Senior Client Advisor in Edinburgh

Hays is working with a client who is actively looking for an experienced Senior Client Advisor to join their Finance Outsourcing team. This role is perfect for someone who is ready to take responsibility for a portfolio of clients and contribute to a dynamic Business Advisory Services team.

Your New Company

One of the largest independent accountancy firms in Scotland. The firm provides a wide range of services, including accounting, business advisory, and tax consultancy, to clients across the UK and Ireland. They are known for their strong client relationships and sector-specific expertise.

About the Team

The team comprises professional sub-teams covering Finance Outsourcing (bookkeeping), Accounts, and a specialist GP Practice service provision. The client base includes small and medium-sized organisations across various industry sectors, including charities, farming, retail, and healthcare. The team supports clients with compliance and advisory services, including audit-exempt statutory accounts for limited companies and unincorporated businesses. They also assist the tax team with the preparation of draft tax computations and provide a full range of company secretarial services. Outsourced finance support ranges from bookkeeping and management accounts to a full virtual finance function. The team specialises in various sectors, including Healthcare, Hospitality, Farming, and Charities. They are Xero experts and predominantly use Xero for bookkeeping and accounts preparation, with CCH for final accounts production.

Your New Role

As a Senior Client Advisor, you'll manage your own portfolio of clients, ensuring the smooth running of the portfolio from start to finish. This includes liaising with clients over the timetable for work, data collection, and progress, ensuring assignments are completed to agreed timetables and budgets, and addressing and resolving any questions or issues that arise. You'll ensure excellent communication with clients and the team, issue fees promptly, manage work in progress (WIP) within set criteria, and proactively manage internal workflows. You'll also support and contribute to the management of the department, including business development, sales and marketing, quality, admin processes, and resource planning. Coaching and supporting team members will be a key part of your role, along with any other appropriate tasks as directed by the Manager.

What You'll Need to Succeed

To be successful in this role, you'll need excellent knowledge of, and proven experience in, bookkeeping, VAT, and management accounts preparation. You should have working experience with cloud bookkeeping software such as Xero, Sage Business Cloud, QuickBooks Online, and related apps, including setting up and onboarding clients to a cloud bookkeeping system. Experience with practice management software, especially CCH, and MS Office products (Outlook, Teams, Excel, and Word) is essential. You must be able to work within a busy office environment across the client base and have previous experience working in public practice. You should be educated to degree or Accounting Technician level or equivalent and hold appropriate qualifications in Maths and English. ACCA qualification (or equivalent) or working towards ACCA qualification is required. Being a confident communicator to build relationships with clients, colleagues, and stakeholders is crucial.

Personal Qualities

You should have proven organisational skills, take ownership of tasks, and have excellent communication skills (verbal and written). Being enthusiastic, results-driven, cooperative, and having a positive and confident approach to work is important. You should be client-focused, have a quality approach to work (first time, on time, every time), and be able to work effectively in a team environment or on your own initiative.

What You'll Get in Return

This role offers a competitive salary and a 50% hybrid working pattern. The company has developed a set of Essential Behaviours that contribute to a positive culture. ACCA training support is available for successful candidates. Some overtime may be required at times of high workload, and some travel to support clients or to other offices may be necessary. A driving licence is beneficial.

Interested in hearing more about this opportunity? If you're ready to take on this exciting role, apply today. If this job isn't quite right for you, but you're looking for a new position, please contact them for a confidential discussion about your career.