Part-Qualified Accountant

Our client, a well-established and growing accountancy practice in Newtownards, is seeking an ambitious and client-focused Part-Qualified Accountant to join their team. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with previous accountancy practice experience who enjoys working directly with clients, delivering financial insights, and supporting business growth.

We are looking for a part-qualified accountant for a senior, client-facing role within our client's expanding practice. The postholder will prepare and analyse management accounts, present financial information and insight to clients, and carry out hands-on preparation of statutory accounts, tax returns and VAT returns. You will support the management team to deliver an excellent client experience and help develop the technical capability and professional maturity of both our client's onshore team and colleagues in the Philippines.

Key responsibilities

• Management accounts and reporting: Prepare accurate and timely monthly and quarterly management accounts for a varied portfolio of clients, with clear working papers and reconciliations. Produce management information packs and concise narrative commentaries that explain performance, variances, cashflow and key ratios, enabling clients to make informed decisions. Develop and maintain reporting templates, KPI trackers and dashboards to standardise insight across the client base. Assist with budgeting, forecasting and cashflow modelling, and support re-forecasting as required.
• Preparation of accounts and returns: Prepare statutory accounts for sole traders, partnerships and limited companies, including the associated tax computations. Prepare and submit VAT returns, corporation and personal tax returns and payroll-related submissions, ensuring deadlines and regulatory requirements are met. Carry out regular bookkeeping reviews and remedial work where necessary to ensure financial records are reliable for reporting and compliance.
• Client presentation and advisory: Present management accounts and financial analysis to clients in a clear, practical manner, translating technical information into actionable recommendations. Identify trends, risks and opportunities, and advise clients on measures to improve profitability, cashflow and internal controls. Build and maintain trusted relationships, acting as a principal point of contact for allocated clients and escalating complex issues to the management team.
• Team support and development (including offshore team): Provide coaching, technical guidance and quality review for work prepared by junior colleagues, and support the professional development of team members both onshore and in the Philippines. Liaise regularly with the Philippines team to ensure consistent application of firm processes, deliver training sessions, and coordinate cross-border workflows. Offer constructive feedback to help develop commercial awareness, technical accuracy and client service skills; contribute to training materials and informal learning sessions.
• Technical, compliance and practice support: Oversee preparation of year-end packs and liaise with auditors or tax advisers as required. Ensure compliance with VAT, payroll and other statutory obligations, and handle correspondence with HMRC or other authorities when necessary. Keep up to date with UK accounting standards, tax changes and regulatory developments, and share relevant updates with colleagues and clients. Help identify and implement process improvements, automation and best practice workflows, and support the adoption of cloud accounting tools across the practice.

Skills and experience

• Part-qualified with a recognised professional body, for example ACCA, CIMA or ACA, actively progressing towards full qualification.
• At least four years experience in practice, with demonstrable responsibility for preparing and analysing management accounts and for preparing statutory accounts and tax returns.
• Proven ability to present financial information to clients and to add practical business insight.
• Strong technical knowledge of accounting, VAT and basic corporate and personal tax matters.
• Excellent MS Excel skills and experience of cloud accounting systems such as Xero, QuickBooks Online or Sage.
• Confident communicator, able to liaise with clients, senior colleagues and offshore team members.

Desirable

• Experience providing technical oversight, mentoring or training to junior staff, including remote or offshore teams.
• Experience of budgeting, forecasting and cashflow modelling.
• Familiarity with reporting tools or data visualisation platforms.
• Commercial approach with the ability to identify advisory opportunities within client portfolios.

Personal attributes

• Professional, client-focused and reliable, with meticulous attention to detail.
• Organised and able to prioritise a varied workload to meet deadlines.
• Proactive, curious and willing to take responsibility for client outcomes.
• Collaborative team player who enjoys supporting others and contributing to a positive working culture.

Remuneration and benefits

• Competitive remuneration, commensurate with experience and stage of qualification.
• Structured training and development plan, including study support and exam leave where applicable.
• Private medical insurance, provided lunches and free on street parking.
• Flexible working, with consideration given to part-time and job share arrangements.
• Clear career progression routes within a growing practice.

If you're looking to develop your career within a supportive practice environment where your expertise and ideas will be valued, we'd love to hear from you.

Contact Aideen Duggan for a confidential chat.