Senior Practice Accountant

Location: Ferndown, Dorset

Salary: £32,500 - £45,000

Job Type: Full-time, Permanent | Office-based

Ready to take ownership of a client portfolio, support a team and play a bigger part in a growing practice? If you're an experienced practice accountant who enjoys building client relationships as much as working with the numbers, this could be your next step. We're recruiting for an established and growing accountancy practice in Ferndown.

As a Client Director / Senior Practice Accountant, you'll combine hands-on technical expertise with portfolio management, team supervision and business development. You don't need to hold a Client Director title already. What matters is your ability to manage clients confidently, deliver high-quality work and help others develop.

Make an Impact Across Clients and Team

You'll be a trusted point of contact for your own portfolio, getting to know your clients' businesses and ensuring they receive a responsive, reliable service. Alongside reviewing accounts and tax work, you'll guide junior colleagues, coordinate workloads and meet prospective clients to discuss how the practice can support them.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Managing your own client portfolio, including queries, requirements and deadlines.
• Building strong relationships and identifying additional services that could benefit clients.
• Meeting prospective clients and preparing quotations.
• Reviewing statutory accounts and Corporation Tax computations.
• Overseeing the timely preparation and submission of accounts and VAT returns.
• Allocating work across the team and managing competing priorities.
• Supervising, mentoring and training junior colleagues.
• Providing guidance on bookkeeping, VAT and accounts production.
• Monitoring accuracy, deadlines and service standards, and reporting on performance.

What You'll Bring

You're confident working directly with clients, comfortable taking responsibility and keen to share your knowledge with others. We're looking for:

• At least three years' accountancy practice experience.
• Strong accounts preparation and review skills.
• A good working knowledge of UK taxation, VAT and Corporation Tax.
• Experience managing your own client portfolio.
• Experience supervising, mentoring or developing junior colleagues.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to balance workloads and deadlines.
• Excellent communication skills and attention to detail.
• A proactive, commercially minded approach.

You may be AAT, ACCA or ACA qualified or part-qualified —strong, relevant practice experience will be particularly important.

What's in It for You?

£32,500 basic salary plus commission, with OTE up to £45,000. 25 days' holiday plus bank holidays, with the option to buy and sell leave. Study support and continued professional development. Opportunities for further career progression. Company pension. Free financial advice covering pensions, mortgages and investments. Staff incentives. Discounted gym membership and a cycle-to-work scheme. On-site parking. Regular company events and social activities. Monthly lunches and weekly breakfast.

Your Next Step Starts Here

Whether you're a Senior Accountant, Client Manager, Accounts Senior, Portfolio Manager or Practice Accountant, this is an opportunity to bring together your technical skills, client experience and leadership potential. Interested? Send your CV to Gemma for a confidential conversation.