Client Accounting Manager

Stonehage Fleming; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Stonehage Fleming in Cape Town is seeking a Client Accounting Manager to lead the On-shore Client Accounting and Tax compliance teams across Cape Town and Johannesburg. You will ensure the delivery of high-quality accounting and tax services for trusts, companies, and high-net-worth structures.

The role focuses on leadership, performance improvement, regulatory compliance, and developing staff, while acting as the main escalation point for complex accounting and client matters.

Qualifications

• Qualified with accounting degree and professional articles completed.
• Postgraduate studies in accounting or taxation preferred.
• Membership in good standing with SAIPA/SAICA considered.
• Registration as Tax Practitioner or eligibility to register.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of Client Accountants and Tax compliance officers.
• Oversee preparation and review of accounting records and annual financial statements for trusts and companies.
• Ensure tax compliance for allocated clients is accurate and up to date.
• Collaborate with relationship managers to gather information for financial reports and statutory returns.
• Monitor processes, drive efficiency, and ensure service standards and deadlines are met.
• Escalate complex accounting and client matters and provide guidance to the team.
• Maintain strong relationships with stakeholders and cross-office teams.

Skills

IFRS for SMEs

Trusts & investments

Caseware

Xero

Microsoft Office

Communication skills

Prioritization

6-8 years accounting experience

3 years people management

Education

BCom Accounting or equivalent

SAIPA/SAICA Articles completed

Postgraduate in Accounting/Taxation

Professional membership SAIPA/SAICA

Tools

Caseware

Xero

Microsoft Office

Job description

OVERALL, PURPOSE AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

The Client Accounting Manager reports into the Head of Client Accounting. The role is responsible for leading and managing the On-shore Client Accounting and Tax compliance function across the Cape Town and Johannesburg offices, ensuring the delivery of high-quality accounting and tax compliance to a portfolio of trusts, companies, and high-net-worth client structures.

The role provides operational leadership to the Client Accounting and Tax compliance team, driving performance, quality, operational excellence, compliance, and employee development. The incumbent will act as the primary escalation point for complex accounting, tax, and client matters while building strong relationships with internal stakeholders.

The Client Accounting Manager is accountable for ensuring that team objectives, client deliverables, regulatory obligations, revenue and business performance standards are achieved consistently and effectively.

Principal Elements & Accountabilities

Team Leadership and People Management

• Lead, motivate, develop and manage a team of Client Accountants and Tax compliance officers.


• Establish clear performance expectations and accountability measures.


• Drive team engagement, productivity and a culture of continuous improvement.


• Conduct performance reviews, development planning and succession planning.


• Coach, mentor and develop team members on technical and soft skills


• Manage recruitment, onboarding and retention of high-performing talent.


• Foster collaboration across offices and broader Family Office and Operations teams.


• Effectively manage team workload, resource allocation and capacity planning.

Client Accounting

• Oversee the preparation and review of accounting records annual financial statements for trusts and companies


• Accounts maintenance of relevant information to trial balance level as well as the preparation of financial statements Individuals, Trusts & companies)


• Work with relationship managers to gather relevant information to allow the team to prepare financial reports, tax and other statutory returns for our clients within strict deadlines


• Manage and maintain the tax compliance of allocated clients (Individuals, Trusts & Companies) by ensuring all tax affairs are accurate, up to date and adhere to relevant legislation.


• Liaising with the Trust Administrator and Middle Office Teams to ensure adequate supporting documents are in place for various updates in clients.


• Ensure financial statements comply with applicable accounting standards.


• Ensure the accuracy, completeness and integrity of accounting records.


• Monitor accounting processes and implement operational efficiencies.


• Ensure all client deliverables are completed within agreed service standards and statutory deadlines.


• Provision of reporting for local and international tax purposes

Relationship Management

• Act as a senior point of contact / escalation point for key stakeholders.


• Build and maintain strong relationships with relationship managers


• Proactively identify business needs and opportunities to improve service delivery.


• Manage escalated client concerns and ensure timely resolution.


• Deliver a consistently high standard of client service aligned with business expectations.

Qualifications And Experience

• BCom Accounting or equivalent qualification.


• Completed SAIPA or SAICA Articles.


• Professional membership in good standing (SAIPA, SAICA or equivalent).


• Registered Tax Practitioner or eligible for registration.


• Postgraduate qualification in Accounting, Taxation.


• Proven Leadership experience.

Skills

• This position requires a good understanding of the following:


• Accounting knowledge and competence including IFRS for SMEs, basic understanding of trusts and investments statements, and the interpretation of financial statements


• Technical experience in Caseware, Xero and Microsoft Office


• Exceptional communication skills


• Ability to manage expectations and competing priorities


• Minimum 6–8 years accounting experience within financial services, fiduciary services, wealth management, family office, trust administration or professional services.


• Minimum 3 years in a people management role.

COMPETENCIES AND BEHAVIOURS

• Energetic: Self-motivated and self-manages with a good work ethic (attitude), schedules and manages workload effectively, thinks ahead, sets plans to achieve goals


• Results orientated: Delivers work of a high standard, output is accurate and error free; owns delegated tasks and pays attention to detail, takes prompt action and sees tasks through to completion


• Resourceful problem solver: Considers the wider consequences of each decision, gathers and analyses information to find creative solutions


• Team player: Supports and works towards team goals, shares information, is helpful and cooperative, works effectively with people outside the immediate team


• Efficient and effective communicator: Communicates clearly and concisely with clients and colleagues of all levels, listens effectively, has well-presented written communication and the ability to deal with sophisticated clients


• Client focused: Understands and satisfies client needs at all times, takes full responsibility and accountability for all client matters including delegated tasks