Accounting and Financial Reporting Associate Director

This exciting role is to join an established and growing Accounting and Financial Reporting (AFR) team based in our Birmingham office. The AFR team is part of a wider Accounting and Business Advisory line of service within Consulting.

As an Associate Director, your role will incorporate 50% chargeable related work and 50% business development. Your client base will be a mixture of entities including large corporates, private equity owned businesses, groups and privately owned businesses. AFR projects often include:

• The preparation of year-end statutory accounts (compliance);
• Pre-audit readiness reviews and support;
• Agreed upon procedures;
• Financial reporting advisory and consultancy projects on specific client issues;
• Ad-hoc secondment work to support gaps in client teams;

Acting as an Accounting and Financial Reporting lead, you will be responsible for a portfolio of clients which are tailored around your individual skill-sets and interests. Accountable for both client service and quality of work, you will contribute to the smooth running of the department, with a fundamental element of the role involved in the active coaching and development of junior members of the team. As a main key client contact, you will ensure workloads are delegated amongst team members.

A strong understanding of UK GAAP (FRS102 Section 1a, FRS 102), IFRS and accounting principles is desirable.

A significant part of the role is contributing towards business development. An Associate Director will be given the time, coaching and support to grow the firm through identifying opportunities, introducing new clients and participating in broader multi-service line pitches.

The development of our people is a fundamental part of RSM. The opportunity for further progression within the firm exists if a successful candidate can demonstrate their talent, potential and a desire to participate in RSM’s leadership development programmes.

Responsibilities

• To lead the delivery of accounting and financial reporting services on a portfolio of clients. To work alongside other service lines such as Audit and Tax and report into the client relationship Partner on matters of additional advisory and client care. Expected to practice the principles of excellent client service at all times.
• To manage the working capital of the above projects including budgeting, cost management, billing and debt recoverability. To ensure resource is planned effectively and team members are briefed appropriately to deliver projects to clients in line with RSM’s quality guidelines and procedures.
• To actively participate in business development. The Partner group will work with you to develop a coordinated business development plan. An Associate Director is expected to contribute to growing the department and the firm by participating in targeting and lead generation, supporting proposals to new clients and agreeing projects with the firm’s existing clients.
• To provide insights to our clients drawing on the firm’s depth of resources and help to introduce other service lines as you build those relationships.
• To act as a senior team-member and leader in the team. An Associate Director is a senior member of the management team and is expected to act as a role-model in their approach and actions for more junior managers.
• To actively coach and develop our team. This includes acting as a line manager, mentor and performing job appraisals.
• To develop and maintain an advanced level of technical knowledge through appropriate reading and courses, and to fulfil the Institute’s CPD requirements.
• To oversee and review work completed by managers, supervisors and assistants. To ensure firm policy and procedures are followed.
• Carry out any other duties as are within the scope, spirit and purpose of the job, the title of the role and its grading, as requested by the Office Managing Partner.
• A willingness to travel to client’s premises or other regional offices is required. However, the significant proportion of work is office-based working within our fast-growing team.

Personal and Professional Qualities

The role requires:

• Candidates should be either ACA or ACCA qualified or equivalent. Candidates should have a minimum of three years of experience at a manager level.
• Experience of managing a portfolio of client work within professional practice. It is expected that candidates may be transitioning from an audit role, which has many complementary skills.
• A strong accounting and financial reporting skillset is fundamental. A specialism in one or more of the following areas are highly desirable:
  - IFRS or US GAAP;
  - Complex UK GAAP reporting including group reorganisations and consolidations;
  - Sector specialism, for example Legal, Technology, Manufacturing, Property etc
• Excellent communication skills with proven experience of building lasting client relationships.
• An adaptable and collaborative team player able to work at all levels from trainee to Partner. Advanced coaching and development skills. Experience as a line manager.
• A strength in making a positive contribution through business development. Candidates presenting themselves for interview are expected to discuss their initial thoughts about how they might approach this area in their role at RSM.
• Excellent proficiency in MS Office products including MS Word and MS Excel.