Accounting Director - #1725866

About Us

Armstrong Watson are a trusted and leading independent Accountancy and Business Advisory firm based in the North of England and Scotland. Our services and advice are all centred around our Quest to support our clients to achieve prosperity, a secure future and peace of mind, which cannot be achieved without the expertise of our dedicated and valued colleagues.

With approximately 700 colleagues situated across 19 offices, our people and our culture are at the heart of what we do. We recognise the unique impact we have on not only our clients, but also our colleagues, and the communities in which we operate. Our success is dependent on every colleague embracing all four of our core values: Honesty, Humanity, Trust and Passion.

The Role

As a result of continued growth and in line with our "Crazy Goal" which is for "Armstrong Watson to be known as the best Accounting and Financial Advisory firm to deal with, delivering the best client experience in the UK", we are now recruiting for a Business Services Director to join our Leeds office.

The main elements of this role will include:

• Conducting client meetings without a Business Services Partner
• Acting as a key "Relationship Manager" for a designated portfolio of clients
• Raising and approving fees in connection with own portfolio
• Setting formal objectives for all direct reports and monitoring their progress / managing their development
• Monitoring individual and team performance versus original objectives and departmental KPIs and providing feedback to the relevant Business Services Partner
• Signing off and authorising documents / accounts / returns where legally acceptable
• Building own network of professional contacts which will hopefully lead to the generating of new business
• Assisting with recruitment activity in the team and dealing with other "People" related matters when required

Please note that we will not be accepting candidates from agency suppliers in connection with this vacancy.

The Candidate

In order to fulfil the responsibilities of the position, we would like candidates to be / have:

• A Full UK Driving Licence
• A qualified Accountant under ICAS, ICAEW or ACCA
• An excellent knowledge, and working experience, of preparing non-statutory, sole trader and partnership accounts alongside preparing statutory financial statements in line with UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice
• A sound knowledge and understanding of all relevant UK taxes such as Personal Tax, Corporation Tax, VAT and Capital Taxes etc
• A good understanding of all other services offered by the firm, in order to identify opportunities to refer to other Service Lines
• An excellent communicator in both verbal and written forms, and be able to flex your style depending on your audience
• Able to effectively manage and support colleagues, ensuring they are developed to their best ability
• Able to drive business development initiatives, identifying opportunities for growth

The Benefits

In return for your hard work helping us shape our future growth and development; we will provide a competitive salary and a positive benefits package which includes:

• Salary Sacrifice Employer Contribution Pension Scheme including Life Cover (4x salary) and Income Protection
• Competitive Annual Leave entitlement up to 26 days, plus Bank Holidays
• Annual Leave Purchase Scheme allowing you to buy up to 5 additional days annual leave each year
• Smart Working Policy, giving you the ability to balance home and remote working
• Health Shield Cash Plan (cash back on a range of Health benefits and discounts on holidays, fashion and entertainment)
• Employee Assistance Programme (24/7 confidential support for wellbeing and health)
• Paid flu jabs and eye tests
• Introductory Commission Scheme (financial reward if you refer a new client)
• Employee Referral Scheme (financial reward if you refer new AW colleagues) enabling you to claim up to £2,500 for each referral
• Ongoing access to online training courses and materials
• Paid professional membership fees
• Charity of the Month
• Colleague of the Month
• Subsidised social events throughout the year

In addition to all the benefits you would expect from an award winning employer, you will be given the utmost encouragement and support to develop your career further.

When you're with us... we're with you.