We are supporting EBA Chartered Accountants with the recruitment of an experienced Accountant / Xero Specialist to join their growing team in Knutsford.
EBA Chartered Accountants works closely with ambitious business owners, providing support across compliance, business growth, strategic decision-making and exit planning. This is an excellent opportunity to join a friendly and ambitious firm where you’ll work directly with clients, develop trusted relationships and gradually become more involved in providing commercial advice and insight.
The primary focus of the role will be preparing statutory year-end accounts and company tax returns for a portfolio of limited-company clients. You’ll also undertake hands-on Xero bookkeeping, take responsibility for VAT returns and supervise a small team of junior Xero bookkeepers.
The role would suit someone with previous accountancy practice experience, strong practical Xero knowledge and the confidence to manage client relationships and deadlines effectively.
Key Responsibilities in this Accountant / Xero Specialist role:
- Preparing statutory year-end accounts for a portfolio of limited companies
- Preparing company tax returns and supporting schedules
- Ensuring statutory accounts are completed and ready for internal review by agreed deadlines
- Undertaking hands-on bookkeeping using Xero
- Supervising and supporting two to three junior Xero bookkeepers
- Reviewing bookkeeping work and helping junior colleagues resolve queries
- Taking responsibility for the accurate and timely preparation and filing of VAT returns across an assigned client portfolio
- Maintaining accurate ledgers and completing bank reconciliations
- Reviewing client records and identifying errors, inconsistencies or missing information
- Helping clients use Xero effectively and improve their accounting processes
- Supporting new client setups and migrations to Xero where required
- Preparing a small number of quarterly management accounts
- Working directly with clients to answer queries and obtain the information required to complete their accounts
- Holding year-end accounts review meetings with clients
- Developing close and trusted relationships with business owners
- Providing increasingly proactive advice and commercial insight as client relationships develop
- Managing workload and deadlines effectively while maintaining a consistently high level of accuracy
- Contributing ideas to improve efficiency, systems and ways of working
About You – Accountant / Xero Specialist Experience
- Previous experience working within an accountancy practice
- Strong, hands-on knowledge of Xero
- Experience preparing statutory year-end accounts for limited companies
- Experience preparing, or supporting the preparation of, company tax returns
- Practical bookkeeping and VAT return experience
- The ability to manage a portfolio of clients and meet internal filing and review deadlines
- Experience supervising, reviewing or supporting more junior team members
- A good understanding of accounting records, reconciliations and financial reporting
- AAT Level 3 qualification or above, or an equivalent level of practical experience
- Strong attention to detail and a commitment to producing accurate work
- An efficient working style and the ability to maintain output without compromising quality
- Confidence communicating directly with business owners
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to develop trusted, long-term client relationships
- A proactive approach to identifying and resolving issues
- An interest in developing beyond accounts preparation into a more advisory-focused position
- Previous experience using Sage would be advantageous, as a small number of legacy clients use the system for quarterly management accounts.
- Xero certification is not essential. The strength and depth of your practical Xero experience will be more important.
Benefits:
- Salary of £34,000–£38,000, depending on experience
- Hybrid working – four days in the Knutsford office and one day from home
- Flexible start and finish times
- 35-hour working week
- One-hour lunch break each day
- 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays
- Birthday off
- Full private medical insurance
- Critical illness cover
- Ongoing professional development
- Regular one-to-one meetings and team appraisals
- Direct exposure to business owners across a range of sectors
- The opportunity to develop into a more client-facing and advisory-focused role
- A supportive and ambitious working environment
If you feel that you have the skills and experience to be successful in this Accountant / Xero Specialist role with EBA Chartered Accountants, we’d love to hear from you – please apply now.
This vacancy is being advertised on behalf of Marwell Recruitment, who are acting as an employment agency.
Pay: £34,000.00-£38,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company events
- Company pension
- Flexitime
- Free parking
- Private medical insurance
- Sick pay
Work Location: In person
