Assistant Manager - Audit

Here at MHA, we take the time to create great relationships with our clients to become not just their trusted advisers, but valued partners that face the future together.

As a Top 14 firm of chartered accountants, tax and business advisers, we work in partnership with clients ranging from entrepreneurs and individuals to multi-national corporations. We work together to navigate an ever-changing business world and proactively identify the opportunities that tomorrow presents.

Leveraging our national network of offices, we offer a comprehensive range of financial and business strategy services to clients across the UK, enabling them to achieve profitable growth and build sustainable long-term success. As a member of Baker Tilly International, we have a global reach that allows us to offer our insight and expertise wherever our clients need us to be. We believe this makes us a national and international partner of choice for entrepreneurs and multi-national enterprises across the world.

Our agile and responsive approach means we are always on hand to have the right conversations about with clients at the right time, allowing us to identify their goals and business needs both now, and in the future.

What does the role entail?

Clients and CRM
•    To look after a range of clients, preparing assignments for partner/director review (accounts, tax, briefing notes etc).
•    To co-ordinate compliance service delivery to clients and ensure that information is collected in the most efficient manner, timetabling work wherever possible to suit the needs of the client.
•    To ensure that compliance deadlines are met and to liaise with tax staff to ensure work is appropriately planned.
•    To ensure that jobs are adequately resourced, giving due regard to staff continuity where possible. 
•    To identify opportunities for providing other relevant services.
•    To highlight issues which the partner/director needs to discuss with the client.
•    To plan the approach to assignments following partner/director briefing, having agreed fee budget and completion deadline. 
•    To collate raw data for projects and summarise into a format suitable for review and amendment e.g. draft projections, draft reports.
•    To maintain accurate and up to date client records on CCH.
•    To generate file notes of any client meetings attended and circulate as appropriate to other service team members.
•    To maintain regular contact with client and client service team.
•    To report any client dissatisfaction immediately via the complaints database.
•    Communicate the firms values.

Business development
•    Assist partner and directors in promoting the firm’s reputation and growing fees
•    Assist with preparation of tender proposals and delivery of tender presentations
•    Develop relationships with intermediaries and other relevant external parties

Sector expertise (if applicable)
•    Has high level of technical knowledge in one or more specialist sectors
•    Takes responsibility for CPD in particular area or expertise
•    Assists partners and directors in working with marketing team on all aspects of business development
•    Contributes to writing of articles and other publications

Responsibility for internal service/project (if applicable)
•    Assists with management and delivery of internal service or project, including delivery of training and communication.

Management of Work Flow/Work Programme
•    To plan own time and that of others to maximise staff utilisation and deliver a timely and efficient service to clients.
•    To actively manage the work programme, providing solutions to bottle necks and under utilisation.
•    To ensure all staff comply with the requirements to maintain the work programme and job tracking system.
•    To work flexibly, where required to accommodate the needs of the whole department.
•    To arrange pre-completion meetings with partners and completion meetings with clients on a timely basis.
•    To review work in progress, fee budgets and debtors on a monthly basis, reporting any variances from the target to the relevant Corporate Services Partner/Director.
•    To take an active role in the management of the Corporate Services Department, supporting partners and directors with departmental administration as required.
•    To organise and contribute to departmental team briefings and training events, as required.

Management of Team Members
•    To give clear and unambiguous instructions to managers and staff on assignments.
•    To provide feedback to staff at the end of assignments, using the appropriate documentation.
•    To encourage all team members to make useful contributions.
•    To identify when staff members need support, and provide it, referring issues where appropriate to the relevant Partner/HR.
•    Communicate the firms values.
•    To conduct appraisals as appropriate.

Management of Students in Training (if applicable)
•    To fulfil the responsibilities of qualified Student Counsellors, per the ICAEW guidelines.
•    To ensure that staff get a good mix of audit and accounts experience, such that they are able to meet the requirements of the student competency framework, providing 1-2-1 accounts preparation training where necessary.
•    To ensure that students are fully utilised and booked appropriately on the work programme.
•    To ensure that students are obtaining formal feedback on assignments and maintaining relevant training records, including work based learning questions, where relevant.
•    To sign students off as competent against framework at year-end.
•    To ensure that students are preparing adequately for examinations.
•    To authorise time off, sick leave, holiday.
•    To deal with issues as they arise, referring to HR when appropriate.
•    To ensure that staff feel supported, valued and appreciated.
•    To provide regular feedback to staff and ensure training needs are met.
•    To conduct six monthly student progress reviews, confirming to the QPRT that students are fit and proper to become members of the ICAEW.
•    To ensure training programme is attended and is adequate for student needs (pre and post training evaluation).
•    To manage and develop staff in training and following completion of training.

Communication
•    To communicate the firm’s vision and values both externally and internally in a positive and motivational manner.
•    To ensure partner/director are fully briefed well in advance of key meetings and presentations.
•    To liaise with staff in other departments where applicable to provide holistic solutions based client service.

Self Management
•    To take an active role in own personal development.
•    To manage personal time and working practices to maximize profitability and protect the good reputation of the firm.
•    To maintain the highest standards of personal organisation, setting an example to more junior members of staff.
•    To maintain and promote a clear desk policy.

Essential skills 

•    Up to date technical knowledge of Auditing and Financial Reporting Standards.
•    Departmental objectives and key performance indicators
•    Awareness of the firm’s services and product offering
•    ICAEW and /or ACCA exam structure, work experience and ethics training requirements
•    Appraisal system and CPD programme
•    Knowledge of student competencies
•    Is technically competent and compliant and gives due consideration to risk.
•    Is able to produce realistic projections and comment on draft projections versus historic accounts. 
•    Generates ideas for clients and for the firm, striving for improvements and efficiencies
•    Plans to makes effective use of time and consistently meets deadlines
•    Demonstrates attention to detail
•    Is able to undertake internal projects, communicate findings and see through to completion
•    Builds effective relationships internally across departments and externally
•    Works flexibly and considers the needs of the whole department
•    Is a positive influence within the team and deals with problems/issues constructively
•      Asks for feedback on own performance and seeks out opportunities for development
•      Develops others via motivational feedback, coaching, appraisal
•      Sets SMART objectives

Qualifications: ACA/ACCA Qualified or qualified by experience

Why Join us?
Over the last few years, we have won multiple industry awards such as National Firm of the Year, Tax Team of the Year, Graduate and Non-Graduate programme of the Year, Best Advisory Services and most recently the gold standard accreditation by Investors in People
•    Genuine Work Life balance
•    33 days holiday Inc. bank holidays, plus the opportunity to buy or sell up to 5 days (28 days on a training contract, with the opportunity to buy 5 days)
•    Competitive salary package
•    Employee Recognition awards
•    Accredited Investor in People
•    New and improved programme for Succession planning and supportive management structure to help you realise your potential
•    And more!

Its an exciting time to join the firm so take you next career step with us.