Accounts Associate

Our Edinburgh office is looking for a talented individual to join us as an Accounts Associate within our Accounts team. The successful candidate is expected to be an enthusiastic AAT qualified or partially CA/ACCA qualified accountant who is keen to grow their technical skills in a supportive team environment.

This is a client facing, fast paced role which includes advisory elements and often deals with high profile clients.

The work is varied and ranges from typical year end compliance through to ad-hoc advisory and project work. The client base is a mix of sole traders, partnerships, limited companies, limited liability partnerships, trusts and smaller private charities.

The role is permanent and would suit an AAT, ACCA/CA part-qualified accountant who is seeking to consolidate their knowledge of accounts, compliance and trusts, and take it to the next level by building on their advisory, client management and supervisory skills.

The candidate would be responsible for working on a variety of clients' affairs, and the role would include (but is not limited to) the following key elements, within agreed deadlines:

• Preparation of year-end financial statements
• Taking ownership of ad-hoc advisory projects
• Review of work prepared by other members of the team
• Work planning and annual timetabling
• Billing and financial management
• Cross-departmental communication
• Building and maintaining client relationships

Experience of preparing year end accounts using accounts production software such as CCH or an equivalent is also required.

Our Edinburgh office is home to 5 partners and over 65 staff. Our modern, purpose-built office space in Haymarket Square, which recently opened in 2024, is within walking distance of the city centre with easy access to bus, tram and national rail services.

The accounts department have experienced high growth in recent years and offer an exciting variety of work with great development opportunities.

The team currently consists of 13 members of staff of varying levels of experience and responsibility. You will have the opportunity to work closely with clients, working as part of the team alongside the partners, in order to deliver a high-quality service. All of our team are provided with high levels of training and one to one support in order to help them achieve their personal career objectives.

• Preferably AAT qualified/ part way through CA/ACCA qualification and some prior experience of working in practice.
• Strong numeracy and analytical skills, along with the ability to learn quickly.
• A good knowledge of Excel and Word is essential.
• Understanding of other accounting systems would be helpful but is not an essential requirement.
• Self-motivated and pro‑active, with the ability to organise your own workload.
• Display a flexible, professional approach and have the confidence and ability to communicate effectively with managers, partners and clients.
• Natural team player with a positive and enthusiastic attitude and excellent eye for detail.
• Excellent organisational skills and ability to work on multiple jobs at once
• Ability to work in a pressured environment.
• Proactive nature and enjoys working as part of a team.

• A 35 hour working week and a hybrid working policy with a minimum of 2 days in the office (our core hours are 10-4).
• Excellent benefits including contributory pension scheme, 25 days annual leave, Life Assurance cover and great flexible benefits and family friendly policies.
• Eligibility for the firm's Profit‑Sharing Plan. Paid in December.

Saffery LLP is an adviser to individuals and businesses across a range of sectors, providing market‑leading accountancy, audit, business advisory, tax and VAT services. Founded in 1855, we are the UK's 15th largest accountancy firm.

When you work with us at Saffery, you work with people who know your name, not just a job title. We're a place shaped by friendly, intelligent people who are individually excellent and collectively exceptional. We're committed to our clients, but also to our greatest asset - our people.

As a proud member of Nexia, a leading, international network of independent accounting and consulting firms, we've got access to local insight on a global scale.

Equality, diversity and inclusion is a top priority for us. With our ED&I strategy, Everyone Belongs, we are building on our positive work culture and implementing initiatives to improve diversity and strengthen our equitable culture of inclusion, led from the top.

We hope you will apply to us, whatever your background, ethnicity, gender, age, sexuality, disability or neurodivergence, because individual differences equal collective strength. Built on values of excellence, integrity, enthusiasm and collegiality, Saffery is where Potential meets Personal.