Job Description

Practice Accountant (Maternity Cover)

Job Type: Full Time, Fixed Term Contract

Location: Borehamwood, Hertfordshire

Salary: £Competitive

About Us

Established in 1975, Sopher + Co is a trusted business adviser of choice for entrepreneurs, owner-managed businesses, high net worth individuals, professional partnerships and expats. Our roots in Elstree led to our early client base in the media and entertainment industry. Since then we have grown immensely, with our portfolio now spanning over 20 industries. Our success is within our people - with endless opportunities and open-mind approach, Sopher + Co is a place where you can drive your career and ambitions forward, sharing and promoting our commitment to excellent client experience.

We are looking for a Practice Accountant on a Maternity Cover basis to join our team based in Borehamwood.  Reporting to the Finance Director, you will manage the practice assurance and regulatory compliance matters, financial practice management and operational compliance issues.

Other duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Financial practice management and operational compliance

Ownership of the monthly management accounts pack and analysis (see below) and provide back up to the Finance Director as required

Reporting on Monthly Team / Partner Financial Metrics and working with Team Leaders/Managers to address any issues. Such reporting to cover:

Billing Reporting

Recoverability and Profitability Reporting

Lock up management – debt and WIP

Time and WIP loading / extrapolated forecasts with gap analysis to targets

Dealing with the Fee Protection Scheme (FPS), including liaison with insurance providers and clients regarding their queries and ensuring fees are raised and queries dealt with promptly

Ensure the ledgers are regularly reconciled with the FPS provider and that CCH has been updated

Ensure all FPS postings are correct and reconcile when necessary

Annual PII renewal and dealing with reporting claims and queries throughout the year

Annual office insurance renewals – Cyber and Office – and dealing with any claims and queries throughout the year

Assist with managing the Firmwide Financial Risk matters

Responsibility for Sopher International Accounting (VAT, Tax returns, etc) 

Practice Assurance and Regulatory Compliance

Managing the firm’s practice assurance controls; ensuring client bank accounts are reconciled and records maintained in with ICAEW guidelines. 

About you

Sopher + Co take pride in their employees and their achievements whilst praising and recognising hard work. We are looking for people who embrace the 3 C’s – change, challenge and commitment. We enjoy working with people who can work well with others and in turn enjoy working amongst a diverse team of professionals.

We’ll need you to have a keen eye for detail, teamed with the ability to spot any inaccuracies or duplications and provide resolutions. Efficiency and accuracy are key as well as the ability to work to tight deadlines. You will also have/be:

ACA/ACCA Qualified (or equivalent).

Professional practice experience.

Understanding of professional service firms and how they operate – KPI’s, etc.

Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office and accounting software packages.

Outstanding time management skills and ability to prioritise work

Excellent work ethics

Flexibility and adaptability

Exceptional interpersonal skills and ability to communicate with people at different levels

Great attention to detail and problem-solving skills

Organisational skills and the ability to multitask

Proactive and self-motivated, with a drive for ideas, suggestions and improvements

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

In addition to the above, successful candidates will be commercially minded, displaying a level of flexibility, professionalism, confidence and ability to build successful relationships through credibility, trust and mutual respect.

In Return

We will offer you a competitive package, including extensive benefits for you and your family, a comfortable warm and friendly environment with great people and the chance to work with some of the most prestigious clients that no other family-based firm can offer. Sopher + Co strongly believes in staff development and continuously encourage internal progression.

Sopher + Co is committed to the principle of equality of opportunity in employment and we expect all our employees to act in accordance with this policy, we recognise the key role it plays in the success of our business