Accounts & Business Advisory Associate in Saxmundham

Your new company

Hays are delighted to be partnering with a highly respected and forward-thinking accountancy firm in Suffolk to recruit an Accounts & Business Advisory Associate for their Saxmundham office.
This is an exciting opportunity to join a collaborative and supportive team that works with a diverse portfolio of owner-managed businesses, SMEs and private clients across the region. The firm is renowned for investing in its people, providing excellent career development opportunities, professional study support and exposure to a broad range of accounting, tax and advisory work.
With a strong focus on client relationships, technical excellence and career progression, this is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious accountancy practice professional looking to continue developing their skills and build a long-term career within a leading regional firm.

Your new role
As an Accounts & Business Advisory Associate, you will play a key role in supporting a diverse portfolio of clients, helping to deliver high-quality accounting, compliance and advisory services. Working closely with senior team members, you will gain exposure to a broad range of accounting and tax matters while continuing to develop your technical expertise within a collaborative and supportive environment.
Your responsibilities will include:

• Preparing statutory accounts for a varied client base
• Assisting with bookkeeping, VAT returns and management accounts
• Supporting the preparation of corporation tax computations
• Performing account reconciliations and resolving discrepancies
• Liaising directly with clients to obtain information and respond to queries
• Working with cloud-based accounting software, including Xero and other digital tools
• Assisting with payroll reconciliations and compliance work
• Supporting senior colleagues with advisory and compliance assignments
• Ensuring work is completed accurately and within agreed deadlines
• Building and maintaining strong client relationships through excellent service delivery

What you'll need to succeed
To be successful in this role, you'll be studying towards a relevant accountancy qualification (AAT, ACA, ACCA or equivalent) or be qualified by experience, with previous accountancy practice experience and a strong technical foundation.
You will ideally have experience in:

• Preparing VAT returns and VAT reconciliations
• Working with a variety of VAT schemes, including Cash Accounting, Flat Rate and Partial Exemption
• Reconciling payroll control accounts, wages and turnover figures
• Assisting with bookkeeping and accounts preparation assignments
• Preparing and reviewing client records using cloud accounting software, including Xero
• Managing bank feeds and bank rules within accounting systems
• Understanding the distinction between accounting profit and taxable profit
• Supporting personal tax compliance work, including awareness of income tax bands and available allowances
• Assisting with P11D information gathering and submissions
• Communicating directly with HMRC and clients in a professional manner
• Identifying unusual or high-risk items and escalating where appropriate

You'll be highly organised, possess excellent attention to detail and be comfortable managing multiple client deadlines, whilst delivering an outstanding level of service and building strong client relationships.

What you'll get in return

You would be joining a highly regarded and people-focused accountancy practice that is committed to supporting your professional and personal development.
You'll benefit from:

• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package
• Full ACA/ACCA study support
• Clear career progression opportunities within a growing firm
• Exposure to a varied portfolio of SME, owner-managed business and private clients
• Ongoing training and development from experienced professionals
• A collaborative and supportive team environment
• Modern systems and cloud-based accounting technology
• The opportunity to broaden your accounts, tax and advisory experience
• Long-term career prospects within a respected regional practice

This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious accountancy practice professional looking to build a successful career within a firm that genuinely invests in its people and provides a clear pathway for progression.

What you need to do now
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.
If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.

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