Accountant

About 1st Formations At 1st Formations, we empower entrepreneurs to start, run, and grow their businesses with confidence. Running a business shouldn't be slowed down by company formation, statutory compliance, accounting, or payroll. From day one, these essentials should be seamless, reliable, and intelligently handled, freeing founders to focus on building and scaling. We're a leading UK provider of company formation and compliance services, building a modern, fully integrated technology platform that supports founders at every stage of their journey. Our platform brings together formation, compliance, accounting, payroll, and ongoing business support in one cohesive experience. No stitched-together services. No legacy workflows disguised as software. Just a single, scalable platform built for ambitious founders who want to move fast, stay compliant, and grow with confidence. Why Join Us Now? You'll be joining a business with strong momentum, clear direction, and real opportunity for progression. £18m annual revenue, including £9m ARR Over 1 million companies formed Certified B Corp and Carbon Neutral Business Forecast to grow 5x–10x over the next three years The Role We're looking for an experienced, fully qualified Accountant to join our Accountancy-as-a-Service (AaaS) team, reporting to the Head of Accountancy. You'll manage a portfolio of SME, startup and owner-managed clients, delivering accurate, timely accounts and compliance work, and acting as a trusted advisor as their businesses grow. You might come from an accountancy practice or an in-house finance team. Either way, you'll bring the breadth of experience to handle the full range of accounting work independently, from bookkeeping review and management accounts through to year-end accounts and tax returns. You'll work closely with the wider accountancy delivery team, and your expertise will help shape how we deliver accountancy services as we scale. This is a great opportunity to take ownership in a fast-growing business, with real scope to progress as the team grows. Key Responsibilities Manage a portfolio of SME, startup and owner-managed clients, acting as their main point of contact for accounting and compliance matters Prepare and review year-end statutory accounts, ensuring accuracy and compliance with UK accounting standards (FRS 102 and FRS 105) Prepare and review corporation tax returns, VAT returns and Self Assessment returns for directors Review bookkeeping and bank reconciliations, making sure client records are accurate, complete and up to date Prepare management accounts and financial reports where required, helping clients understand their performance Advise clients on practical accounting and financial matters, such as profit extraction, cash flow and financial best practice Support new clients during onboarding, including setting up accounting systems and processes Support clients with Making Tax Digital requirements for VAT and Income Tax Manage statutory deadlines across your portfolio so filings are submitted accurately and on time Handle most client queries independently, escalating complex or high-risk matters to the Head of Accountancy Share your knowledge with the wider team, supporting and reviewing the work of less experienced colleagues Help develop internal guidance, templates and resources to support consistent, high-quality delivery across the AaaS team Identify opportunities to improve processes, tools and client education What We Are Looking For Fully qualified accountant (ACA or ACCA) 5–6 years' experience in accountancy, gained in an accountancy practice or an in-house finance team Strong experience preparing year-end accounts, and a working knowledge of corporation tax, VAT and personal tax as they apply to small businesses Experience working with SMEs, startups or owner-managed businesses, or across a broad in-house finance function A confident communicator, able to explain financial matters clearly to non-specialist business owners Strong hands-on experience with Xero, plus experience with accounts production and tax software such as TaxCalc, CCH or IRIS Highly organised, with the ability to manage multiple clients, competing priorities and statutory deadlines A collaborative, client-first mindset, comfortable working cross-functionally within a scaling business What We Offer £50,000–£60,000 and a comprehensive benefits package Hybrid working model Real opportunities for progression as the business scales The chance to influence both customer experience and product development A culture that values ownership, impact, and continuous learning Equal Opportunities 1st Formations is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We consider all applicants for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, criminal history, disability, or gender identity. We encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know. Compensation: £50K – £60K • £50K – £60K Find Jobs in United Kingdom on Arbeitnow