Accountant / Xero Specialist

We are supporting EBA Chartered Accountants with the recruitment of an experienced Accountant / Xero Specialist to join their growing team in Knutsford.

EBA Chartered Accountants works closely with ambitious business owners, providing support across compliance, business growth, strategic decision-making and exit planning. This is an excellent opportunity to join a friendly and ambitious firm where you’ll work directly with clients, develop trusted relationships and gradually become more involved in providing commercial advice and insight.

The primary focus of the role will be preparing statutory year-end accounts and company tax returns for a portfolio of limited-company clients. You’ll also undertake hands-on Xero bookkeeping, take responsibility for VAT returns and supervise a small team of junior Xero bookkeepers.

The role would suit someone with previous accountancy practice experience, strong practical Xero knowledge and the confidence to manage client relationships and deadlines effectively.

Key Responsibilities in this Accountant / Xero Specialist role

Preparing statutory year-end accounts for a portfolio of limited companies

Preparing company tax returns and supporting schedules

Ensuring statutory accounts are completed and ready for internal review by agreed deadlines

Undertaking hands-on bookkeeping using Xero

Supervising and supporting two to three junior Xero bookkeepers

Reviewing bookkeeping work and helping junior colleagues resolve queries

Taking responsibility for the accurate and timely preparation and filing of VAT returns across an assigned client portfolio

Maintaining accurate ledgers and completing bank reconciliations

Reviewing client records and identifying errors, inconsistencies or missing information

Helping clients use Xero effectively and improve their accounting processes

Supporting new client setups and migrations to Xero where required

Preparing a small number of quarterly management accounts

Working directly with clients to answer queries and obtain the information required to complete their accounts

Holding year-end accounts review meetings with clients

Developing close and trusted relationships with business owners

Providing increasingly proactive advice and commercial insight as client relationships develop

Managing workload and deadlines effectively while maintaining a consistently high level of accuracy

Contributing ideas to improve efficiency, systems and ways of working

About You – Accountant / Xero Specialist Experience

Previous experience working within an accountancy practice

Strong, hands-on knowledge of Xero

Experience preparing statutory year-end accounts for limited companies

Experience preparing, or supporting the preparation of, company tax returns

Practical bookkeeping and VAT return experience

The ability to manage a portfolio of clients and meet internal filing and review deadlines

Experience supervising, reviewing or supporting more junior team members

A good understanding of accounting records, reconciliations and financial reporting

AAT Level 3 qualification or above, or an equivalent level of practical experience

Strong attention to detail and a commitment to producing accurate work

An efficient working style and the ability to maintain output without compromising quality

Confidence communicating directly with business owners

Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to develop trusted, long-term client relationships

A proactive approach to identifying and resolving issues

An interest in developing beyond accounts preparation into a more advisory-focused position

Previous experience using Sage would be advantageous, as a small number of legacy clients use the system for quarterly management accounts.

Xero certification is not essential. The strength and depth of your practical Xero experience will be more important.

Benefits

Salary of £34,000–£38,000, depending on experience

Hybrid working – four days in the Knutsford office and one day from home

Flexible start and finish times

35-hour working week

One-hour lunch break each day

25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays

Birthday off

Full private medical insurance

Critical illness cover

Ongoing professional development

Regular one-to-one meetings and team appraisals

Direct exposure to business owners across a range of sectors

The opportunity to develop into a more client-facing and advisory-focused role

A supportive and ambitious working environment

If you feel that you have the skills and experience to be successful in this Accountant / Xero Specialist role with EBA Chartered Accountants, we’d love to hear from you – please apply now.

This vacancy is being advertised on behalf of Marwell Recruitment, who are acting as an employment agency.