Senior Client Accountant (ACA / ACCA) - Practice

Senior Accounts Manager — London Practice Lead Aster & Trujillo — 87 Chancery Lane, City of London

Full-time, permanent | Salary: up to £80,000 per annum | Office-based during probation, hybrid thereafter

About The Firm Aster & Trujillo is a City of London advisory firm providing UK and cross-border tax and accountancy services to private clients, owner-managed businesses and international groups. Founded by Spanish professionals and based at 87 Chancery Lane, the firm has built its reputation on the UK–Spain corridor, advising British nationals with interests in Spain and Spanish and European businesses establishing or operating in the United Kingdom.

The firm continues to grow, with an expanding presence in both London and Spain. We are now seeking an experienced, management-level accountant to lead the day-to-day operations of our London accountancy practice.

Purpose of the Appointment The Senior Accounts Manager will report to the Directors and take day-to-day responsibility for the London accountancy function, working with and coordinating our two other senior accountants and the supporting team.

The purpose of the appointment is to reduce the Directors’ involvement in routine London accountancy operations, allowing them to concentrate on advisory work and the wider development of the firm, while ensuring that complex or high-risk matters continue to be escalated appropriately.

This is a senior operational role. It is not a partnership, statutory directorship or statutory audit appointment.

Principal Responsibilities Leadership of the accountancy function

• Taking day-to-day responsibility for the London accountancy team’s workflow, priorities, capacity and delivery.
• Coordinating the work of the two other senior accountants and supporting staff, with responsibility for allocating work and monitoring performance.
• Maintaining department-wide oversight of statutory deadlines, review procedures and quality control.
• Acting as the principal escalation point for technical queries, difficult client matters and service issues.
• Training and developing colleagues, conducting performance reviews and identifying staffing needs.
• Providing concise monthly reports to the Directors on delivery, deadlines, billing, outstanding debts, staffing and significant risks.

Client portfolio and technical work

• Managing an individual client portfolio while overseeing service quality across the wider accountancy function.
• Performing final internal technical reviews of routine accounts, corporation tax computations, VAT returns and other compliance work within agreed competence and authority limits.
• Overseeing bookkeeping and client ledgers maintained on Xero, QuickBooks and comparable platforms.
• Overseeing the preparation and submission of VAT returns under Making Tax Digital, management accounts, year-end statutory accounts and corporation tax computations.
• Liaising with HMRC and Companies House on client matters.

Commercial and business development

• Monitoring portfolio profitability, work in progress, billing, fee recovery and work undertaken outside agreed scopes.
• Recommending fee adjustments and improvements to working practices.
• Contributing to business development by converting enquiries, developing referrals and identifying additional services for existing clients.

Authority The role carries delegated authority to review and approve client work within agreed technical, commercial and professional limits, referring complex or high-risk matters to the Directors or appropriate specialists. Final internal review and approval is distinct from statutory or regulated signing authority, which is not a feature of this role.

Support Administrative and bookkeeping support is available to assist with delivery, including routine ledger maintenance, data entry, bank feed coding, reconciliation preparation and the collation of client records. The successful candidate will be responsible for setting priorities, reviewing output and maintaining the quality and accuracy of the service delivered to clients.

The Candidate We Are Looking For An Accountant Who Offers

• ACA, ACCA or an equivalent recognised professional qualification.
• Substantial UK accountancy practice experience, including proven management-level responsibility.
• Demonstrable experience leading staff, reviewing accounts and tax work, and managing client portfolios independently.
• Strong technical judgement and the ability to recognise matters requiring specialist advice or escalation.
• Commercial awareness, including experience managing fees, billing and portfolio profitability.
• Confident, professional client communication and the ability to handle challenging conversations.
• The ability to operate with limited day-to-day Director supervision.
• Proficiency in a European language, preferably Spanish, as a distinct advantage. Portuguese, Italian, French or German would also be welcome given our international client base.

Business development forms part of the role; however, an existing transferable client portfolio is not a condition of appointment.

Working Arrangements The role is based at our office at 87 Chancery Lane in the City of London and is fully office-based during the probationary period, ordinarily three months. On successful completion of probation, one day per week of home working will be available.

Remuneration

• Salary: £80,000 per annum.
• A leading operational role within a growing boutique City firm, with direct access to the Directors.
• Exposure to cross-border advisory work and the firm’s Spanish operations.

How To Apply Please submit your CV via the form below. Early applications are encouraged, as we wish to make an appointment as soon as possible.

Aster & Trujillo is an equal opportunities employer. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK; we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.