Job Description

You will have overall responsibility for managing the Conveyancing Client Accounting Team, working with the Client Accounting Team Leader to build a high quality, motivated and engaged team whilst identifying best practice and ensuring consistent processes are in place. You will be required to develop a thorough understanding of the regulatory rules and obligations for client accounting and ensure on-going compliance. You will be accountable for the control environment for all conveyancing Client Accounting processes, ensuring that controls and procedures are documented, trained and adhered to.

You will engage with the wider Business to continually improve relations and promote better working together as well as growing key relationships with the Bank to ensure smooth completion days for our customers.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

• Maintain a thorough understanding of the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) rules and why the business needs to be fully compliant with the regulations around handling of client monies
• Ensure compliance with both internal reporting and control requirements and external regulatory requirements
• Responsible for ensuring that all monthly reconciliations are completed promptly and that un-reconciled items are investigated and resolved in a timely manner
• Improve the control environment, embedding minimum control standard through regular review and on-going communication, enforced by periodic audits
• Maintain and develop policies and procedures, driving standardization, optimization and change where required
• Be confident with internal procedures and have the confidence to be able to explain these to internal customers
• Assess the Client Accounting Team Leader and own development opportunities and create development plans to improve performance
• Work with the Client Accounting Team Leader to integrate new employees into team and company culture
• Support the Client Accounting Team Leader with performance management and 121 activities for the wider Client Accounting Team when required
• Ensure that resource-planning activities are in place to enable team to achieve, and have the opportunity to exceed individual and team performance targets.
• Provide and use statistical information with the team to manage team and individual performance
• Develop and prepare a monthly dashboard to inform the Conveyancing Board of the status of client accounting, reporting on agreed service level agreements
• Implement business objectives with the team to ensure that business goals are met
• Communicate regularly with other teams involved in the process to enable transactions to be dealt with proactively and in unison with them
• Develop and maintain good relationships with both internal and external customers when dealing with complaints or investigations, investigating escalations and providing feedback where required
• Manage the bank mandates and liaise with the banks over the stewardship of the funds
• Work with the B2B Finance Director to determine the treasury strategy for funds
• Manage the engagement with audit firms for Annual Audits as required by the regulator
• Be the main contact with third party suppliers where appropriate to ensure the smooth running of business processes
• Build and maintain a good working relationship with the CLC and be the contact point for any queries

Compliance requirements

In an industry like ours, compliance is key. So we`ll need you to:

• Maintain an up to date understanding of the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) rules

Who we`re looking for

How we work is just as important to us as the work we do. So we have certain core behaviours that we look for in everyone - they help to define what makes us different:

Self-Awareness: This is about developing a greater understanding of the impact we have on our colleagues, and on our customers.

Team ship: As individuals we do a fantastic job. As teams, we can move mountains.

Collaboration: By this we mean working with both customers and colleagues so we deliver the kind of fantastic service that will drive our growth.

We`ve also identified a number of behaviors that will help us to drive progress which are particularly important to this role:

Results driven: You fully understand required outcomes and you make them happen by employing the resources, tools and actions that will deliver the right results, at the right time.

High energy and drive: You have the self-motivation to set high standards and embrace new challenges. Your passion for moving ahead - and bringing people with you - makes everyone feel part of something special.

Customer Focus: You create an outstanding and consistent customer focused culture which delivers a great customer experience.

Inspiring Change: You are dynamic when dealing with change. You evolve your thinking, reassure others and help them to appreciate the difference they make to our customers.

Authentic: You are genuine, open, honest and trustworthy in dealing with others. You understand how your behavior impacts those around you.

Sense of Pride: You set high standards, personally and in others. You feel proud of the work you do and as part of a team that delivers exceptional outcomes.

Position Requirements

You will have the drive to lead and manage a successful Client Accounting Team in a fast moving environment. You will be a confident communicator, prepared to engage with and influence the Business whilst ensuring full compliance with internal controls and regulatory requirements.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Good academic record
• Experience of leading and working within a client accounting team

Communications and Working Relationships:

• This role reports to the B2B Finance Director
• Part of the wider B2B Finance Team, with close working relationship with the Conveyancing Finance Team
• Direct reports - Client Accounting Team Leader
• Internal working relationships - B2B Finance Director, Chief Operating Officer, Centre Managers, all members of the Legal teams, the Legal Manager, Finance, colleagues in Settlement, New Business, Scanning and the HR and Training Departments
• External relationships - Third party suppliers, Regulators, Bank

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

High performance expectations from yourself and from others. Motivated, hardworking and energetic. Good understanding of mitigating risk and control environments. You will thrive in dynamic environments, succeed in challenging the status quo and driving genuine change and improvements. Ability to multi-task, work to tight deadlines, work under own initiative and manage conflicting priorities. Possess a keen eye for detail and have commitment to the delivery of wider team goals and getting hands-on under pressure. Strong written and verbal communication skills.