Client Business Manager in Oxford

Shaw Gibbs is a top 35 accountancy practice who provide expert solutions for entrepreneurial businesses and private individuals in Central and Southern England. Shaw Gibbs invest in their teams of high-quality specialists who work with the best-in-breed technology to create value for our clients which exceeds expectation.

Our culture is very important to us and is based on our company values of expert, respectful, innovative and collaborative. We develop high performing teams diverse in experiences, backgrounds and ideas. As a growing company, there are plenty of opportunities for development and quick progression. Our practice is known for having a friendly and supportive team culture where everyone receives training and development to increase their technical knowledge and their commercial and management skills. We put our people first and are constantly looking for ways to improve our people experience. With respectful as one of our values, we are committing to creating an inclusive culture that respects, values and celebrates cultural and individual differences.

To support the organisation’s growth, we have a new opportunity for a Client Business Manager to join our growing Outsourcing team. This role will be based in our Oxford office. This is a full-time permanent position offering hybrid and flexible working options (flexing your hours on different days).

Your key responsibilities will involve:

• Engaging with your clients’ business, understanding their needs and identify new opportunities.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships across a portfolio of clients.
• Approaching the portfolio of clients with a digital focus and using the Shaw Gibbs tech stack to ensure processes are as efficient as possible.
• Being the primary day-to-day contact for your allocated portfolio of clients regarding all data processing activities and treasury matters, taking responsibility for all duties up to and including the production of (often complex) management information.
• Data processing activities to be conducted by the team to include bank transactions, sales and purchase ledger items, expense claims and all other general ledger postings, journals etc.
• Active business partnering to ensure informed reporting of risks & opportunities, actuals and forecast variance analysis.
• Analytically reviewing results and analysing key performance indicators for your clients.
• Ensuring that allocated teams are keeping all accounting systems up to date and accurate within the agreed timeframes.
• Reviewing VAT returns, EC sales lists and Intrastat returns, having an understanding of what is allowable under the VAT rules and the basic principles of partial exemption and how this operates.
• Preparing basic statutory financial statements for clients with little or no supervision, having an awareness of the disclosure requirements of the Companies Act.
• Preparing an audit file which could be provided to the client’s auditors, with supporting schedules for all balance sheet items.
• Carrying out ad hoc assignments, often to include budgeting and assistance with cash flow forecasting and training clients in use of their accounting systems.
• Assisting with tendering to potential new clients as well as the implementation phase for new engagements.
• Liaising and collaborating with tax, payroll and other departments on client matters, identifying cross-selling opportunities.
• Promoting the interests of the firm to clients, prospective clients and other third parties.
• Assisting with portfolio allocation across the wider team and monitor time allocations, budgets and deadlines, including data insight for internal management reporting and checklist monitoring.
• Working in accordance with defined systems and procedures as well challenging the status quo where there may be a more efficient way of doing things.
• Empowering and educating through line management to develop more junior members of the team.

What we can offer you:

• Hybrid working after successful completion of your probationary period (three days in the office and two days at home).
• Flexible working (flexing your hours around the core working hours of 10am to 4pm).
• Joining a fast-growing company with exciting growth plans ahead.
• Exposure to a broad range of stakeholders.
• Plenty of opportunity to increase your technical knowledge and skills.
• A varied role within a talented and experienced team.
• ERIC internal recognition awards – monthly recognition awards that celebrate those who champion the Shaw Gibbs values.
• Long service awards.
• Regular employee events including a company-wide summer party.
• A competitive benefits package, including:
• A 25-day core holiday allowance plus other holiday-related benefits, such as: Holiday trading (the ability to buy or sell up to 5 days holiday per year), flexible bank holidays (the ability to flex your bank holidays to a day that suits you best) and additional holiday with service.
• A dedicated “Wellbeing Day” – an additional day off per year to focus on your wellbeing.
• Employee Assistant Programme (EAP) which includes access to 24/7 online GP consultations, 2nd medical opinions and mental health first aiders present in every office.
• Access to MYNDUP – a wellbeing support platform which offers confidential 1-to-1 sessions with therapists, counsellors, psychologists, and coaches.
• Shaw Gibbs Rewards – access to discounts on a wide range of retailers.
• Health Cash Plan – money back on routine health appointments.
• Electric Vehicles Salary Sacrifice Scheme.
• Client and employee referral bonuses.
• Pension Salary Sacrifice Scheme.
• Death in Service Life Assurance.
• Enhanced family leave policies.
• Bus pass discounts and loans.
• Cycle to Work Scheme.

About You:

We would like to hear from you if you have a minimum of 4-5 years UK experience, from either a Practice Outsourcing team or senior management accountant/business partner in industry. Ideally, you will be ACCA/ACA/CIMA qualified but we will consider part qualified and QBE candidates. We are also looking for:

• A confident individual who has experience in building strong client & other internal/external relationships.
• Digital focus with a flair for utilising the technology available to streamline processes as efficiently and productively as possible.
• A positive and confident self-starter, who understands the importance of maintaining positive client relationships as well as internal collaboration.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written with an ability to work across a variety of clients during any one month.
• Exceptional attention to detail, demonstrating an organised approach to work; an ability to prioritise and meet tight timeframes with high quality output.
• An ability to apply technical accounting knowledge to real-life client situations.
• Knowledge of UKGAAP and desirably IFRS.
• Strong IT skills, specifically Xero and Excel alongside an ability to pick up new software packages very quickly e.g. Sage / QuickBooks.
• Dext, Silverfin and CCH experience would also be an advantage.

Diversity, equality and inclusion:

Shaw Gibbs is an inclusive employer, and we are committed to providing equal opportunities to all candidates by ensuring a comfortable and accessible interview experience. We understand that some individuals may have specific needs or require accommodation/adjustments during the recruitment process. If you require any adjustments to ensure your recruitment experience with Shaw Gibbs is as inclusive and accessible as possible, please let us know at your earliest convenience via the application form or via an email to recruitment@shawgibbs.com.

We believe that diversity makes Shaw Gibbs a stronger firm and we look to employ people with different ideas, styles and skillsets. This diversity stimulates a rich, creative environment – one in which our people develop, and our clients enjoy enduring results. We’re committed to recruiting, promoting and rewarding our people solely based on their ability to contribute to Shaw Gibbs’ goals, without regard to their sex, gender, race, disability, religion, national origin, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age or marital status.

Right to work:

Unfortunately, for this role we are unable to offer sponsorship for visas/work permits, so you will need to have full right to work in the UK. Your application will be automatically rejected if you do not have full right to work.