Job Title
Team Leader - Client Accounting
Job Description Summary
Job Description
Cushman & Wakefield are recruiting for a Client Accountant Lead to join our UK Asset Services Client Accounts team. The purpose of this role is to act as the “face of accounts” for a key portfolio client, providing a bridge between client accounts and both internal and external stakeholders. The role involves delivering high-quality accounting support, resolving complex issues, mentoring property accountants, and driving their professional development.
Key Responsibilities
Clients & Service Delivery
- Deliver high-quality accounting services to clients within agreed timeframes, accuracy, and quality standards.
- Produce strategically important reports tailored to client, property manager, and stakeholder needs.
- Respond to queries from Property Managers and Clients requiring detailed financial analysis and forensic accounting.
- Act as the “face of accounts” for clients and Property Managers, serving as an escalation point for complex issues.
- Support Property Accountants as a technical escalation route, offering guidance to maintain service continuity.
- Prepare and present financial data during client meetings, proactively managing client expectations.
- Gather client feedback, conduct root cause analyses, and implement controls to enhance performance and processes.
- Utilise data from multiple sources to reduce queries, improve automation, and enhance the client experience.
- Ensure delivery of KPIs and SLAs, including service charge year-end reconciliation and handovers.
Operations and Risk
Ensure client accounting services are thorough, accurate, and completed within set deadlines.
- Address urgent work as required, while working to reduce the need for same-day service requests.
- Monitor and validate output from offshore teams and property accountants.
- Manage knowledge transfer during onboarding and offboarding processes.
- Handle mobilisation and demobilisation activities for complex properties/clients.
- Conduct root cause analyses for problems, proposing and implementing solutions to prevent recurrence.
System Knowledge: Yardi
- Ensure compliance with relevant procedures, accounting standards, RICS rules, and other professional guidelines.
Profits & Finance
- Contribute to departmental efficiency, quality, and profitability targets.
- Identify opportunities to improve productivity, reduce waste, and maintain or enhance output quality.
People and Teams
- Proactively plan interactions with internal stakeholders, including Property Managers and Facilities Managers.
- Act as a point of contact for business pillar heads within the Surveying Asset Services team, where required.
- Deliver training to Property Accountants aligned with an agreed training plan.
- Attend key client meetings as the role evolves to include value-added activities.
Knowledge & Experience
- 3+ years of practical work experience in property finance or managing client money.
- Experience managing client-facing functions, including leading client meetings/negotiations.
- Strong business development and client relationship management knowledge.
- Familiarity with tax and statutory accounting.
- Advanced use of property management accounting systems (Yardi experience desirable).
- Proficient in Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
- Excellent numerical reasoning, analytical skills, and attention to detail.
Skills & Personal Qualities
- Outgoing personality with a customer-first mindset.
- Demonstrates confidence, drive, and enthusiasm.
- Natural people leader and coach.
- Creative problem solver with strong analytical skills.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and oral.
INCO: “Cushman & Wakefield”