Accounts Manager/Legal Cashier

Experienced Accounts Manager/Legal Cashier required for busy and expanding Solicitor and associated Financial Advisory practice.

Applicants must have significant experience in a senior accounting role in a small to medium sized organisation. Legal cashier experience would be highly desirable, and/or experience of another regulated industry (such as finance, accounting, charity sector, etc).

You will need to demonstrate skills in:

• Accounts to trial balance
• Production of end year accounts
• Liaison with external organisations and individuals such as Inland Revenue, HMRC, and company accountants
• VAT calculations and returns
• Sage accounting software
• Other accounting software and systems
• Production of management accounts
• Supervision of staff
• Cash-flow updates and forecasts

You will also need to demonstrate the ability to manage accounts within complex company structures

Payroll experience would be desirable.

You will need to live within a reasonable commuting distance of our offices just off the A38 at Lee Mill. We offer a friendly working environment, flexi-time, and opportunities for career development

Candidates should be AAT qualified, or hold an equivalent or higher qualification.

Starting salary is likely to be in the range £21k-£24k, dependent on qualifications and relevant experience.

Main Duties:

• Management of practice and client accounts for both businesses, to include banking, invoicing and credit control, weekly bank reconciliations, and commission and fee-share tracking.
• Production of monthly management accounts, to include trial balance and profit and loss and analysis of cost centres and expenses. Also the production of a range of performance and forecast reports and analysis using data drawn from the specialist client management software packages utilised by the two practices.
• Production of year-end accounts to trial balance, and liaison with company accountants to facilitate final accounts and company returns.
• Undertake or supervise day to day book-keeping, including the entry of invoices and financial records on to purchase and sales ledgers, and nominal accounts. Assess and report on cash-flow not less than weekly.
• VAT calculations and quarterly and annual returns.
• Liaison with individuals and organizations such as the practice accountant and Inland Revenue on behalf of the practices
• Management of the payroll system, or supervision of an external payroll contractor. This work will include: the payment of all staff, both salaried and commission and fee-share. Calculate PAYE and NIC contributions, SSP and SMP when required. Production of year-end reports for Inland Revenue, and P60s for all staff. Production of P45s and associated documentation when required.
• Management of compliance audits for both the FSA and the Law Society/Solicitors Regulation Authority, as well as other regulatory requirements such as insurance.

Depending on the skills of the successful applicant, and the time available, further tasks may include:

• Maintenance of personnel attendance records to include holiday and sickness/absence records, in order to inform the payroll process.
• Maintenance of various compliance requirements, including ISO, quality systems, money laundering regulations, professional conduct rules, Health & Safety records and procedures, and fire regulations.
• Accounting support on client matters for both the financial and legal practices.
• Overall management of telecommunications and IT equipment, including the supervision of the external IT contractor.