Fund Accounting Manager

We have been instructed by one of the largest institutional asset managers in the UK/Europe and a major global investor. They are looking for a Fund Accounting Manager with pan-European accounting experience to join their Real Estate team.  You will report to the Fund Controller and other senior stake holders within the fund accounting team. They are looking for someone who is dynamic, analytical, flexible and able to adapt/multi-task; with excellent interpersonal and communication skills, who can work to tight deadlines and has the ability to interpret financial data quickly and accurately.

The main responsibilities are:

• Proactively manage the Fund Accounting Team. Ensure excellent service levels are maintained to both internal and external parties.
• Implement department strategy as necessary through staff.
• Perform daily, monthly and quarterly accounting (as required) ensuring that fund NAV's and unit prices are correct
• Perform reviews of primary accounting records, ensuring Fund Accountants follow predetermined controls and procedures. Undertake quality assurance of work to ensure errors are minimized.
• Complete and review VAT and property tax returns
• Produce insightful and meaningful MI reporting to management highlighting trends, analysis, errors.
• Robust management and implementation of projects/initiatives.
• Manage the resolution of complex outstanding items, business issues and rectify anomalies to ensure high-level of customer service.
• Identify processes and service enhancements, or potential risks, to ensure the client service provided is of the highest standard and remains fully compliant.
• Maintain detailed knowledge of platform operation processes and system.
• Continuous review of team procedures, policies, systems and issues. Recommend changes to procedures and implement, ensuring that they are scalable, repeatable and efficient. Participate in department wide reviews of procedures where appropriate.
• Work collaboratively with manager, staff and peers to share best practice, enhance operational effectiveness and create awareness of issues throughout the department.
• Work closely with service providers to ensure service provision supports our business requirements.
• Recruit, manage, develop and engage team members seeking continuous improvement in both quality standards and productivity.
• Ensure team proficiency through pro-active performance management. Proactively identify training and development needs of staff which provide a focus for delivery in line with department objectives and Ops strategy.
• Maintain technical capability for job, keeping abreast of market and industry developments.
• Challenge established methods, explore and promote new ideas or ways of working with the buy in and enthusiasm from team.

It is essential that the right candidate has the following:

• Accounting Qualification (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) or qualified by experience
• Specialist knowledge / skills - FRS101/102 and IFRS knowledge - Excel intermediate – VAT;
• Strong property investment industry knowledge/experience;
• Proven experience of managing a team, leadership and people management;
• Experience of managing and delivering within a changing environment;
• Proven track record of influencing across an organisation to achieve objectives especially in respect of Senior Management and external stakeholders;
• Developed decision making skills in ambiguous or changing environments.
• Provable experience of challenging historic working practices, suggesting process improvements.
• Collaborative, focused and personalised approach to service commitment, delivery and continuous improvement.