Associate Director - Disputes

Make an Impact at RSM UK. There has never been a more exciting time to join RSM's digitally led Forensic practice. As this area continues to grow, we are looking for an Associate Director to help oversee, develop and deliver a portfolio of disputes and Expert Witness assignments while supporting the continued growth of this ambitious team. Our Forensic team supports clients across a broad range of contentious matters, combining technical expertise with commercial insight to deliver high-quality work in complex and often high-profile situations. This role offers the opportunity to lead assignments across quantum and damages analysis, valuations, SPA disputes, business interruption and warranty claims, alongside litigation and mediation advisory support.

As an Associate Director in our Disputes team, you will take overall responsibility for overseeing and managing a client portfolio, leading assignments from start to finish, building senior client and lawyer relationships, and supporting the development of junior team members. You will also play a key role in business development, team planning, and helping to shape the future of this growing area of the practice.

Responsibilities:

• Leading disputes and expert accounting assignments across a varied portfolio of contentious matters while acting as a contract and client relationship lead.
• Overseeing, reviewing, and preparing high-quality client deliverables, while managing risks, deadlines, budgets, and overall assignment performance.
• Building strong relationships with clients, instructing lawyers, and senior stakeholders, while providing regular progress updates and representing RSM in client meetings.
• Driving business development through proposals, tenders, networking, and identifying opportunities to expand services and cross-sell across the wider firm.
• Leading, coaching, and developing junior team members while supporting effective team planning and resource utilisation.

What we are looking for:

• You will be a highly motivated professionally qualified accountant with direct disputes and Expert Witness experience, strong technical capability, and the confidence to lead high-quality client work.
• You will bring a hands-on approach, strong commercial awareness, and the ability to manage client relationships, lead assignments, and develop junior team members within a growing forensic practice.
• Professionally qualified accountant with direct disputes or Expert Witness experience and a strong ambition to progress within a digitally led forensic practice.
• Strong understanding of disputes processes, with excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to produce high-quality reports and deliver clear, practical advice to a range of audiences.
• A proactive, client-focused approach, with experience of leading assignments, managing relationships, and identifying business development opportunities.
• Confidence in leading teams, developing junior colleagues, and taking ownership of high-quality delivery across a varied portfolio of work.

What we can offer you:

• 27 days holiday (with the option of purchasing additional days).
• Lifestyle, health, and wellbeing including financial wellbeing benefits such as financial tools, electric car scheme and access to a virtual GP.
• Access to a suite of 300+ courses on demand developed by our in-house talent development team.

Diversity and Inclusion at RSM:

At RSM, we want to create a strong sense of belonging so that people of all identities, backgrounds, and cultures feel they can bring their true self to work. Our clients come from all walks of life. We aim to achieve that same diversity of background, experience and perspective in our own teams, so that we can genuinely understand our client's needs. Diverse teams bring a broader range of ideas and insights to work. That's why we're working together to ensure our firm's principles and processes support a firm culture that embraces difference and strengthens inclusion.