Senior Client Manager

Vero Recruitment has been exclusively engaged by McKilligan Financial, Rural Family Business Accountants, to recruit an experienced Senior Client Manager. The role will be based at their office in Sylvadale, Cornhill, Banff, Aberdeenshire, with hybrid and flexible working offered.

If McKilligan Financial appeals to you but you don’t quite have the desired experience, we would still encourage you to get in touch. Founder Elaine is open to considering a range of profiles and levels.

McKilligan Financial is a modern, rural family business accountancy practice based between Banff and Keith in Aberdeenshire. Founded in 2020 by Elaine McKilligan, the firm is now trusted by over 500 clients, from sole traders and farming families to partnerships and limited companies across agriculture, motor trade, construction, forestry, property and other sectors.

This is not a traditional, transactional accountancy firm. The team have real experience of rural and small business life and pride themselves on being straight-talking, approachable and genuinely invested in their clients’ long-term success.

Compliance work such as accounts and tax returns is only the starting point. McKilligan Financial’s real value comes from ongoing advice, planning and support, helping clients understand their position and make better decisions for their businesses and wealth.

As Senior Client Manager, you will take ownership of a portfolio of clients, delivering a high-quality, proactive service and helping them make informed business and financial decisions.

This is a senior, client-facing role combining technical expertise, commercial judgement and relationship building. You will act as a trusted adviser, providing practical advice and identifying opportunities through proactive tax planning and effective business structuring.

You will also play an important leadership role within the firm, developing colleagues and contributing to improvements across systems, processes and client service.

• You will manage your own portfolio, building strong, long-term client relationships and becoming a genuine adviser rather than simply a service provider.
• A key part of the role will be proactive tax planning, including reviewing projected profits, calculating liabilities and identifying opportunities to improve tax efficiency and business structures. You will research technical matters and translate them into clear, practical advice.
• You will support clients with tax-efficient transactions, review and finalise tax returns and work alongside clients and their wider advisers to provide a joined-up approach to their financial affairs.
• Alongside client work, you will support and develop team members through line management, coaching, feedback and day-to-day guidance.
• Working with the leadership team, you will also contribute to improving systems, processes and service delivery. You will prepare fee proposals and engagement letters, liaise with clients and third parties, and help ensure work is delivered efficiently.
• Experience of cloud accounting systems, particularly Xero, will help you understand and support clients’ day-to-day business operations.

• You will have experience managing a portfolio of clients within an accountancy environment, alongside strong technical knowledge and the ability to apply it in a practical, commercially aware way.
• You will be comfortable reviewing work, exercising sound judgement and taking ownership of more complex client matters. Experience supporting, developing or line managing colleagues will also be valuable.
• Strong interpersonal skills are essential. You will build trust quickly, communicate clearly and enjoy working closely with clients and colleagues in a…