BRILLIANT OPPORTUNITY FOR FAMILY OFFICE BOOKKEEPER / PAYROLL MANAGER

BRILLIANT OPPORTUNITY FOR FAMILY OFFICE SENIOR ACCOUNTANT / PAYROLL MANAGER

Location: Mayfair, London

Salary: £60,000-£70,000 gross per annum, depending on experience and working hours

Contract: Permanent

An established firm of Chartered Accountants based in Mayfair is seeking an experienced Senior Accountant to join its team, working within a UHNW single-family office environment. The role will suit a technically strong accounting professional who is confident managing the accounts process and preparing a full set of accounts for Partner review.

This is a varied, hands-on position with a strong focus on financial accounting and year-end accounts preparation. The successful candidate will take work from bookkeeper and trial balance stage through to a complete set of accounts, including journals, year-end adjustments, accruals, prepayments, reconciliations and the preparation of profit and loss accounts and balance sheets.

The role will also include responsibility for payroll and related administration, although this will represent a smaller part of the position, approximately three to four days per month. The candidate will oversee payroll processes and associated PAYE, National Insurance and pension requirements, alongside wider financial administration, compliance and liaison with the bookkeeping team.

Working 30-35 hours per week, the exact working pattern can be agreed. The position is predominantly office-based, with the option to work from home one day per week. The appointment is permanent, with a salary of £60,000-£70,000 depending on experience, and an ideal start date of January 2027.

DUTIES TO INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

• Taking bookkeeping work and completed trial balances through to the preparation of full sets of accounts, ready for review by a Partner
• Reviewing financial records and trial balances, identifying discrepancies and ensuring that all relevant information is complete and accurate
• Preparing and posting year-end journals and adjustments, including accruals, prepayments, depreciation and other relevant accounting entries
• Preparing and reviewing profit and loss accounts, balance sheets and supporting schedules.
• Undertaking bank, balance sheet and control account reconciliations, investigating and resolving discrepancies
• Supporting year-end accounting processes and ensuring that accounts are prepared accurately and in accordance with relevant accounting standards and statutory requirements.
• Liaising with bookkeepers and other relevant parties to obtain information, resolve queries and ensure the timely completion of accounts
• Managing payroll processes for a portfolio of clients, approximately 3-4 days per month, ensuring accurate and timely completion
• Maintaining payroll records, processing starters, leavers and salary changes, and overseeing PAYE, National Insurance and pension requirements
• Assisting with VAT returns, HMRC reporting and other financial compliance requirements as necessary
• Using Excel and accounting software to manage financial information, improve reporting and maintain efficient working processes
• Reviewing existing systems and procedures and identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, accuracy and reporting
• Providing wider accounting and financial support to the team as required

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Several years' relevant experience in an accounting role, ideally within a Chartered Accountancy practice or similar professional environment
• Proven experience preparing full sets of accounts, ideally taking a trial balance through to completed statutory accounts ready for review
• Strong technical understanding of accounting principles, including journals, accruals, prepayments, reconciliations, profit and loss accounts and balance sheets
• Practical payroll experience, with a sound understanding of PAYE, National Insurance, pensions and associated statutory requirements
• Excellent IT skills, particularly Microsoft Excel, with the ability to work confidently with financial data and spreadsheets
• Experience using accounting software such as IRIS, Sage or Xero would be advantageous
• Excellent attention to detail and a commitment to producing accurate work to a consistently high standard
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines
• A proactive and solutions-focused approach, with the confidence to take ownership of responsibilities and work independently
• A clear and professional communicator, comfortable liaising with colleagues, clients and external parties
• Integrity, sound judgement and a high level of discretion when handling confidential financial and client information
• A collaborative attitude and a genuine willingness to contribute to a close-knit team
• An accounting qualification such as AAT, ACCA or ACA would be advantageous
• Right to live and work in the UK
• Willingness to obtain a DBS check