work, and the experience they create for both clients and employees. Chris and Gina are empathetic leaders who care about their team member’s happiness and development.

The Role

Leadership role combining strategic leadership, client advisory, technical oversight, commercial responsibility and people development.

While the role will remain hands-on where required, the primary responsibility is to lead the function effectively and develop the team.

Accounting and Tax

• Managing the accounting consulting function, delivering strategic advisory work and accounting compliance work to clients.
• Provide expert tax advice across owner-managed businesses. This includes Corporation tax, shareholder/director taxation, capital allowances and Disposal & Reconstructions.
• Overseeing the preparation and timely submission of all director personal tax returns.
• Reviewing complex corporate computations prepared by team members.
• Leading tax planning projects owner-managed businesses.
• Supporting director and company HMRC enquiries, disclosures, and technical queries as required.
• Act as the senior point of escalation for clients for complaints.
• Ensure client satisfaction, retention, and long-term relationship growth.
• Manage a client portfolio of 20-30 clients initially, over time you will handover these clients to other team members.
• Lead strategic financial conversations with clients where required.
• Service Delivery and Client Relationship Management.
• Bringing in clients would be beneficial, you will be financially rewarded for doing so.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead and develop the client advisory team, creating clarity around responsibilities, priorities and expectations.
• Enable team members to take ownership of their work and make confident decisions within their level of responsibility.
• Develop Client Advisory Managers and Accountants through coaching, feedback, delegation and structured development.
• Monitor objectives aligned with the Competency and Progression Framework.
• Create a culture built around Trust, Respect, Kindness, Collaboration and Excellence.
• Manage capacity, workload and resource allocation effectively.
• Support recruitment, onboarding and succession planning.
• Address performance and capability issues fairly, promptly and constructively.

Strategic Contribution

• Contribute to strategy and growth planning.
• Suggest improvements that make the business more efficient and sustainable.
• Lead the implementation of agreed changes.
• Support new technology integration, automation, and reporting tools.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, and industry best practices.

About You

You are an experienced accountant and tax professional who combines strong technical knowledge with confident leadership, commercial awareness and a genuine commitment to helping people succeed.

You are comfortable taking ownership, making decisions and having difficult conversations when needed. You can create clarity for others, build strong relationships and bring people with you through change.

• Newly qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CTA or equivalent).
• Significant experience in accounting, advisory, and Tax Compliance services.
• Strong experience managing diverse and complex personal tax portfolios.
• Crypto tax, CGT, non-resident and non-dom rules, and HNW structures.
• Experience managing teams in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong technical knowledge of UK tax laws and HMRC practises.
• Excellent communication skills, able to simplify complex financial information.
• Experience delegating effectively and developing autonomy within a team
• Experience managing performance and having constructive difficult conversations
• Experience in a modern, cloud-based accounting firm.
• Familiarity with Xero, Dext, Iris elements or similar tools.
• Experience supporting SMEs, start-ups, or high-growth businesses.
• Experience in a leadership role within a growing professional services business
• Experience developing managers or future leaders
• Experience contributing to business growth or service development

Location

Central Brighton

Flexible Working Policy

Flexible core hours from 09:15–14:45, with the autonomy to structure your day.

Working Hours

Up to two days per week from home, after passing probation.

Our working week is 37.5 hours.

£50,000-£60,000 depending on experience (60-70 head of… type thing)

• Commission: Earn 5% of fees received for the first 12 months from any new clients you introduce.
• Potential opportunity for equity in the business
• Flexibility: Up to two days per week remote work after passing probation (6 months).
• Holiday: 30 days (including bank holidays) and rising to 35 days once fully qualified (ACCA/ACA/CTA).
• Professional Development: We invest in your growth with structured training, CPD support, paid study leave where applicable, and clear progression pathways.