Assistant Manager Accounts

Affinia Limited; Harlow; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK accountancy firm is seeking an Assistant Manager – Accounts in Harlow. You will deliver high-quality accounting services, manage a small client portfolio, mentor junior staff, and contribute to internal team development. The ideal candidate will be fully ACA/ACCA qualified with 3+ years' experience, strong knowledge of UK GAAP, and proficiency in accounting software. Competitive benefits include holiday entitlement and pension support.

Benefits

23 days holiday plus Bank Holidays

Opportunity to purchase additional holiday

Auto enrolment Pension Scheme

Death in Service benefit

Professional membership support

Paycare for health claims

Dress for your Diary Policy

Qualifications

• Fully qualified ACA, ACCA or equivalent.
• 3+ years’ experience in a UK accountancy practice.
• Strong technical knowledge of UK GAAP and relevant tax principles.

Responsibilities

• Manage a small portfolio of clients, ensuring timely delivery of accounts.
• Review work prepared by juniors, providing feedback and coaching.
• Act as the main point of contact for client queries.

Skills

Technical knowledge of UK GAAP

Experience in UK accountancy practice

Communication skills

Mentoring ability

Attention to detail

Proficiency in accounting software

Education

ACA/ACCA or equivalent qualification

Tools

CCH

Xero

Sage

QuickBooks

Job description

About Affinia

Affinia is a UK Top 50 accountancy firm based in Harlow, growing through acquisitions and organic expansion. We build authentic connections, foster collaboration, and provide a range of accounting, tax, audit, finance, digital, payroll and financial planning services to a diverse portfolio of clients.

Job Details

Position: Assistant Manager – Accounts. Reporting to: Accounts Director. Hours: Full time Mon–Fri 9am–5:30pm (37.5 hrs per week). Location: Harlow.

Purpose of the role

As an Assistant Manager within Accounts, you will deliver high‑quality accounting services to a varied portfolio of clients within a collaborative, high‑performing team. Positioned between the Accounts Senior and Manager levels, you will use your technical expertise to provide client service, manage workflows, mentor junior staff, and identify value‑adding opportunities with senior support.

Accountabilities

• Manage a small, non‑complex portfolio of clients, ensuring timely delivery of statutory accounts, management accounts, VAT returns and other deliverables within agreed deadlines and budgets.
• Review work prepared by Seniors, Semi‑Seniors and Trainees, providing structured feedback and coaching to support development and ensure quality control.
• Act as the main point of contact for day‑to‑day client queries, building trusted relationships and resolving issues independently where possible.
• Assist the Manager with WIP management, billing and recovery analysis, identifying opportunities for additional billing where work exceeds scope.
• Ensure the team adheres to internal processes, including workflow management, file completion standards and up‑to‑date time recording.
• Contribute to internal team development by delivering training sessions, supporting onboarding of new team members and acting as a mentor.
• Keep up to date with changes in UK GAAP, tax legislation and regulatory frameworks, applying this knowledge to client work and team guidance.
• Support the Manager and Directors with the planning and resourcing of jobs, ensuring effective delegation and utilisation across the team.
• Participate in business development activities, including supporting proposal preparation and attending networking or marketing events as required, promoting Affinia’s values and contributing to a positive, collaborative team culture.

Skills & Qualifications

• ACA, ACCA or equivalent qualification (fully qualified).
• Ideally 3+ years’ experience in a UK accountancy practice.
• Strong technical knowledge of UK GAAP (FRS 105 and FRS 102 specifically, and relevant IFRS where applicable) and relevant tax principles.
• Demonstrable experience of reviewing and supervising work within a practice environment.
• Proficiency in accounting software such as CCH, Xero, Sage or QuickBooks.
• High level of attention to detail, accuracy, and the ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal skills, confident to communicate directly with clients and lead internal discussions.
• Ability to mentor and support junior team members and contribute to team performance.
• Commercial awareness and understanding of how accountancy services add value to clients.
• Organised, self‑motivated and proactive in managing workload and priorities.

Core Benefits

• 23 days holiday (FTE) plus Bank Holidays (Sept‑Aug), rising with service.
• Opportunity to purchase 3 extra days holiday per year.
• Auto enrolment Pension Scheme with True Potential.
• Death in Service.
• Professional membership support.
• Paycare – claim money back for Dental, Optical and Professional Therapies.
• Dress for your Diary Policy.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Affinia is committed to being an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not tolerate discrimination based on age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, or sexual orientation. We pride ourselves on being an inclusive organisation that actively promotes equality of opportunity for all, valuing the right mix of talent, skills, and potential. We welcome applications from a diverse range of candidates, and selection for roles is based solely on individual merit.