Client Accounting Finance Manager
Location: Flexible / Hybrid (Midlands & South West)
Contract: Initial 6-Month Fixed-Term Contract with Potential for Permanent Opportunity
The Opportunity
An established and highly respected professional services organisation is seeking an experienced Client Accounting Finance Manager to lead its client accounting function. This is a key leadership role responsible for overseeing client money operations, financial controls, compliance, reporting, and team management across a diverse property and asset portfolio.
The successful candidate will bring strong technical accounting expertise, excellent stakeholder management skills, and a proactive approach to process improvement and operational excellence.
Key Responsibilities
Client Accounting & Financial Control
- Oversee all aspects of client accounting operations, including rent and service charge accounting, client receipts and payments, reconciliations, and reporting.
- Ensure accurate maintenance of client ledgers and bank accounts across multiple portfolios.
- Review and approve client money transactions in accordance with internal controls and delegated authority levels.
- Manage monthly, quarterly, and annual reconciliations, resolving discrepancies in a timely manner.
- Produce client statements, cash summaries, expenditure reports, and bespoke financial reports.
- Support budgeting, forecasting, and cash flow management activities.
Compliance & Governance
- Ensure client funds are managed in accordance with industry regulations, internal policies, and audit requirements.
- Maintain robust financial controls around client money handling, approvals, reconciliations, and record keeping.
- Support internal and external audits, providing documentation and implementing recommendations where required.
- Monitor compliance risks and identify opportunities to strengthen controls and governance processes.
- Ensure VAT, service charge accounting, and statutory reporting requirements are met.
Leadership & Stakeholder Management
- Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing client accounting team.
- Allocate workloads effectively to ensure service levels and deadlines are consistently achieved.
- Act as the primary finance contact for operational teams, clients, and external stakeholders.
- Build strong working relationships across the business to facilitate effective communication and issue resolution.
- Provide financial guidance and support to non-finance colleagues where required.
Systems & Process Improvement
- Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reporting, automation, and controls.
- Support enhancements to finance and property management systems.
- Contribute to finance transformation initiatives and best-practice standardisation.
- Ensure strong governance and data integrity across all financial systems.
Skills & Experience
Essential
- Proven experience within client accounting, property accounting, or finance management.
- Background within property, real estate, asset management, or professional services environments.
- Strong understanding of client money management, reconciliations, financial controls, and reporting.
- Experience leading or supervising finance teams.
- Strong knowledge of month-end processes and accounting principles.
- Advanced Excel skills and experience using finance and property management systems.
- Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
Desirable
- Knowledge of client money regulations and industry best practices
- Experience with property accounting platforms and ERP systems.
What Success Looks Like
- Client funds are managed accurately, securely, and compliantly.
- Financial reporting and reconciliations are delivered accurately and on time.
- Audits are completed successfully with minimal findings.
- The client accounting team is engaged, motivated, and performing effectively.
- Processes are continually improved to support business growth and operational efficiency.
