Private Companies Fund Accountant

The main purpose of the Fund Accountant role is to support the financial control, accounting, and operational requirements of the Private Companies funds and associated vehicles. The role provides hands‑on ownership of core fund finance processes, working closely with the Senior Fund Accountant and the Head of Private Companies Finance & Operations to ensure the accurate and timely delivery of fund accounting, investor reporting, and cash management across the vehicle estate. The Fund Accountant will develop a strong working knowledge of the Private Companies fund structures and third‑party service provider relationships, contributing to the broader operational effectiveness of the division as the programme grows.

Responsibilities

• Day‑to‑Day Operations: Support the day‑to‑day accounting and operational requirements for assigned Private Companies funds and co‑investment vehicles. Assist in the preparation and review of NAVs, investor capital account statements, and quarterly and annual financial reports, ensuring accuracy against governing documents (e.g., LPAs). Monitor fund administrator deliverables and flag discrepancies or issues for review by the Senior Fund Accountant. Support investor onboarding, fund launches, and operational setup for new vehicles, including data room co‑ordination and KYC processes.
• Relationships: Liaise with fund administrators (primarily Langham Hall) on day‑to‑day queries, data requests, and deliverable tracking, escalating material issues appropriately. Co‑ordinate with auditors, bankers, and other third‑party service providers under the direction of the Senior Fund Accountant. Work closely with internal teams including investment, legal, central operations, and Investor Relations to support smooth fund operations.
• Forecasting: Assist with forecasting fund cash flows, capital deployment timelines, and liquidity requirements, maintaining the forecasting model under the guidance of the Senior Fund Accountant. Support the preparation of fund performance data and contribute to the monitoring of performance metrics across the vehicle estate.
• Drawdowns and Distributions: Assist in the preparation and processing of capital calls and distribution notices, co‑ordinating with fund administrators and internal stakeholders to ensure timely and accurate execution. Maintain records of drawdown and distribution activity and support LP communications on capital flow matters.
• Banking and Treasury: Carry out cash management tasks across fund bank accounts, tracking cash movements, monitoring balances, and ensuring correct allocation of expenses. Monitor credit facility usage and FX requirements, and assist with the arrangement of FX transactions with banking facilities.
• Accounting and Reporting: Review fund financial statements and investor reporting produced by fund administrators, checking for accuracy and consistency with governing documents. Support audit processes by preparing working papers, responding to auditor queries, and co‑ordinating information requests with Langham Hall and other parties. File LP reporting on appropriate systems and portals, including eFront, and support the preparation of GP Board and investor meeting materials. Assist with company secretarial duties for fund entities, including co‑ordinating minute‑taking and maintaining statutory records.
• Regulatory: Monitor regulatory filing requirements across fund entities and liaise with specialist legal and compliance teams to ensure timely submissions. Develop working knowledge of the regulatory frameworks applicable to the vehicle estate, including Cayman and Luxembourg requirements.
• Performance and Data: Prepare and check fund performance metrics (IRR, TVPI, MOIC, DPI) as required, supporting the wider performance monitoring framework across the vehicle estate. Contribute to the maintenance and development of fund data in iLevel and Venture, supporting the team’s data quality and reporting capabilities.
• Business Development: Contribute to the operational setup and launch of new co‑investment vehicles, including entity onboarding, banking arrangements, and first capital call preparation. Actively support process improvement initiatives across fund finance and administration, including the ongoing embedding of iLevel as a BAU platform.

Qualifications:

• CA / ACA / ACCA or equivalent - Qualified Degree level education - Preferred

Your knowledge and experience:

• Proven fund accounting or fund administration experience
• Experience working with LP fund structures, or demonstrable understanding of LP fund mechanics
• Experience with private equity or alternative asset fund accounting, whether from a fund administrator, Big 4 firm, or in‑house fund finance team — Preferred
• Working knowledge of LP reporting requirements, including capital account statements, financial statements, and performance metrics (IRR, TVPI, MOIC, DPI) — Preferred
• Experience with fund administration or portfolio monitoring platforms (e.g. iLevel, eFront, Geneva or similar) — Preferred
• Intermediate to advanced Microsoft Excel

The type of candidate that we’re looking for:

Baillie Gifford's Private Companies programme is one of the most distinctive and actively growing parts of the firm. This role sits at the operational heart of that programme, and we are looking for someone who finds that genuinely exciting. The ideal candidate will have a background in fund accounting, fund administration, or financial operations — ideally with experience of LP structures, capital call and distribution processing, investor reporting, or audit co‑ordination — whether gained at a fund administrator, a Big 4 or specialist accounting firm, or an in‑house fund finance team. We are equally open to strong candidates from adjacent alternative asset classes where the mechanics are similar, or to talented individuals with sound accounting foundations and the drive to build private markets expertise quickly. Above all, we are looking for someone who is accurate, organised, and professionally confident, and who wants to develop deep specialism in a fast‑growing area.

Critical skills:

• Data literacy
• Systems thinking

Closing Date September 21, 2026

Should you choose to use AI tools to support your application, we ask that you do this thoughtfully. We encourage you to ensure your application reflects your own voice, experience, and motivations. We value authenticity and want to understand your individual strengths and perspectives. At Baillie Gifford, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and respectful culture in which each of our colleagues can thrive and develop. We believe that our clients are best served by a diverse workforce with the experiences, ideas and perspectives that this brings.