Director- Accounts & Business Advisory

Hall Morrice is a well-established independent audit and advisory firm based in Aberdeen. With a dedicated team of over 80 skilled professionals, we have built a strong reputation for excellence, delivering tailored solutions to a diverse client base while maintaining the highest technical standards.

Our success is rooted in our values. We pride ourselves on building strong relationships with our clients and each other, fostering a supportive and inclusive culture where everyone is encouraged to grow and succeed. We treat one another with respect, collaborate through true teamwork, and demonstrate a genuine commitment to delivering exceptional service in everything we do.

As a forward-thinking firm, we embrace being innovative—continually improving our processes, adopting new technologies, and encouraging fresh ideas from across the team. Alongside this, we offer personalised development plans to ensure every individual has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

The Opportunity

• Lead and grow a significant portfolio of clients, shaping the strategic direction, commercial performance and reputation of the Accounts & Business Advisory service line.
• Act as a trusted adviser to business owners and leadership teams, building long-term relationships that drive client success whilst identifying opportunities to expand services and support sustainable firm growth.
• Play a key leadership role within Hall Morrice by contributing to business strategy, developing future leaders, championing innovation and helping shape the future direction of the firm.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Delivery

• Provide strategic and technical leadership across complex accounts, tax and business advisory engagements, ensuring the highest standards of quality and client service are maintained.
• Hold technical authority within the portfolio; escape to partner on significant matters.
• Stay current on accounting standards, tax legislation and regulatory developments.
• Drive continuous improvement across service delivery, challenging existing approaches and identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, quality and client outcomes.
• Review the technical output of trainees, managers and seniors.
• Provide oversight of outsourced accounts or advisory elements within the portfolio: maintain quality expectations and act on performance issues.
• Hold delegated sign-off authority within agreed firm limits, escalating significant matters to the partner.
• Maintain AML compliance, GDPR, confidentiality, and supervision responsibilities.
• Promote a culture of quality, accountability and professional excellence, ensuring all work is delivered in accordance with professional standards, firm policies and regulatory requirements.
• Support firm-wide quality and risk initiatives, contributing to the development and implementation of best practices across the business.
• Provide leadership on ethical, compliance and governance matters, ensuring risks are appropriately identified, managed and escalated.
• Manage accounts managers directly and provide broader team oversight.
• Lead, develop and inspire a high-performing team, creating an environment where individuals are empowered to achieve their full potential.
• Drive succession planning and talent development across the department, ensuring a strong pipeline of future leaders and technical specialists.
• Coach and mentor Senior Managers, Managers and emerging leaders, providing constructive challenge, support and development opportunities.
• Champion the Hall Morrice culture and values, fostering collaboration, inclusivity and professional excellence across the firm.

Client Engagement

• Act as senior relationship owner across the portfolio.
• Lead year-end meetings and present accounts, tax positions and advisory recommendations.
• Manage complex client situations: restructuring, succession, acquisitions.
• Build long-term relationships through genuine understanding of client businesses.
• Identify opportunities to broaden relationships and expand service offerings across the firm, creating value for both clients and Hall Morrice.
• Represent Hall Morrice externally, strengthening the firm's profile within the business community and professional networks.
• Own WIP, fee budgets, billing, and billing recovery across the portfolio.
• Manage resource planning and Retain scheduling to ensure efficient delivery.
• Monitor and drive key commercial metrics including revenue, profitability, recovery, utilisation, debtor management and client retention.
• Develop and implement growth plans for the portfolio, identifying opportunities for new business, cross-selling and enhanced client service offerings.
• Contribute to departmental and firm-wide budgeting, forecasting and strategic planning activities.
• Report on portfolio performance, market opportunities and strategic priorities to Partners and the wider leadership team.

Systems & Digital

• Utilise CCH and Microsoft 365 for efficient accounts production and client communication.
• Leverage Retain for effective resource scheduling and Power BI for commercial portfolio oversight.
• Maintain strong awareness of cloud accounting platforms to support client needs.
• Champion innovation and continuous improvement across the Accounts & Business Advisory service line.

Success in the Role

• Build trusted relationships that position Hall Morrice as a long-term adviser and partner to clients.
• Demonstrate visible leadership across the firm, positively influencing people, culture and performance.
• Drive business development activity that contributes to sustainable revenue growth and market presence.
• Develop and retain talented people while creating a strong succession pipeline for future leadership roles.
• Contribute meaningfully to the strategic direction, success and long-term growth of Hall Morrice.

Qualifications & Experience

• Extensive post-qualification experience demonstrating clear progression to a senior level.

Technical Skills

• Technical authority at Director level across accounts and advisory.
• Deep UK GAAP (FRS 102) knowledge.
• Recognised technical leader with extensive expertise in accounts, business advisory and regulatory matters.
• Strong commercial awareness with the ability to translate technical knowledge into practical business advice.
• Able to provide strategic guidance across a diverse portfolio of owner-managed businesses and corporate clients.

Communication Skills

• Confident at senior client level.
• Leads year-end meetings and complex client conversations.
• Communicates constructively with managers and the team.
• Provides ongoing feedback to support in team development and firm improvements.

Personal Attributes

• Commercially astute and growth-focused, with a genuine passion for helping clients and people succeed.
• Acts as a strategic thinker while remaining approachable and supportive.
• Demonstrates strong leadership presence, sound judgement and accountability.
• Invests in the success of others and contributes positively to the long-term future of the firm.

Living by our values

Teamwork

• Champions collaboration across teams and service lines, fostering a One Hall Morrice approach to achieving shared success.
• Sets the standard for quality, professionalism and client service, continually striving for exceptional outcomes.

Commitment

• Demonstrates accountability, resilience and dedication to delivering the best results for clients, colleagues and the firm.

Strong Relationships

• Builds trusted, long-term relationships with clients, colleagues and stakeholders, acting as an ambassador for Hall Morrice.

Supportive

• Creates an environment where people feel valued, encouraged and empowered to grow, providing coaching and support to develop future leaders.
• Challenges the status quo, embraces new ideas and technologies, and drives continuous improvement across the firm.

Respect

• Leads with integrity and professionalism, promoting an inclusive culture where everyone is treated with fairness, dignity and respect.