Technical Accountant (Quality & Training)

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Technical Accountant is the quality gate for everything Accounts Production delivers. You will review high volumes of accounts, VAT returns and personal tax returns prepared by junior and developing team members, find what is wrong quickly, fix it efficiently, and make sure the preparer understands why so it does not happen again.

You are also the technical point of contact for Account Managers. When a client asks something difficult, Account Managers come to you; you research it, reach a clear answer, and explain it in a way they can take straight back to the client.

Above all, you look at every set of accounts through the client's eyes: is this structured in the way that best serves them, and is there anything they should know?

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

High-volume quality control is the core of this role and will take up most of your week. Training and technical support are built on what you find in that review work.

1. High-volume quality control (approx. 60% of the role)

• Review a high daily and weekly volume of limited company accounts, VAT returns and personal tax returns before they reach the client, without letting standards slip as volume rises.
• Work through files prepared by junior or less experienced staff, quickly identifying errors, omissions, misclassifications and inconsistencies.
• Analyse trial balances, bank data and prior-year comparatives at speed to spot abnormalities: unusual movements, missing transactions, implausible margins, balances that do not reconcile.
• Check that working papers (AWPs) are complete, logical and structured so that any team member could follow them.
• Decide on each file the most efficient route: process the amendments yourself where that is quicker, or return the file with clear instructions where it is a learning opportunity.
• When returning work, explain exactly what needs to change, why, and the simplest way to process it (journals required, the correct software steps, the right supporting evidence).
• Process your own amendments accurately and efficiently, including journals, VAT adjustments, DLA and dividend corrections, fixed asset and accruals adjustments.
• Sign off work against the firm's QC checklist and record review points consistently.
• Prioritise the review queue against deadlines (filing dates, VAT quarters, 31 January) and flag capacity risks early.

2. Training, feedback and upskilling (approx. 20%)

• Turn review findings into structured feedback for each preparer: what was wrong, why it matters and how to do it right next time.
• Track recurring errors across the team and individuals, and use that data to decide what training is needed.
• Plan and deliver structured training sessions (one-to-one, small group and team-wide) on recurring problem areas such as VAT, DLA, dividends, fixed assets, stock/WIP and journals.
• Produce supporting material: worked examples, model answers, checklists and short guides.
• Measure improvement over time, so that first-time-right rates rise and the volume of returned work falls.
• Support the onboarding of new starters into accounts production.

3. Technical advisory to Account Managers (approx. 15%)

• Act as the first point of technical escalation for Account Managers and POD teams.
• Research technical queries using legislation, HMRC manuals, FRS 102/105 and professional resources, and interpret what they mean for the specific client.
• Communicate findings in plain English, with a clear recommendation, so the Account Manager can confidently relay it to the client.
• Write client and reviewer notes in the firm's What / Why / Action / Deadline format.
• Recognise when a query is outside scope and needs escalating or specialist advice.

4. Client-first accounts and process improvement (approx. 5%)

• Consider how each set of accounts can be structured to benefit the client: remuneration and dividend planning, use of allowances and reliefs, capital allowances timing, DLA position and VAT scheme suitability.
• Flag planning opportunities and risks to the Account Manager rather than simply processing the numbers.
• Identify weak points in workflows, checklists and templates, and suggest practical improvements that reduce errors at source.

Technical knowledge required

You need to be confident across all three areas, not just one, because the files you review and the questions you field will cover all of them.

Limited company accounts

• Preparation and review of year-end accounts for micro and small companies under FRS 105 and FRS 102 Section 1A.
• Corporation tax computations, including capital allowances (AIA, full expensing, WDAs), disallowable expenses and losses.
• Directors' loan accounts, including overdrawn balances, s455 and when it does and does not apply, and benefit-in-kind implications.
• Dividends: distributable reserves, correct documentation and illegal dividend risk.
• Fixed assets, depreciation, accruals, prepayments, stock and work in progress.
• Reconciling bank, VAT, PAYE and control accounts; reviewing the P&L and balance sheet for reasonableness.
• Companies House and HMRC filing requirements and deadlines.

VAT

• VAT returns under standard, flat rate and cash accounting schemes, and when each suits a client.
• Making Tax Digital requirements and digital links.
• Input tax recovery rules, partial exemption basics, blocked items and fuel scale charges.
• Reverse charge (including domestic reverse charge for construction) and basic place-of-supply rules.
• Correcting errors on returns versus voluntary disclosures, and registration and deregistration thresholds.
• Reconciling VAT returns to the accounts and identifying where they will not agree.

Personal tax

• Self assessment returns for sole traders, partners, landlords and company directors.
• Income tax, National Insurance and the dividend and savings allowances.
• Property income, including finance cost restrictions, and capital gains basics.
• Payments on account, High Income Child Benefit Charge, and pension and Gift Aid relief.
• Salary and dividend mix for owner-managed businesses, and how company and personal positions interact.

Systems

• Strong working knowledge of cloud bookkeeping software (e.g. Xero, QuickBooks) and accounts production / tax software (e.g. TaxCalc).
• Advanced Excel skills for analysing data, reconciliations and spotting outliers quickly.

Key characteristics

The right person combines a sharp eye for detail with the patience to teach. Technical ability alone is not enough; they must make the people around them better.

Forensic eye for detail

Spots the one wrong figure in a set of accounts in minutes; instinctively asks "does this look right?" before checking the arithmetic.

Fast, analytical thinker

Reads a trial balance or bank report and immediately sees what is unusual, missing or inconsistent with last year.

Consistent under volume

Keeps the same standard on the fortieth file of the week as on the first; does not cut corners when deadlines bunch.

Pragmatic and efficient

Knows when it is faster to fix something themselves and when to send it back; always looks for the simplest correct route.

Client-first mindset

Treats every file as a real business or person; asks "what would benefit this client?" not just "is this compliant?"

Clear communicator

Explains complex technical points in plain English, verbally and in writing, to preparers, Account Managers and, through them, clients.

Natural coach

Gives feedback that is direct, specific and constructive; takes pride in seeing junior staff improve.

Curious researcher

Enjoys digging into an unfamiliar question, goes to the source (legislation, HMRC manuals), and reaches a reasoned conclusion.

Sound judgement

Knows the limits of their knowledge and when to escalate; makes defensible decisions where the answer is not black and white.

Calm and approachable

Account Managers and junior staff feel comfortable bringing questions; stays measured when work is wrong or deadlines are tight.

Organised and accountable

Manages their own review queue, keeps clear records of review points and owns outcomes.

Improvement-minded

Sees patterns in errors and fixes the cause (a checklist, template or training gap), not just the symptom.

Skills, qualifications and experience

Essential

• Qualified (ACCA, ACA, CIMA or CTA) or qualified by experience, with a strong technical foundation.
• At least 4 years' experience in UK practice preparing limited company accounts, VAT returns and personal tax returns.
• Proven experience reviewing other people's work and correcting it efficiently.
• Experience working to high volumes and multiple concurrent deadlines.
• Experience giving structured feedback or training to junior staff.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, including explaining technical matters to non-technical colleagues.
• Strong Excel and cloud accounting software skills.

Desirable

• AAT Level 4 holders with substantial review experience will also be considered.
• Experience in a supervisory, senior or reviewer role within a high-volume practice.
• Experience designing training material, checklists or SOPs.
• Familiarity with TaxCalc and practice management / CRM systems.
• Exposure to tax planning for owner-managed businesses.

Pay: £30,000.00-£40,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person