Accounts and Audit Senior/Semi-Senior

Ellacotts has an exciting opportunity for an Audit and Accounts Senior to join our team based in Cornwall Buildings, Birmingham. You will join us on a full-time basis (37.5 hr per week) and in return, you will receive a competitive salary plus great company benefits!

About us:

Ellacotts is one of the fastest-growing independent accounting and business advisory firms in the UK and is listed as a Top 100 Accountancy Firm by Accountancy Age.

The firm provides tailored audit, accounting, payroll, taxation, and business advice across diverse sectors including academy schools, agriculture, landed estates, international, not-for-profit, property and development, and professional services.

We work closely with our clients to deliver carefully planned, clever solutions that are bespoke to their circumstances and designed to enable their success.

Purpose of the Role

To provide high-quality audit, accounting, and related client services to clients in the Corporate Services team and to contribute to the development of the practice under minimal supervision.

Responsibilities

• To support partners and managers in the Corporate Department to deliver quality service to clients with compliance and planning matters.
• To be able to manage and deliver ad hoc projects and assignments
• Review and prepare client accounts, tax or VAT-based work from information supplied by clients to the required standards
• Undertake remuneration planning exercises

• Complete and supervise Audit assignments at a client site or remotely
• Assist with higher-level, technical client audit, accounts, and taxation compliance work for corporate clients.
• Identify points for Partner to raise with clients and to raise potential areas for additional services including added value services and advice
• Finalise paperwork for dispatch to clients and HMRC in a timely manner meeting required deadlines and quality
• Liaise with clients to obtain relevant information for their accounts, acting in a proactive way and ensuring attention to details and effective questioning of client
• Monitor own job quality and quantity in line with agreed budgets, meeting these targets and exceeding where possible
• Record your own chargeable time and ensure maximum recovery
• Support trainees by providing on-the-job coaching and supervision and review of trainee assignments
• Attend courses that are appropriate to the job role
• Use appropriate support networks to clarify knowledge on complex queries such as CCH or software vendors
• Review and depending on the size of the assignment prepare client tax returns based on information supplied by the client, advise on tax payable and payment dates, and meet deadlines in line with the firm’s standards.
• Assisting clients with accounts software and other queries as required.
• Involvement in client seminars including attendance and set up where required
• Involvement in networking and business generation under the guidance of more senior team members.

Critical Skills Required:

• Excellent problem resolution skills and ideas generation ability
• Strong computer literacy
• Strong active listening skills
• Ability to review and prepare client accounts, tax or VAT quickly and efficiently

Critical Knowledge Required:

• Good knowledge of all taxes
• Knowledge of Accounting systems including, Xero and other software as required.  Knowledge of their uses and benefits
• In-depth accounts preparation knowledge

Qualifications Required

• Essential:    ACA or ACCA-qualified
• Desirable:   Degree or equivalent experience

Experience Required

• Essential:    Minimum of 2 years of proven accounts experience within a practice environment
• Desirable:   Experience with cloud accounting software such as Xero

Personal Qualities      

• Strong presence
• Excellent communication skills
• Quickly builds rapport and trust
• Highly confidential
• Good networker
• Attention to detail
• Resilient and energetic
• Achiever and self-motivated
• Organised
• Creative
• Analytical – quick thinker

Job Requirements

• Live within commuting distance of Birmingham
• Work outside normal hours as required