Handpicked Recruitment
Client Portfolio Manager
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Client Portfolio Manager
Location: North London
Firm: Established three-partner accountancy practice and member of a Top 20 accountancy network
Employment type: Permanent, full-time
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience
The Firm
Our client is an established, mid-tier accountancy practice based in North London. Led by three partners, the firm provides a comprehensive range of accounting, tax, and business advisory services to a diverse portfolio of owner-managed businesses, SMEs, and private clients.
The firm is part of a Top 20 accountancy network, providing access to the resources, technical expertise, and wider capabilities of a leading national organisation while retaining the close-knit culture, partner access, and personal service of an independent practice.
Due to continued growth, the firm is looking to appoint an experienced Client Portfolio Manager.
The Role
The Client Portfolio Manager will take day-to-day responsibility for a varied portfolio of clients, acting as their principal point of contact and ensuring they receive a responsive, technically strong, and commercially focused service.
The successful candidate will oversee the preparation and delivery of accounts, tax returns, and other compliance work, while identifying opportunities to provide clients with additional advisory support. They will also manage and develop junior members of the team and work closely with the partners on more complex assignments and practice development.
This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced practice professional seeking genuine client ownership, regular partner exposure, access to the resources of a Top 20 network, and a clear route for further progression.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage a varied portfolio of owner-managed businesses, limited companies, partnerships, and sole traders.
- Act as the principal day-to-day contact for clients, developing strong and trusted relationships.
- Plan and oversee the delivery of year-end accounts, corporation tax returns, and associated compliance work.
- Review statutory accounts and tax computations prepared by junior members of the team.
- Review personal tax returns where relevant to the client portfolio.
- Ensure assignments are completed accurately, efficiently, and within agreed deadlines.
- Provide clients with practical advice on accounting, tax, and general business matters.
- Prepare and review management accounts, forecasts, and cash-flow information where required.
- Lead client meetings and explain financial information clearly and commercially.
- Identify tax-planning opportunities and areas where the firm can provide additional services.
- Draw upon the wider network’s specialist expertise and service capabilities when required.
- Liaise with HMRC and other external parties on behalf of clients.
- Manage workflow across the portfolio, allocating work appropriately and monitoring progress.
- Supervise, support, and develop junior and part-qualified members of staff.
- Review work constructively and provide regular coaching and technical guidance.
- Monitor budgets, recoverability, work in progress, and billing across the portfolio.
- Assist with fee proposals, client onboarding, and the smooth transition of new assignments.
- Support the partners with complex client matters and ad hoc advisory projects.
- Contribute to the firm’s continued growth, operational improvement, and client-retention strategy.
- Maintain a strong understanding of relevant accounting, tax, and regulatory developments.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Candidate Requirements
- ACA or ACCA qualified, ideally with post-qualification experience gained within an accountancy practice.
- Strong experience managing, or assisting with the management of, a portfolio of SME and owner-managed business clients.
- Sound technical knowledge of UK GAAP, statutory accounts preparation, and corporation tax.
- Experience reviewing accounts and tax work completed by junior colleagues.
- Confident managing assignments from initial planning through to completion and billing.
- Strong client-management skills, with the confidence to lead meetings and provide advice directly to business owners.
- Experience supervising, mentoring, or managing junior members of staff.
- Commercially aware, with the ability to recognise advisory and business-development opportunities.
- Well organised and able to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- A proactive, practical, and solutions-focused approach.
- Comfortable using modern accounting and cloud-based software.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Desirable Experience
- Experience with software such as Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, IRIS, CCH, or similar practice systems.
- Knowledge of personal tax, VAT, and payroll matters affecting owner-managed businesses.
- Experience preparing or reviewing management accounts and financial forecasts.
- Involvement in practice development, fee proposals, or winning new client work.
- Previous experience working in a small or mid-tier accountancy practice.
- Experience advising clients on systems, processes, and cloud-accounting solutions.
Personal Attributes
The successful candidate will be:
- Approachable and confident when dealing with clients.
- Technically capable but also able to provide clear, practical advice.
- Commercially minded and interested in understanding how clients’ businesses operate.
- Comfortable taking ownership and working with a high degree of autonomy.
- A supportive and effective people manager.
- Collaborative and willing to contribute to the wider development of the firm.
- Ambitious and interested in progressing within a partner-led practice.
What the Firm Offers
- A senior, client-facing position with genuine responsibility for a varied portfolio.
- Direct and regular exposure to all three partners.
- The resources, technical support, and specialist capabilities of a Top 20 accountancy network.
- The close-knit culture and accessibility of a local partner-led firm.
- A broad mix of compliance, advisory, and business-support work.
- The opportunity to build long-term relationships with business owners and senior decision-makers.
- The ability to influence internal processes and contribute to the firm’s future growth.
- Ongoing technical and professional development.
- A clear opportunity for career progression as the firm continues to expand.
- Competitive salary and benefits package.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills
Location