Head of Client Accounting and Financial Reporting

The role

This role is responsible for overseeing the Client Accounting and Financial Reporting teams and their operational delivery, alongside developing and delivering the strategic aims of the clients.  

The primary objectives of the role are:

• Leadership of the Client Accounting and Financial Reporting teams, acting as an escalation point for all people matters and ensuring effective client service delivery for a variety of clients. 
• Developing and driving a culture of high performance and success across the Client Finance department
• Effective line management and development of the team leaders

• Ensuring all statutory, legislative and internal process requirements are always met, including the requirements of HMRC, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and internal and external auditors.
• Risk mitigation and business process improvement to drive efficiency in service delivery
• Leading, managing and working on key strategic projects
• Collaborating with key stakeholders within the wider business lines to ensure a ‘one-team’ approach, through developing strategic advice to enable clients to deliver on their key goals
• Identifying and driving opportunities for cost savings and fee generation for the Client Finance Department
• Working with the Senior Leadership and Senior Management Team to continuously improve the Client Finance capabilities and service offering, to ensure the department is recognised both internally and externally as a leader in its field

Key deliverables

People

Effective People leadership is considered critical to the success of the department, to ensure we attract and retain high performing talent. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, it is key that this role will: 

• Provide guidance and motivate the Client Accounting and Financial Reporting teams to ensure they obtain results and achieve client and team KPIs
• Act as a mentor and role model to team members, providing coaching and support to the team to ensure appropriate levels of performance and technical skills are maintained

Processes

Processes are seen as essential to the operations of the team, department and wider internal stakeholders. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, it is key that this role will: 

• Develop, implement and continuously improve processes and procedures to ensure service delivery standards for internal and external clients are met and in accordance with all relevant legislation and regulations
• Design and implement the departmental control framework and delegation policy relevant to their areas.
• Work with internal audit and compliance to ensure that all compliance and control requirements are met; and
• Drive forward the effectiveness of controls of activities performed by the team.

Service Delivery

The Client Finance department is a critical part of service delivery to many of the BNP Paribas Clients and is considered to be market leading. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, it is key that this role will: 

• Work with the Senior Management and Senior Leadership teams and other members of Client Finance to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and control of the operations;
• Ensuring contractual compliance across the team, including SLAs and KPIs are achieved on behalf of BNPPRE;
• Delivery of all service charge related and client reporting group tasks, accurately and on time.
• Ensure all queries are responded to in good time 
• Ensuring all necessary Quality Assurance reviews have been undertaken and signed off before issue; and
• Assist in internal and external audits of financial information, procedures and controls.
• Act as an escalation point for clients, surveyors and other relevant parties 

Person specification

Qualifications

• Recognised professional accounting qualification (ACMA, ACCA, ACA, CIMA or equivalent) or;
• Exceptional property accounting experience 

Skills

Financial and Technical Abilities

• Commercially astute, innovative and solutions oriented;
• Manages within budget and minimises overhead spend.
• Highly numerate with strong attention to detail and excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Considerable practical experience in client monies management, financial operations and associated processes and controls.

Client Service Delivery and Business Development

• Manages existing Client and key stakeholder relationships. 
• Able to work on a broad range of projects; and
• Committed to the provision of excellent customer service and to meeting deadlines

Leadership

• Recognised senior specialist who shares knowledge and advises others.
• Works with and develops junior employees; and
• Coaching/mentoring of others.

Systems and Process

• Evaluates, adapts and improves standards, techniques and procedures.
• Good skills in Microsoft Office products (Excel, Word, and Outlook).  
• Experience of property management and accounting packages for managing agents e.g. Trace Tramps would be desirable

• Heath & Leisure: Private medical cover, up to 30 days annual leave + public holidays (the option of purchasing up to 5 additional days via flex benefits), health screening, gym discounts, wellbeing support, volunteering opportunities, cycle to work scheme, eye care voucher, travel & retail discounts, travel insurance, concierge service, kids pass, open fairways golf card, great company culture and social events (including sports teams, charity events, art pass), perks at work 
• Financial: Pension, company car allowance, life assurance at 8 x basic salary, group income protection (long term disability insurance), interest free season ticket loan, bonus scheme - you will be eligible to participate in the Company’s Bonus Scheme, share incentive plan, financial and mortgage advice