Accounting Manager

The Accounting Manager has the primary responsibility for the overall supervision of the engagement in accordance with the standards of the Firm, BPS Division, and the profession as expressed in official professional pronouncements. Under the direction of the Accounting Unit Head, the Accounting Manager has overall responsibility for the effective and efficient execution of the engagement, for ensuring client satisfaction, and for developing and retaining high performing staff.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities
Engagement Management

• Supervise the planning and scheduling of work to be done on engagements, including the preparation of estimated time budgets and staffing requirements.
• Lead the engagement planning and risk assessment meetings.
• Review the engagement plan, in coordination with the Accounting Unit Head, which includes understanding the client's business and industry and accounting policies, and government regulations, including accounting, tax, and related laws and technical developments, affecting the client.
• Coordinate and lead kick-off meeting with client.
• Show technical knowledge in and practical application of the use of accounting systems.
• Ensure proper and efficient execution of the engagement plan in accordance with the Firm and BPS Division quality standards by:
• Reviewing in a timely fashion the work of subordinates.
• Monitoring the time charges against budget and identifying reasons for any overruns. Initiate appropriate action to resolve any potential or actual problems.
• Maintaining clear coordination of engagement requirements and activities among team members and client personnel at all times.
• Keeping the client properly informed of issues relevant to the engagement. Ensure that relevant and appropriate client feedback is incorporated in the conduct of the engagement; and
• Resolving issues, both internal to the engagement team and in relation with the client, in coordination/consultation with the Accounting Unit Head.
• Ensure that the staff receives adequate supervision and observe proper protocol in dealing with clients.
• Review working papers, reports, and other related deliverables and ensure that these are in accordance with the Firm and BPS Division working paper and report documentation standards.
• Review existing work program and, if necessary, revise to suit the engagement.
• Ensure that the planned work is appropriately completed to satisfy the engagement's objectives and support the report.
• Request approval for overtime work of staff from the Accounting Unit Head.
• Ensure that engagement team meets internal deadline for quality review before release to client.
• Review and release reports and work outputs to ensure that these are free from material errors that may cost money and reputation of the Firm and BPS Division.
• Provide timely feedback of engagement status to Accounting Unit Head.
• Discuss and resolve with staff and in consultation with superiors client issues that may arise.
• Discuss with appropriate client personnel any issues that are encountered during the engagement.
• Ensure that the engagement team meets the regulatory agencies and client's set deadlines and turn-around times.
• Check completeness of all client deliverables. Ensure all deliverables have been submitted to the authorized recipients of the client only.
• Ensure the completion of archiving procedures and other working papers at the conclusion of every engagement and within the prescribed period of archiving.
• Regularly obtain feedback from the client with regards to the overall execution of the engagement and discuss the client's feedback with the Accounting Unit Head.
• Accomplish and discuss Performance Appraisal Reports (PARs) of staff immediately for every engagement.
• Assume new or different work assignments and schedules willingly. Modify work methods to meet changing needs of the team or client, without compromising ethical standards.
• Show openness and objectivity in weighing conflicting opinions and approaches. Discuss matters willingly with teammates and superiors.
• Show receptiveness to new ideas. Perform new and different approaches with a positive attitude and commitment to success.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as may be delegated or assigned by the Accounting Unit Head.

Relationship Management

• Promote the image of the Firm and BPS Division as a provider of high-quality services through good customer relations and responsiveness to clients' needs, concerns, and requests.
• Establish and maintain a clear coordination and good working relationship with the client personnel, peers, subordinates, and other associates within and outside the Firm and BPS Division at all times.
• Build rapport and maintain good social relationship with clients through regular meetings and teleconferences.
• Keep the client aware of significant developments in accounting, tax, government regulations and other areas that affect their businesses.
• Be available at all times or while the engagement is on-going for queries and requests by clients and Accounting Unit Head.
• Provide immediate assistance and/or advice for the professional needs of the clients and consult the Accounting Unit Head whether such assistance or advice are under the Firm and BPS Divisions' competencies and whether the client is to be billed.
• Work harmoniously and effectively with other members of the team.
• Actively participate in official Firm and BPS Division activities such as strategic planning and team-building sessions, quarterly socials, and outings.
• Maintain a "can-do" and positive attitude at all times in accepting assignments and working with any other personnel.

People Management

• Provide on-the-job training, such as proper working paper documentation and preparation of deliverables, to staff during the course of every engagement or project.
• Be a good role model. Provide motivation and guidance to staff for them to attain their full potential as professionals.
• Provide timely feedback to staff about their job performance, i.e., their strong and weak points and areas for improvement.
• Participate in annual performance review process through deliberations on the overall performance of staff.
• Be available for mentoring and coaching activities.
• For Manager II and above: Participate in staff recruitment through the conduct of interviews and examinations.

Professional Development

• Identify/attend in-house or relevant outside seminars and trainings either as participant or facilitator for continuous professional development and enhancement of technical skills and competence.
• Get involved in business and social activities, especially those that can positively affect the image or reputation of the Firm and BPS Division, which will help him/her increase his/her network.
• Become a well-rounded professional by continuously learning, facing new challenges, and exploring every possible room for improvement.
• Participate in all internal audits of the Division (IQCR, GTAR etc.) as well as on external audits when part of the engagement.
• Request from the Accounting Unit Head PARs for each engagement.
• Accomplish mentoring forms and discuss them with their designated mentors.
• Accomplish Individual Development Plan and Business Development Plan and discuss with assigned coach.
• Obtain the necessary certifications expected of the position.
• Reach out to mentor and attend mentoring and coaching activities.

Practice Development

• Inform the Accounting Unit Head/Partner of any leads that could result in new engagements.
• Provide inputs to the Accounting Unit Head/Partner for further development of the Firm and BPS Division's revenue base.
• Attend meetings with potential clients, together with the Accounting Unit Head/Partner.
• Determine and discuss staff mix and costing for approval of Accounting Unit Head/Partner.
• Initiate reporting of pursuits status (lost and dropped) to the Accounting Unit Head/Partner.
• Participate in suggesting improvements in the Firm and BPS Divisions processes, policies, and procedures.
• Assist the Accounting Unit Head/Partner in preparing marketing materials for the Firm and BPS Division existing and new services.
• For Manager II and above – Present services to clients and prospective clients, as necessary. Be knowledgeable in the pursuit process. Perform scoping, prepare/review proposals, as necessary.

Administrative Functions

• Ensure timely billing of clients and following up of collections for such billings.
• Review professional fees on a quarterly basis and when there is significant increase in the number of employees, time charges and change of scope of work.
• Ensure that out of scope work are billed accordingly.
• Review reimbursable expenses and overtime charges of staff in a timely manner.
• Review work-in-process (WIP) report to ensure effective and efficient use of resources.
• Create client codes in Nexus every year and close the same, in case of terminated clients.
• Assign client engagement to the staff to ensure balanced workload across the unit.
• Ensure proper warehousing of working files and documents.
• Approve time reports of staff in a timely manner and challenge unusual time charges by the team members.
• Comply with the Firm and BPS Division administrative processes, policies, and procedures.
• Take the initiative in suggesting improvements in the Firm and BPS Division processes, policies, and procedures.
• Complete and submit accurate time reports in a timely manner.
• Always maintain confidentiality. Will not disclose or make use of any confidential information that he/she may acquire in the course of the engagement other than to properly perform his/her work in connection therewith.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accountancy
• Certified Public Accountant
• At least six (6) years of relevant work experience