Accounts Senior - Legal Clients

Francis Clark Financial Planning Ltd; Poole; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A financial planning and accounting firm in Poole is looking for a qualified accountant to prepare year-end accounts and provide management reporting primarily for law firms. Candidates should have accounting qualifications and proficiency in automated accounting tools. The company emphasizes a supportive work culture and offers flexible hybrid working options.

Benefits

Pension

Group life assurance

Health cash plan

Option to buy extra holiday

Counselling support

Virtual GP services

Discounts for shopping and gym

Volunteering day

Qualifications

• AAT / ACCA / ACA qualified or equivalent, or part-qualified with relevant experience.
• Previous accounting experience in a private practice environment.
• Proficient in automated accounting software.
• Strong skills in MS Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• Experience with law firm accounts and SAR compliance preferred.

Responsibilities

• Prepare accurate financial information and year-end accounts for variety of clients.
• Produce management accounts, forecasts, and financial projections.
• Complete tax computations and VAT returns.
• Deliver bookkeeping services, including income/expenditure recording.

Skills

AAT / ACCA / ACA qualified or part-qualified

Previous accounting experience

Proficient in automated accounting software

Strong MS Excel skills

Experience with law firm accounts

Education

AAT / ACCA / ACA qualification or equivalent

Tools

Automated accounting software

Job description

In a nutshell

You’ll play a key role in delivering accurate financial information and supporting clients with their accounting needs. From preparing year‑end accounts and tax computations to providing management accounts and bookkeeping services, you’ll ensure compliance and add value through insightful reporting. Experience working with law firm accounts and Solicitors’ Accounts Rules (SAR) would be a bonus.

What you’ll be doing day to day

• Prepare accurate financial information and year‑end accounts for a variety of clients, mainly law firms
• Produce management accounts, forecasts, and financial projections
• Complete personal, partnership and company tax computations, along with VAT returns
• Prepare discussion documents to accompany law firm accounts which analyse the numbers in detail and include benchmarking data
• Deliver bookkeeping services, including income/expenditure recording and bank reconciliations
• Monitor job progress against budgets and ensure timely completion
• Gather and analyse financial data to support decision‑making and planning
• Identify technical or client‑specific issues and recommend practical solutions
• Assist with audit and compliance services
• Liaise with clients and colleagues to maintain strong relationships and achieve effective outcomes
• Supervise and support junior team members, assisting with coaching and workload management

About you

• AAT / ACCA / ACA qualified (or equivalent), or part‑qualified with relevant experience
• Previous accounting experience in a private practice environment
• Proficient in automated accounting software and computer‑based accounts/tax programmes
• Strong MS Excel, Word and Outlook skills
• Experience with law firm accounts and SAR compliance (preferable but training can be provided)

Why work at PKF Francis Clark

As the largest firm of independent chartered accountants and business advisers in South West England, PKF Francis Clark offers a breadth of opportunities to develop your career in the way that’s right for you.

Established in 1919, we’ve grown to a team of nearly 1,000 people, based across our offices in Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth, Poole, Salisbury, Southampton, Taunton, Torquay and Truro. This means we’re big enough to do challenging work for exciting clients, but small enough to maintain our friendly and supportive culture.

We work hard to ensure you can belong, be yourself and be brilliant as part of a forward‑thinking team. This includes a flexible approach to hybrid working. And our focus on wellbeing and learning and development has been recognised nationally.

For the past three years, PKF Francis Clark has been certified as a Great Place to Work and ranked among the UK’s Best Workplaces. In 2025, we climbed four places to 20 out of 100 large organisations on this prestigious list.

We’re also in the UK’s top 10 Best Workplaces for Women (6 out of 100 large organisations), as well as being ranked among the Best Workplaces for Wellbeing (35 out of 100), Best Workplaces for Development (24 out of 100) and Best Workplaces in Consulting and Professional Services.

All these lists are compiled by workplace culture experts Great Place to Work. Our rankings are a direct result of feedback from our people in a confidential, independent annual survey.

The success rates of our trainees mean we’re also ranked 33rd in The Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers 2025.

While we’re proudly independent, we collaborate with colleagues around the world to enable our clients to succeed. PKF Francis Clark is a member of the PKF Global family of firms – together we’re the 12th largest provider of accountancy services in the UK. Being part of this international network provides opportunities to connect with like‑minded accountants and business advisers in 150 countries.

Your core benefits

Financial benefits

• Pension
• Group life assurance – up to four times your core salary
• Group income protection
• Health cash plan to help cover the costs of everyday healthcare

Health & Wellbeing benefits

• Option to buy 5 extra days holiday*
• Counselling and support for you and your immediate family
• Virtual GP for you and your immediate family
• Cycle to work*

Other benefits

• Medicash Extras providing you with shopping and gym discounts
• Gifts for career and family milestones
• One volunteering day per year to support local organisations
• Emergency funding from the Francis Clark Charitable Foundation

Please note
* These benefits are provided via a salary exchange and are subject to employee’s post‑exchange hourly rate remaining above the national minimum wage.