Associate Director - General Practice in Ipswich

Location: Ipswich

Full-time, Permanent

Salary: Competitive, depending on experience

We are seeking an experienced Associate Director to take a senior leadership role within our General Practice team in Ipswich. This is a senior, client-facing role focused on owner-managed businesses, combining portfolio leadership, technical oversight and advisory input. While the role is not primarily audit-led, experience and confidence in audit work and audit clients is desirable. You will act as a trusted adviser to business owners and directors, while playing a key part in managing workflow, maintaining technical standards and supporting the development of the wider team.

The Role

You will oversee a substantial portfolio of mainly owner-managed and family-run businesses, alongside supporting Directors with more complex or higher-risk assignments. This is a senior position with responsibility not only for client service but also for team leadership, file quality, workflow and contributing to the direction and growth of the Ipswich office.

Key Responsibilities

• Client Portfolio Leadership: Managing a significant portfolio of limited companies, partnerships and sole traders; Acting as a main point of contact and trusted adviser to business owners and directors; Building strong, long-term client relationships across compliance and advisory matters; Leading annual accounts meetings and wider business discussions; Identifying opportunities to provide additional services and added value advice; Supporting Directors with more complex client matters and larger assignments.
• Accounts, Compliance and Audit Exposure: Overseeing the preparation and review of statutory accounts and management information; Reviewing files prepared by managers, seniors and trainees, ensuring quality and efficiency; Working with a number of audit clients, with involvement in planning, review or completion stages where appropriate; Acting as a key contact on audit assignments alongside the audit team, particularly where wider accounts, tax or advisory input is required; Ensuring assignments are delivered to deadline, within budget and to a high technical standard.
• Advisory and Technical Input: Advising clients on corporation tax, personal tax, VAT and PAYE matters at a practical level; Identifying issues relating to profit extraction, remuneration planning, CGT and IHT, working with tax specialists where needed; Supporting clients with business performance, systems, and growth-related discussions; Providing proactive, commercial advice rather than purely compliance-based support; Contributing to proposals and meetings for new or prospective clients.
• Team Leadership and Development: Supporting the management of workflow across the Ipswich general practice team; Mentoring and developing managers, seniors, assistants and trainees; Reviewing work, providing feedback and helping maintain strong technical standards; Ensuring team members gain appropriate experience and exposure; Promoting collaboration between accounts, tax and audit teams.
• Quality, Standards and Firm Contribution: Taking responsibility for the quality and completeness of client files under your supervision; Ensuring compliance with relevant accounting, tax and (where applicable) audit standards; Supporting improvements in internal processes and ways of working; Working closely with Directors on client, team and operational matters; Contributing to the continued development and growth of the Ipswich office.

Key Skills and Qualifications:

• ACA or ACCA qualified with significant post-qualification experience.
• Strong background in UK accountancy practice within general practice.
• Experience managing a client portfolio and reviewing the work of others.
• Comfortable working with audit clients and with exposure to audit assignments.
• Confident advising owner-managed businesses and their directors.
• High technical and practical ability with sound judgement.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Commercially aware, with a proactive and client-focused approach.

What We Offer:

• A senior role with real responsibility and influence.
• A varied portfolio of established, owner-managed business clients.
• A collaborative working environment across accounts, tax and audit.
• The opportunity to shape client relationships and support office growth.
• Direct exposure to Directors and strategic decision-making.

Benefits:

• The salary package will be competitive, depending upon the level of qualification and experience.
• You will have an opportunity to progress and develop where applicable.
• Flexible working hours.
• Hybrid working with fully hosted systems.
• Progression opportunities.
• Private healthcare.
• Employee Assistant Programme.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Electric car salary sacrifice scheme.
• Holiday purchase.
• Varied and successful clients, client contact and interaction.
• Modern offices and working practices.
• Social events.
• Medical cash plan.
• Enhanced pension scheme.
• Group life assurance.
• Charity events and paid volunteering day.