Client Accounting Manager

Corient; Wes-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Corient is seeking a Client Accounting Manager to lead on-shore accounting and tax compliance for a portfolio of trusts, companies, and high‑net-worth structures across Cape Town and Johannesburg.

The role provides operational leadership, ensures regulatory compliance, and drives performance and service quality while developing the team and strengthening stakeholder relationships.

Qualifications

• Experience leading client accounting and tax compliance teams.
• Ability to prepare financial statements for trusts and companies.
• Strong knowledge of accounting standards and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of client accountants and tax officers.
• Oversee preparation and review of annual financial statements for trusts and companies.
• Ensure tax compliance for allocated clients and timely statutory returns.
• Collaborate with relationship managers to gather client information.
• Maintain accuracy and integrity of accounting records and reports.

Skills

Team leadership

Tax compliance

Client accounting

Financial reporting

Relationship management

Tools

Accounting software

Job description

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.