Our client is a long-established, London-based tax, accounting and business advisory firm with a strong reputation for technical excellence and long-term client relationships. As part of a growing China & East Asia Business Desk, they are recruiting Accounting Professionals at multiple levels (from Semi‑Senior through to Senior Manager) with solid UK practice experience and fluency in Mandarin, Japanese or Korean (at least one is mandatory).

You will support a portfolio of China, Korea, Japan and wider East Asia–linked clients, providing statutory accounts preparation, management reporting and related compliance. The role is hands-on, client-facing and offers the opportunity to build a niche in international, East Asia–focused work while working closely with tax and audit colleagues.

Key Responsibilities

1. Accounts Preparation & Compliance

• Prepare year-end statutory accounts for UK companies, groups and owner‑managed businesses in line with UK GAAP and relevant reporting frameworks.
• Assist with or lead the preparation of financial statements, notes and supporting schedules.
• Prepare working papers and reconciliations for key balance sheet and profit and loss items.
• Support corporation tax computations and supporting information for the tax team.
• Assist with VAT return preparation, other indirect tax filings and Companies House submissions where required.
• Maintain high-quality documentation to support audit and tax files and to meet regulatory and internal quality standards.

2. Management Reporting & Advisory Support

• Prepare management accounts, cash flow reports and KPI summaries on a monthly or quarterly basis.
• Help design or refine reporting packs for inbound and internationally focused clients, ensuring they are meaningful and commercially useful.
• Identify trends, variances and issues in financial information and flag these to managers/partners and clients with clear commentary.
• Support ad hoc advisory projects, such as systems improvements, process changes, or financial analysis for decision-making.

3. Client Support – China & East Asia Focus

• Act as a key day‑to‑day contact for allocated China, Korea, Japan and East Asia–linked clients on accounting and reporting queries.
• Use Mandarin, Japanese or Korean language skills to explain UK accounting concepts, deadlines and statutory requirements to non‑UK stakeholders.
• Support new inbound clients with the accounting and financial reporting aspects of setting up and operating in the UK, including chart of accounts, processes and controls.
• Assist clients with the transition to, or optimisation of, cloud accounting systems (e.g. Xero, QuickBooks, Sage), including configuration, training and troubleshooting.
• Liaise with parent company finance teams and overseas stakeholders to align UK reporting with group requirements.

4. Collaboration & Internal Support

• Work closely with Tax and Audit teams to ensure a joined‑up approach across compliance and advisory work.
• Provide timely schedules, reconciliations and information to support audit and tax engagements.
• Contribute to internal process improvements for China & East Asia client workflows, documentation and reporting standards.
• Assist with the onboarding and integration of new China/East Asia–linked clients into the firm’s systems and processes.

5. Leadership & People Development

(scope increases by seniority – most pronounced at Senior/Manager level)

• Review work prepared by junior team members and trainees, providing clear, constructive feedback.
• Supervise and mentor less experienced staff, supporting both their technical and professional development.
• Help to manage workloads and deadlines within the team, ensuring assignments are delivered to a high standard.
• At Manager level:
  • Lead assignments from planning through completion, including budgeting, WIP management and client communication.
  • Contribute to resource planning and the allocation of work across the team.
  • Play an active role in refining best practice, internal templates and quality control procedures.

6. Relationship Management & Business Development

(more prominent at Senior/Manager level)

• Build strong, trusted relationships with client finance teams and key stakeholders.
• Attend client meetings (in person or virtual) to discuss financial performance, reporting and upcoming needs.
• Work with partners and senior management to identify opportunities to cross-sell additional services (tax, audit, advisory) to China/East Asia–linked clients.
• Support participation in networking events, seminars and webinars targeted at the China & East Asia community where relevant.

Candidate Profile

Essential

• Solid experience in an accountancy practice environment, preparing accounts for SMEs, owner‑managed businesses and/or international groups.
• Strong understanding of UK GAAP and core financial reporting principles.
• Confident user of accounting software (e.g. Xero, QuickBooks, Sage) and Excel.
• Fluent or highly proficient in at least one of: Mandarin, Japanese or Korean (spoken and written preferred) – this is mandatory.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust and communicate clearly with internationally diverse clients.
• Organised and detail‑oriented, with the ability to manage multiple assignments and deadlines.

Desirable

• Experience working with inbound investment clients, international groups or UK subsidiaries of overseas parent companies.
• Familiarity with China, Korea, Japan or wider East Asia business culture and communication styles.
• Exposure to VAT, group reporting, consolidation support or management reporting packs.
• Experience supporting clients on cloud accounting migrations or process improvements.

Qualifications

• ACA / ACCA (qualified or part‑qualified), or equivalent, preferred.
• Consideration given to strong QBE candidates with relevant practice experience.
• Evidence of ongoing professional development and commitment to maintaining technical knowledge.