The principal focus of the role is to oversee a team of Property Fund Accountants and Supervisors to deliver fund accounting, fund valuation and tax compliance reporting to variety of internal and external stakeholders. Maintaining a culture of 1st class delivery through effective management of the team by ensuring both operational and compliance targets are met whilst ensuring day to day performance is achieved and sustained.

ROLE SUMMARY

The principal focus of the role is to oversee a team of Property Fund Accountants and Supervisors to deliver fund accounting, fund valuation and tax compliance reporting to variety of internal and external stakeholders. Maintaining a culture of 1st class delivery through effective management of the team by ensuring both operational and compliance targets are met whilst ensuring day to day performance is achieved and sustained.

The focus of the function is on meeting stakeholder reporting requirements, maintaining an effective control environment and minimising risk. As the diversity of the asset and funds base evolves the function needs to keep up to speed with the evolution of the asset, funds and technology base by continually adapting and improving process efficiency and control. Principal responsibilities include:

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

Fund Accounting, reporting and valuation

• Proactively manage a team of Fund Accountants and Supervisors to provide fund accounting, fund valuation and financial control services to a portfolio of funds.
• Perform daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly fund valuation and accounting (as required)
• Perform reviews of primary accounting records, ensuring controls and procedures are followed managing the resolution of complex issues.
• Undertake quality assurance of work to ensure errors are minimized.
• Provide accounting policy advice and work collaboratively to produce technical accounting policy notes (as required).
• Ensure excellent service levels are maintained to all fund stakeholders (internal and external).
• Complete and review VAT and property tax returns
• Maintain technical capability for job, keeping abreast of market and industry developments.
• Maintain detailed knowledge of platform, processes and system.
• Represent the team, department in a professional, collaborative, and commercially aware manner.
• Fund Financial control
• Ensure effective internal controls activities are operating and proactively identify any control gaps or risks
• Keep risk management monitoring systems  up to date
• Proactively review, identify and implement efficient process enhancements to ensure the client service provided is of the highest standard.
• Continuous review of team procedures, policies, systems and issues.
• Robust management and implementation of projects/initiatives
• Produce insightful and meaningful MI reporting of trends, analysis of errors and near misses.
• Work collaboratively with manager, staff and peers to share best practice, enhance operational effectiveness and create awareness of issues throughout the department.
• Oversight of outsourced providers
• Work collaboratively with outsourced service providers to ensure service provision supports business requirements.
• Assist with the monitoring and oversight of third party service providers of accounting information
• Team management
• Recruit, manage, develop and engage team members to produce a productive and high quality team.
• Implement department strategy as necessary through staff.
• Ensure team proficiency through pro-active performance management.
• Proactively identify training and development needs of staff which provide a focus for delivery in line with department objectives and Ops strategy.

EXPERIENCE/SKILLS REQUIRED

• Academic Qualifications: Degree or equivalent experience is essential;
• Professional: Qualified (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) or equivalent experience is essential;
• Specialist knowledge / skills – UK GAAP and IFRS Financial reporting, Real Estate VAT knowledge, Investment Funds;
• Strong property investment industry knowledge/experience is essential;
• Strong excel skills
• Proven experience of managing a team, leadership and people management;
• Experience of managing and delivering within a changing environment;
• Ability to successfully influence internally and externally stakeholders at all levels to achieve objectives
• Experience of challenging historic working practices and delivering process improvements.
• Collaborative, focused and personalised approach to service commitment, delivery and continuous improvement.

Competence / Characteristics

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Disciplined, analytical with the ability to work to tight deadlines
• Positive, enthusiastic approach
• Pro-active
• Self starter
• Flexible, adaptable and able to multi-task
• Strong organisational skills
• Ability to interpret financial data quickly and accurately

Whatever your role, we reward ability, performance and attitude with a package that looks after all the things that are important to you. Our employees have a wide range of benefits including a generous pension scheme, life assurance, 27 days' holiday, private medical insurance, performance related bonuses, a variety of share schemes, discounts at both a huge range of high street stores and our own great products, your hard work will be rewarded when you join us.