Alternatively, Grant Thornton

At Grant Thornton we do things differently - looking to the future, driving ambitious growth and pioneering positive change in our industry. Providing audit, tax and advisory services, we empower clients through strategic insight, curiosity, and genuine partnership. And we empower our people with real opportunity, an inclusive culture and work life balance. A true alternative.

With over 5,000 people in the UK, and a presence in 150 global markets, we're on an ambitious journey, from great to exceptional, and we need the best people to help us achieve our potential. And with that comes the opportunity to help redefine what our industry looks like, and what you want from your career.

Job Description:

A look into the role

As a Manager in our CFO Solutions team, you’ll lead the delivery of finance services for a varied portfolio of clients. You’ll help shape a service built on Xero and automation, and you’ll develop the people who deliver it.

You will:

Lead on client work

• Manage a portfolio of clients of varying complexity, with exposure to different business sectors
• Plan and co-ordinate client work, including staffing, so it meets its objectives on time, on budget and to a high quality
• Take the lead in setting up more complex clients and guide the team where needed
• Understand each client’s business and expectations, and act as a key contact
• Make sure client queries and supplier payments are handled accurately and on time
• Lead conversations with clients about what’s working well and what could be better, so they have a great experience

Drive technical quality

• Review management accounts, statutory accounts, VAT returns and electronic payment files, and manage the risks that come with them
• Spot technical issues in VAT returns and work with our VAT specialists to resolve them
• Support the team with technical queries
• Review files prepared by junior colleagues

Build our Xero offering

• Play a key role in implementing Xero and related apps on new and existing client assignments
• Help develop a service with Xero and automation at its core

Develop and inspire your team

• Act as line manager, giving guidance, constructive feedback and opportunities to grow
• Understand what matters to your colleagues and how they like to work, and act on the needs of individuals and the team
• Put the right people on the right tasks, drawing on individual strengths
• Guide the team on day to day resourcing and scheduling
• Help create and sustain a dynamic working environment

Manage the commercials

• Manage your own working capital and monitor the team’s, raising issues where needed
• Guide the team on billing and debt
• Keep work on track against timescales, budgets and risk management procedures
• Understand how your decisions affect productivity, recoverability, fee income and client service

Help us grow

• Contribute to proposals and presentations for prospective clients
• Contribute to our departmental marketing
• Build your network, including with Grant Thornton member firms around the world
• Contribute to team, departmental and office meetings

Knowing you’re right for us

You’ll need:

• Proven experience delivering outsourced accounting or finance services, including management accounts, statutory accounts and VAT
• Experience of reviewing technical work and managing the risks that come with it
• Experience of managing and developing a team, including resourcing and scheduling
• Experience of working with Xero and related apps, or a clear appetite to lead on them
• Excellent communication skills for both clients and colleagues
• Commercial awareness, including working capital, billing and fee recovery
• Good organisational and IT skills
• A proactive approach and a willingness to get stuck in

It would be great if you had some of the following, but don’t worry if you don’t tick every box. We’ll help you develop along the way:

• A professional accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, ICAS, CA or CIPFA)
• Experience of contributing to proposals or pitches

Knowing we’re right for you

Our culture thrives on the contributions of all our people. We never settle for what’s easy. We look beyond it to do the right thing, for everyone.

You’ll work with leaders who are interested in you and everything you bring. The things that set you apart matter to us, and you’re free to bring your whole self to work and pursue your passions inside and outside it.

Beyond the job

Life is more than work. We’re happy to look at flexible working options for all our roles, and we’ll always do our best to keep your work and life in balance.

Your impact can go well beyond your day job, from secondments to fundraising for local charities. It’s grounded in our values: purposefully driven, actively curious, and candid but kind.

We’re looking for people who want to contribute, spark fresh ideas and go beyond expectations. People who want to proudly do what’s right, for the firm, our clients, our people and themselves.