Client Accountant

CLIENT ACCOUNTANT • Hillcrest Estate Management • £Competitive • Office Based - Bristol ROLE OVERVIEW You will be a trusted partner to our Property Managers and clients, owning the financial health of a varied portfolio of residential developments. Your focus will be to deliver clear, accurate service charge accounts, insightful reporting and confident advice that helps each development run smoothly. Working from our Bristol head office, you will bring a calm, professional approach to busy deadlines, complex reconciliations and a wide range of stakeholder queries. Your attention to detail, grasp of property accounting and commitment to great service will help residents, RMC directors and freeholders feel informed and supported. ROLE EXPECTATIONS Most days you will be preparing and reviewing service charge accounts, completing bank reconciliations, managing ledgers and partnering with Property Managers on budgets and forecasts. You will field queries from clients and auditors, resolve variances at source, and keep stakeholders updated with timely, accurate information. WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE • Year-end service charge accounts delivered accurately and on time, with minimal audit queries. • Bank reconciliations completed to deadline with clean, fully supported balances. • Clear, well-structured monthly reporting that highlights risks, variances and actionable insights. • Strong working relationships with Property Managers, clients and suppliers, with proactive, friendly communication and no surprises. • Budgets produced early, with assumptions documented and variances explained. • Debtors kept under control through accurate allocations, collaboration with credit control and prompt escalation where needed. HOW YOU'LL SPEND MOST OF YOUR TIME • Preparing, reviewing and finalising service charge accounts and supporting schedules. • Completing monthly bank reconciliations, maintaining ledgers and posting journals, accruals and prepayments. • Building annual budgets with Property Managers and producing variance analyses for boards and clients. • Managing supplier invoices and payment runs, ensuring correct coding, approvals and documentation. • Allocating receipts, supporting credit control and producing statements to keep cash flowing. • Liaising with auditors, residents’ directors and stakeholders, responding to queries and maintaining robust records. WHO THIS ROLE IS FOR • You take pride in accuracy and enjoy making complex numbers clear and useful for others. • You are organised, deadline-driven and comfortable juggling a busy, varied portfolio. • You build positive relationships, communicating with warmth, clarity and accountability. • You are curious and solutions-focused, fixing root causes and improving processes as you go. • You thrive in a collaborative, office-based team and are happy to share knowledge and support others. EXPERIENCE THAT HELPS • Hands-on experience in property or client accounting, especially service charge environments. • Confidence with property management/accounting systems (e.g., Qube, MRI, Propman) and strong Excel skills. • Exposure to year-end processes, audits, budgeting and variance analysis. • Familiarity with UK residential leasehold and service charge best practice. • Experience partnering with RMCs, freeholders, developers or managing agents. WHAT WE OFFER • Competitive salary, aligned to experience • Car allowance for field-based roles (London and Essex) • 24 days holiday plus bank holidays • Pension scheme • Perkbox membership with discounts across retail, travel and entertainment • Fully funded training and professional development, including paid study leave • Employee referral scheme • Annual salary review • Free eye tests and Cycle to Work scheme • Long service award • Support for Army Reserve training ABOUT HILLCREST ESTATE MANAGEMENT Hillcrest Estate Management supports residential developments across the South West from our Bristol base. Working across a range of estates, our team manages everything from service charge budgets and compliance through to maintenance and resident engagement, ensuring developments are well run and consistently maintained. For those joining the business, we offer the opportunity to manage a varied portfolio within a supportive team, where there is structure in place but also the flexibility to manage your role effectively. As part of a wider national group, Hillcrest combines the feel of a local business with the stability and opportunity of a growing organisation. HOW WE HIRE • Initial conversation with our talent team • Interview focused on your property client accounting expertise, accuracy and judgement, stakeholder communication, and approach to deadlines and problem-solving We aim to complete the process within two to three weeks and communicate clearly throughout. INTERESTED? Apply with your CV. All applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK. Documentary evidence of eligibility will be required.