Audit & Accounts Senior | Kingstanding, Birmingham | Full Time | £40,000–£45,000 per annum, depending on experience

Working Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Contract: Maternity cover, with flexibility on the employment arrangement for the right candidate

Our client is a long-established and highly respected independent accountancy practice in Birmingham, offering a friendly and supportive working environment. They work with a diverse portfolio of owner-managed businesses, particularly in manufacturing, alongside clients in the legal, retail, distribution and charitable sectors.

The Role

You will be an experienced Audit & Accounts Senior with strong technical skills across both audit and accounts preparation. Working closely with Managers and Partners, you will take responsibility for audit assignments and prepare accounts to a high standard, with the ability to manage work independently and communicate directly with clients.

Approximately 60% of the role will focus on audit, with the remaining 40% covering accounts and tax work. The successful candidate will need to demonstrate the practical experience and technical ability to take responsibility for assignments, complete work to a high standard and minimise the need for additional supervision.

ACA/ACCA-qualified candidates are welcome, alongside strong part-qualified or nearly qualified individuals with the right practical experience. The salary is negotiable for candidates with the appropriate skills and experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Audit (Approximately 60%)
• Assist with the planning and completion of statutory audits
• Plan and carry out audit fieldwork at client premises
• Conduct stocktakes and liaise directly with clients throughout audit assignments
• Prepare audit working papers and supporting documentation
• Conclude audit sections and identify and communicate issues to Managers and Partners
• Draft audit reports to management
• Ensure assignments are completed within agreed deadlines and budgets
• Prepare and draft statutory financial statements from client trial balances and management accounts using CCH software
• Work with Mercia audit and accounts processes

Accounts & Tax (Approximately 40%)

• Independently prepare statutory accounts for limited companies, sole traders and partnerships
• Prepare accounts from client records, software packages and other financial information
• Prepare corporation tax computations and returns using CCH software
• Prepare VAT returns and management accounts
• Assist the personal tax team by providing information required for personal tax returns
• Respond to day-to-day client accounting queries
• Maintain accurate and complete working papers
• Produce work to a high standard, ready for senior manager review or, where appropriate, direct reporting to a Partner

Client Portfolio

• Work with a varied portfolio of manufacturing businesses
• Support solicitors and other professional practices
• Work with retail and distribution businesses
• Support charities and not-for-profit organisations
• Work with owner-managed businesses across a range of sectors

Requirements

Essential

• Previous experience working within a UK accountancy practice
• Strong practical experience in both audit and accounts preparation
• Ability to plan and undertake audit assignments independently, including fieldwork, file completion and reporting
• Proven ability to prepare statutory accounts independently to a high standard
• Good understanding of UK GAAP, particularly FRS 102
• Strong knowledge of auditing standards, processes and procedures
• Experience producing work that requires minimal review and can be progressed without routinely escalating unresolved issues
• Strong communication and organisational skills
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines
• Professional approach with excellent attention to detail
• Confidence dealing directly with clients
• Full driving licence and own car
• Ability to travel to client premises for audits, with occasional overnight stays when required

Desirable

• ACA/ACCA qualified, or part-qualified/nearly qualified with strong practical experience
• Experience with group audits and consolidated accounts
• Familiarity with Mercia audit methodology and paper-based working papers
• Experience with corporation tax computations and returns
• Experience using CCH software
• Knowledge of cloud accounting software such as Xero or QuickBooks, and Sage
• Exposure to Solicitors' Accounts Rules
• Experience with charity audits and independent examinations
• Experience auditing manufacturing businesses

What’s In It For You

• Salary of up to £45,000 per annum, depending on experience and technical ability
• Flexible employment arrangement, with the potential for a permanent appointment
• Varied workload across audit, accounts and tax
• Exposure to a diverse portfolio of clients across multiple sectors
• Friendly and supportive working environment
• Flexible working arrangements, subject to experience, responsibilities and business requirements
• Opportunity to work closely with experienced Managers and Partners
• Ongoing technical development and mentoring
• 31 days' holiday, including statutory holidays, with three days reserved for the Christmas period
• Option to buy or sell up to five days of annual leave
• Auto-enrolment pension
• Subsidised health cover may be considered or offered following the probationary period
• Annual salary reviews
• Long-term career development opportunities within an established independent accountancy practice

What’s next? It’s easy! Click “APPLY” now! We can’t wait to hear from you!

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