Senior Client Manager

Vero Recruitment; Banff; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Pension

Death in service

36‑hour working week

5.6 weeks’ holiday

Flexible working

Wellbeing focus

Job summary

McKilligan Financial is seeking a Senior Client Manager to own a portfolio of rural business clients, delivering proactive advisory service and helping them understand their position and plan for growth.

This senior, client‑facing role blends technical accounting expertise with commercial judgement and leadership, including coaching colleagues, improving systems and client service. Hybrid and flexible working options are available.

Qualifications

• Experience managing a portfolio of clients in an accountancy environment.
• Strong technical knowledge applied practically.
• Proactive, organized and commercially focused with good communication.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of a portfolio of clients and deliver high-quality, proactive service.
• Provide practical advice and identify opportunities through proactive planning.
• Review and finalise tax returns and liaise with clients and advisers.
• Develop colleagues through coaching and day-to-day guidance.
• Contribute to improvements in systems, processes and client service.
• Familiarity with cloud accounting is beneficial (e.g., Xero).

Job description

Vero Recruitment has been exclusively engaged by McKilligan Financial, Rural Family Business Accountants, to recruit an experienced Senior Client Manager. The role will be based at their office in Sylvadale, Cornhill, Banff, Aberdeenshire, with hybrid and flexible working offered.

If McKilligan Financial appeals to you but you don’t quite have the desired experience, we would still encourage you to get in touch. Founder Elaine is open to considering a range of profiles and levels.

Who is our client:

McKilligan Financial is a modern, rural family business accountancy practice based between Banff and Keith in Aberdeenshire. Founded in 2020 by Elaine McKilligan, the firm is now trusted by over 500 clients, from sole traders and farming families to partnerships and limited companies across agriculture, motor trade, construction, forestry, property and other sectors.

This is not a traditional, transactional accountancy firm. The team have real experience of rural and small business life and pride themselves on being straight-talking, approachable and genuinely invested in their clients’ long-term success.

Compliance work such as accounts and tax returns is only the starting point. McKilligan Financial’s real value comes from ongoing advice, planning and support, helping clients understand their position and make better decisions for their businesses and wealth.

The role:

As Senior Client Manager, you will take ownership of a portfolio of clients, delivering a high-quality, proactive service and helping them make informed business and financial decisions.

This is a senior, client-facing role combining technical expertise, commercial judgement and relationship building. You will act as a trusted adviser, providing practical advice and identifying opportunities through proactive tax planning and effective business structuring.

You will also play an important leadership role within the firm, developing colleagues and contributing to improvements across systems, processes and client service.

Key responsibilities:

• You will manage your own portfolio, building strong, long-term client relationships and becoming a genuine adviser rather than simply a service provider.
• A key part of the role will be proactive tax planning, including reviewing projected profits, calculating liabilities and identifying opportunities to improve tax efficiency and business structures. You will research technical matters and translate them into clear, practical advice.
• You will support clients with tax-efficient transactions, review and finalise tax returns and work alongside clients and their wider advisers to provide a joined-up approach to their financial affairs.
• Alongside client work, you will support and develop team members through line management, coaching, feedback and day-to-day guidance.
• Working with the leadership team, you will also contribute to improving systems, processes and service delivery. You will prepare fee proposals and engagement letters, liaise with clients and third parties, and help ensure work is delivered efficiently.
• Experience of cloud accounting systems, particularly Xero, will help you understand and support clients’ day-to-day business operations.

About you:

• You will have experience managing a portfolio of clients within an accountancy environment, alongside strong technical knowledge and the ability to apply it in a practical, commercially aware way.
• You will be comfortable reviewing work, exercising sound judgement and taking ownership of more complex client matters. Experience supporting, developing or line managing colleagues will also be valuable.
• Strong interpersonal skills are essential. You will build trust quickly, communicate clearly and enjoy working closely with clients and colleagues in a collaborative, down-to-earth environment.
• Above all, you will be proactive, organised and commercially focused, with a genuine desire to deliver value and contribute to a growing business.

Why McKilligan Financial:

McKilligan Financial is built around genuine relationships, rural understanding and a human approach to accountancy and tax. The culture is informal but professional, supportive but ambitious, with values that are genuinely reflected in how the business operates.

The firm offers a competitive salary, pension, death in service cover, a 36-hour working week and 5.6 weeks’ holiday. The team also regularly benefits from additional time off when targets are achieved, alongside flexible working, development opportunities, social events and a strong focus on wellbeing.

This is an opportunity to join a growing, values-led firm where your expertise will be valued, your leadership will matter and your work will have a direct impact on clients, colleagues and the future of the business.