Head of Client Accounts

Cedar is currently partnering with a leading property and lettings business to hire a Head of Client Accounts.

Following continued and significant growth the lettings business is seeking an experienced individual with the appropriate financial/accounting qualification who can lead the overall service and drive results, supporting the large lettings teams across multiple locations with rent collection, banking, purchase ledger, credit control and reporting. The ideal candidate will be a multi-faceted individual who is able to offer expertise in the areas of customer service and operational excellence with a particular focus on compliance matters.

This key role is responsible for the leadership of the Clients Accounting function, process, service levels and risk management. You will be reviewing relevant client service processes to identify efficiencies and improvements required to service levels, identifying risk, reporting on the Risk Register. Working with the Manager of Client Accounts, Lettings Compliance, and the Lettings Operations Director on necessary action, lead relevant projects and ensure delivery of objectives.

The objectives for the role cover compliance, operational oversight and financial reporting including

Duties

• Ensure all controls and transactions are in line with statute and relevant standards in addition to that of the client money policy of Savills, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), ARLA Property mark and where applicable the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
• Assess, report and act on risk and compliance issues within the Work with the compliance team to establish and formulate the Risk Register and ensure the client accounts team are updated on a regular basis.
• Ongoing review of processes, independently reviewing the internal and external service of the client accounts team.
• Leading, managing and developing the client accounting
• Lead relevant projects and assist with tasks for the Lettings Leadership
• Ensure that operating procedures are clearly defined/documented, process mapped, communicated and trained across the department.
• Develop and implement a strategy for the ongoing progression and development of the client accounting service including standards for consistent high quality service delivery.
• Ensure accurate and timely financial reporting across all clients and to the business working closely with the Savills UK finance team.
• Reconciling bank statements and other financial records
• Preparing and maintaining accurate financial records for clients
• Managing client accounts and ensuring timely payments
• Preparing tax returns and other financial reports
• Resolving financial discrepancies and ensuring compliance with relevant regulations
• Communicating with clients and responding to their inquiries
• Liaising with external bodies such as HMRC, and auditors
• Collaborating with other teams such as tax and audit teams

Qualifications

• An appropriate financial/accounting
• Maintain any qualifications required for the
• Maintain membership of any required professional

Experience

• Responsibility for strategic growth of
• Proven ability to develop skills and enable personal and professional growth of
• Coaching approach to management and
• Regular communications and meetings with team
• Effective delegation for maximum
• That they are a people motivator, able to create successful team working and performance and engagement.
• Experience of successful conflict management and performance

Technical experience:

• Prior client accounting experience preferably within the property sector, but not
• Strong IT/technical skills with good understanding of shared accounting and management IT