Team Leader - Client Accounting

Job Title

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 âœface 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 âœface 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.