EPeople is hiring a Senior Bookkeeper for a modern Watford practice that runs on Xero and real-time reporting. You’ll be the steady hand on a portfolio of £1m+ clients—owning the day-to-day numbers, leading tidy month closes, and assembling robust year-end packs that stand up to review. This is a client-facing role with genuine ownership, not back-office processing.
Where you’ll make a difference
* Be the Xero champion: set up bank rules, keep ledgers clean, reconcile daily/weekly, lock periods, and publish accurate reports.
* Own the close: journals (accruals, prepayments, depreciation), control-account clears, balance-sheet recs, variance notes.
* Year-end ready: produce complete working-paper files and draft statutory accounts for manager/partner sign-off.
* Onboard new clients, map processes, train bookkeeping contacts, and turn messy data into usable information.
* Reporting that lands: build concise management packs (P&L, BS, cash, simple KPIs) that help owners make decisions.
* Continuously improve: streamline checklists, standardise templates, and spot automation opportunities across your portfolio.
Requirements
Must-haves
* Qualification route: AAT / ACCA / ICAEW (qualified or part-qualified).
* Xero expertise is mandatory — knowledge will be tested at interview.
* Proven year-end accounts preparation in practice (working papers to draft accounts).
* Confident with £1m+ turnover clients and comfortable leading conversations with owners/FDs.
* Solid double-entry, UK GAAP basics and strong Excel.
Nice to have
* Experience with Xero apps (expenses, inventory, hubdoc) and data migrations.
* VAT (incl. MTD) and light CIS/payroll familiarity.
* A knack for documenting processes and training others.
Benefits
How the team works
The firm’s charter centres on positivity, high standards, clear communication, teamwork and reliability—we do what we say, share context early, and back each other to deliver for clients.
Package & pattern
* Hybrid: Mon WFH; Tue–Fri office for collaboration and client time.
* 35 hours/week with sensible planning around peaks.
* 28 days’ holiday (excl. bank holidays).
* Study support and CPD aligned to your qualification track, modern tools, and exposure to ambitious SMEs.