Associate Director (Client Finance - Birmingham)

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The role

The Financial Controller is responsible for leading a team which manages Client Accounting and Financial Reporting for our Client(s).

The primary objective of the role is to ensure that the property accounting matters of the properties are managed in an effective and timely manner in accordance with Client requirements.

The Financial Controller supports the Finance Director by:

• Ensuring that all client and property accounting services are delivered to a consistently high standard and to the service levels required by the client.

• Managing and building relationships with all external clients, acting as a point of contact, ensuring agreed SLAs are met, defining and improving processes and developing value added analytics.

• Supporting internal stakeholders, managing relationships, providing relevant analysis and business advice.

• Supervising the work of Client Reporting Accountants, ensuring tasks are completed accurately and proficiently

• Directing the team of 3 people that report to the position (plus others where relevant), providing leadership and motivation and continually developing talent as appropriate.

• Completing service charge reconciliations within (typically) three months of period end.

• Monitoring funding levels and initiating payments to clients and/or funding requests from clients to ensure appropriate funding levels are maintained.

• Co-ordinating work of the team and resolving all queries arising from the financial management of the portfolio.

• Designing, improving and implementing the control frame, coordinating with Risk and Internal Audit teams when required.

• Budgeting and forecasting is extensive and the financial controller is responsible for overseeing this and delivering it

• Property disposals and completion statements

• Identifying and analysing performance gaps, improving the business understanding of the profit drivers and proving information for the operating plan

Responsibilities

• Managing Client Reporting teams to deliver monthly and quarterly reporting to meet the clients' accounting needs.

• Ensuring service levels and other targets agreed with clients and internal surveying teams are met, monitoring key performance indicators and reporting on a regular basis in accordance with client and departmental requirements.

• Ensuring all statutory, legislative and internal process requirements are met, including requirements of HMRC and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors

• Working with the Head of Client Finance and SMT to create and continuously improve the client accounting capabilities and ensure the department is recognised both internally and externally as a leader in its field.

• Lead the client reporting team, ensuring staff are of appropriate calibre, well trained and motivated, and organised effectively to meet client requirements

• Oversee recruitment, retention and career development of employees to develop committed, high performance, client focussed teams

• Assist in establishing and implementing departmental targets and set objectives for the client reporting team ensuring that they are communicated clearly and effectively, and that individual performance by team members against these objectives is monitored and measured

• Implement the company's performance management programme, adhering to and promoting internal performance standards, and ensuring areas for development and improvement are identified and addressed

• Provide coaching and support to members of the client reporting team to ensure appropriate levels of performance and technical skills are maintained

• Develop, implement and continuously improve processes and procedures to ensure service delivery standards for internal and external clients are met

• Assist in designing and implementing the departmental control framework and delegation policy

• Work with internal audit and compliance to ensure that all compliance and control requirements are met

• Increase the range of services provided by Client Finance and the expertise deployed to develop key differentiators and assist actively in winning new business

• Support surveying colleagues in tenders for new work including the pricing of instructions and preparation of client pitches

• Monitor and control the content and quality of accounting deliverables to ensure information provided to clients is accurate, complete and timely

• Review and interpret client accounting requirements providing ad-hoc advice to clients and working with clients and the Client Finance team to refine deliverables and ensure effective delivery mechanisms

• Ensure all statutory and tax requirements for clients are satisfied and that both company and legislative procedures and controls are adhered to

• Ensure all creditor bank account details are independently verified in accordance with agreed processes

• Responsible for ensuring all client and supplier payments and approved daily in accordance with agreed processes

Financials

• Individual and team based targets

• Manages within budget and minimises overhead spend

Clients and Business Development

• Manages existing client relationships.

• identifies and helps progress new business opportunities both in and outside own discipline

• Able to work on a broad range of projects referring only to senior colleagues/ external specialists on highly unusual or technical issues.

• Specialist in one aspect of own discipline. Broad knowledge of principles and practices of related disciplines

• Enhances BNP Paribas Real Estate's reputation through successful delivery

• Builds own network internally and externally

People

• Manages Client Accounting and Reporting team

• Recognised senior specialist who shares knowledge and advises others

• Works with and develops junior employees

• Coaching/mentoring of others

Systems and Process

• Evaluates, adapts and improves standards, techniques and procedures

• Is a contributor to BNP Paribas Real Estate projects

Person specification

Essential Qualifications

• Recognised professional accounting qualification (ACMA, ACCA, ACA, CIMA or equivalent)

Essential skills

• Good technical accounting background with experience a commercial financial environment.

• Experience of managing or supervising others effectively.

• Experience of dealing regularly with senior management.

• Fully competent in all UK Accounting Standards.

• Experience of having developed a financial budgeting and reporting system.

• Proficient in MS Office

• Experience of using Microsoft Excel and Access to an advanced level.

• Experience of leading property management and accounting packages for managing agents

• Experience of accounting techniques, internal and external reporting, finance operations and processes

We are proud to offer award-winning benefits to support and reward our employees:

• Heath & Leisure: Private medical cover, 27 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

BNP Paribas Real Estate is committed to providing a work environment that fosters diversity, inclusion, and equal employment opportunity without regard to race, colour, gender, age, creed, sex, religion, national origin, disability (physical or mental), marital status, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, or any other legally protected status.