Senior Fund Accountant

Job title: Senior Fund Accountant

Department: Client Operations

Reporting to: Manager/Senior Manager

Location: Southampton

The Role

Job Purpose

To deliver a comprehensive first-class accounting service to a portfolio of private equity and real estate structures in line with the defined business activities.

To assist with the supervision, management and development of a team of accountants.

To maintain and enhance client relationships on own portfolio.

To deputise for the Manager during absence, and to support them when required in order to fulfil the team’s roles and responsibilities.

Key Result Areas

· Provide excellent levels of client service in line with company standards, procedures and guidelines to appropriate accountancy standards

· Maintain an accurate and high standard of client reporting records

· Take ownership of the client portfolio and tasks allocated

· Take responsibility for professional and personal development, in line with agreed annual performance objectives

· To act at all times in accordance with company values as appended to this job description

Primary Contacts

· Junior staff

· Own team

· Internal departments

· External auditors

· Clients

· All Managers/Senior Managers/ADs/directors

Qualifications

* Recognised professional accounting qualification (ACCA / ACA)

Experience

* Direct experience of producing financial statements and management accounts

* Experience in producing financial statements to IFRS, UK GAAP or other appropriate standards for a range of entities

* Experience in developing and coaching of juniors

* Experience in effective communication with clients

+ A minimum of 2 years’ post qualification experience in a financial services environment

+ Experience of preparation of VAT returns

+ Fund accounting experience including consolidation

+ Experience of dealing with audit requirements

+ Sound knowledge of private equity and real estate fund structures and accounting requirements through fund lifecycle

Knowledge

* Good knowledge and understanding, appropriate to level, of current industry legislation and regulation & working practices

* Detailed knowledge of UK GAAP and IFRS

* Working knowledge of Microsoft Office

+ Knowledge of private equity or real estate funds’ structures

+ Working knowledge of Caseware/Value Financials

+ Working knowledge of Investran

+ Working knowledge of Yardi

Skills and Abilities

* Ability to prioritise, organise and work to demanding deadlines

* Ability to assist with complex accounting matters

* Ability to delegate and coach and motivate

* Effective questioning and problem solving style

* Ability to assist with resolving and managing client matters

Personal qualities

* Accountability/Responsibility

* Technical excellence

* Team player

* Flexibility

Motivation

* Strong commitment to client service excellence and "first time right" approach

* Desire to support and develop others

* Proactive and disciplined approach to work

* Progressive and takes responsibility for self-development

Key Responsibilities

Your role may include, but will not be limited to, the following tasks which we call 'Defined Business Activities’. The list of defined business activities is not exhaustive and may be amended from time to time:

Timesheet

· Daily input of time on timesheet

Supervision

· Supervise more junior members of staff

· Assist with the management of the workflow of junior team members

· Delegate tasks to more junior members of staff

· Review all outgoing correspondence by direct reporting junior team members

· Assist with the development/enhancement of team specific procedures

· Assist with and if appropriate conduct appraisals for direct reporting team members

Time Management

· Plan and prioritise own and team workflow

· Deal with matters in a timely manner

Accounting Administration

· Preparation and review of quarterly management accounts

· Review of annual accounts and preparation of complex sets of accounts

· Manage the quarterly reporting and annual reporting cycles

· Manage the process of VAT returns

· Support the Manager with the client billing process for the team

· Liaison with auditors to ensure smooth audit process if required

Other

· Assist with the creation and maintenance of client specific accounting procedures

· Liaise with external contacts to obtain and provide required information

· Attend client meetings in respect of accounting matters as required

· Communicate to directors regarding outstanding work and situations involving the accounts department and its clients

· Assist the Manager in analysing clients’ key performance indicators for submission with the management accounts

· Assist with and contribute to ad hoc projects as required