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THE COMPANY

We are a business with exciting sustainable growth plans over the next few years looking for amazing people who want to grow along with us. We are a business that values our people. We've launched exciting people initiatives to better our people's experience and we engage with our people to listen to their needs and wants.

We employ over 230 staff in the UK with a fast-growing presence, headquartered in London and serving a wide range of clients. We have established a strong track record and reputation as the ‘partner with a purpose’ to help each client get the most out of their property.

Through our network of offices in the UK, we offer a wide range of property services including consultancy, management, investment and commercial agency, residential sales & lettings.

THE ROLE

Cluttons is currently looking to recruit a Client Accountant in Reading or London.

The Client Accountant works as part of a team and is responsible for all aspects of client and property accounting within a designated portfolio made up of residential, commercial and/or mixed-use properties. The Client Accountant is the focal point for co-ordinating our accounting service delivery to both external and internal clients. In addition, there may be a requirement from time to time to work on project type activities. In respect of such projects, there may be a direct reporting line to a member of the Client Accounting Senior Management Team.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Act as the principal contact point for clients, surveyors, and other relevant parties on all aspects of accounting service delivery for a designated portfolio of properties
• Responsible for the accuracy and completeness of designated client accounting records, including client statements and/or profit and loss and balance sheet reporting, VAT and other tax reporting, charges to tenants and clients, rent deposits, and bank, cash, and service charge reconciliations, maintaining and collating supporting information as required
• Understand and document specific client reporting requirements and operating procedures, and ensure that services are delivered in accordance with the agreed contract
• Respond promptly to routine queries from clients, tenants and colleagues
• Ensure that data pertaining to the portfolio is complete and accurate
• Ensure that postings are made promptly, efficiently, and accurately, performing checks of work undertaken on the portfolio by other members of the Client Accounting team in accordance with agreed procedures and controls
• Attend client meetings as required and work with clients to understand their needs
• Compile, check and deliver regular reports in accordance with agreed timescales, ensuring all necessary reviews have been undertaken and signed-off before issue
• Regularly review funding to ensure clients’ payment obligations can be met and that monies collected are paid over without delay in accordance with banking requirements
• Ensure at all times that client bank accounts are not overdrawn
• Review property expenditure on a regular basis, agreeing the accuracy of coding with surveyors and facilities managers, resolving queries with suppliers and actioning any amendments required
• Monitor rent, service charge, rates, and similar payments made on the clients’ behalf, ensure that these are made in accordance with the terms and, where appropriate, that associated tax receipts are obtained and filed or passed to the client as required
• Ensure all service charge reconciliations are completed within three months of period end in accordance with client requirements and that any balancing charges and/or adjustments are processed promptly
• Liaise with the credit control team to understand the arrears position and report to clients accordingly
• Supervise the day-to-day activities of Reporting Analysts assigned to assist on the portfolio
• Complete month/quarter and year end processes and ensure appropriate accounting periods are maintained
• Ensure routine charges are raised on a timely basis in accordance with lease and budgetary requirements
• Agree interest charges on late payments and write-off of uncollectable charges with the surveyor responsible
• Complete all statutory reporting required on behalf of the client
• Assist in internal and external audits of financial information, procedures and controls
• Calculate and compile completion statements on sale of properties or their transfer to other agents
• Assist in identifying and resolving the allocation of unidentified receipts
• Adhere to all agreed procedures and controls
• Report client service delivery issues and routine key performance indicators
• Oversee the set up and continued maintenance of the chart of accounts, sub ledger structure, banking rules and transaction types pertaining to the allocated portfolio
• Specific project deliverables as may arise from time to time, as defined by the Client Accounting Senior Management Team

CLIENTS AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

• Assist in business development with new clients by demonstrating systems, processes and procedures operated by Client Accounting
• Report to clients based on trial balance to include profit and loss and balance sheet control account reconciliation as appropriate
• Prepare monthly reporting to the client to include variance analysis and commentary against budget and re-forecasts throughout the year as appropriate
• Ensure that data held on Tramps maps to the client systems chart of accounts and all transactional reporting is in a format which can be uploaded to the client’s financial systems where appropriate
• Is proactive in building relationships with internal clients and responsive and helpful to external clients
• Completes own work under minimal supervision/guidance

SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES

• Ensure that processes and procedures are adopted across disciplines to ensure that accurate and timely accrual-based accounting entries are calculated and posted monthly for deferred income and expenditure, accrued income and expenditure, prepayments and accruals
• Manages, co-ordinates, implements and develops a range of important activities, processes, functions or relationships
• Makes some decisions within field of expertise
• May contribute to, or be expected to lead projects from time to time

Requirements

Qualifications

• Qualified or part-qualified in a recognised accounting qualification (CIMA, ACCA, AAT) with an appreciation of client reporting requirements, ideally in a property related role, or qualified by experience with at least three years property accounting experience in a client facing role

Skills

• Demonstrable understanding of basic bookkeeping, internal and external financial reporting, financial operations and associated processes and controls. Knowledge of property accounting, service charges, CIS and/or property VAT an advantage
• Proficient in MS Office
• Property management and accounting packages for managing agents

Experience

• Highly numerate with strong attention to detail and excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Self-motivated, responsible and organised
• Committed to the provision of excellent customer service and to meeting deadlines
• Ability to juggle priorities and recognise when to ask for guidance

Benefits

• Holidays: 25 days increasing in line with length of service to a maximum of 30 days
• Enhanced auto enrolment pension scheme - to help you save for the future
• Life assurance - to protect your loved ones should the worst happen
• Interest free season ticket loans
• Cycle to work scheme - discounted bicycles
• Flu and eye care vouchers - to keep you healthy
• Employee Assistance Programme - 24/7 health & wellbeing support
• Help@Hand Remote GP app - to give you and your family access to medical experts quickly
• Platform hosting 1000s of discounts at your favourite retailers, restaurants, supermarkets, leisure & days out venues, gyms and more
• Family & wellbeing policy - including enhanced maternity pay, menopause support, neurodiversity support, carer support, company sick pay and much more

Plus a Flexible benefits policy that allows you to pick and choose additional benefits as below:

• Purchasing up to 5 days additional holiday
• Discounted gym membership
• Discounted dental insurance
• Discounted private medical insurance
• Discounted critical health insurance and more