Business Services Director​/Partner

Business Services Director / Partner

Department: Business Services

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Carlisle

About Us Build something exceptional, with us... Our ambition is clear and openly bold.

Armstrong Watson is on a journey to more than double our turnover by 2030, through disciplined organic growth, the attraction of outstanding talent, and the selective acquisition of like‑minded firms.

But growth alone is not the goal. Reputation is. And reputation is earned, not inherited.

Our strategic intent is simple to say and hard to deliver. To become the most respected adviser to privately owned businesses in the North and the UK.

The firm business owners talk about. The firm lawyers and bankers recommend without hesitation.

To achieve this, we are building the best Accounting and Financial Advisory firm to deal with, not just in the North, but across the UK. Exceptional service, deep expertise, trusted relationships, and absolute reliability define everything we do. These are not slogans; they are standards we hold ourselves to every day.

At our core, we exist for one reason,
to help our clients achieve prosperity, a secure future, and peace of mind.

This strategy sets the direction. Our people, our values‑led culture, and our standards will deliver it.

We are looking for people who want more than the next job. People who care deeply about:

• Standards and professionalism
• Doing work they are proud to put their name to
• Building long‑term client relationships
• Being part of a firm with real momentum and intent

If you want to grow with a business that is ambitious, values‑driven, and serious about excellence, Armstrong Watson offers opportunity and expectation in equal measure.

What you will find here:

• A firm with clear direction and momentum
• Clients who value advice and relationships
• Colleagues who care about doing things properly
• A culture built on Passion, Trust, Humanity and Honesty
• Genuine opportunity to shape your career as the firm grows

This is our moment, and our vision is clear, to build something genuinely remarkable.

We are now recruiting for a Business Services Director or Partner (depending on experience) to join our Carlisle office.

The main elements of this role will include:

• Conducting client meetings
• Acting as a key "Relationship Manager" for a designated portfolio of clients
• Raising and approving fees in connection with own portfolio
• Setting formal objectives for all direct reports and monitoring their progress / managing their development
• Monitoring individual and team performance versus original objectives and departmental KPIs and providing feedback to the relevant Business Services Partner
• Signing off and authorising documents / accounts / returns where legally acceptable
• Building own network of professional contacts which will hopefully lead to the generating of new business
• Assisting with recruitment activity in the team and dealing with other "People" related matters when required

Please note that we will not be accepting candidates from agency suppliers in connection with this vacancy.

In order to fulfil the responsibilities of the position, we would like candidates to be / have:

• A Full UK Driving Licence
• A qualified Accountant under ICAS, ICAEW or ACCA
• An excellent knowledge, and working experience, of preparing non-statutory, sole trader and partnership accounts alongside preparing statutory financial statements in line with UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice
• A sound knowledge and understanding of all relevant UK taxes such as Personal Tax, Corporation Tax, VAT and Capital Taxes etc
• A good understanding of all other services offered by the firm, in order to identify opportunities to refer to other Service Lines
• An excellent communicator in both verbal and…