Partnership Accountant

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We will offer you a place where you can be yourself and where there are no limits on what you can achieve. With us, you can take ownership of your career and have honest conversations throughout. You would join an ambitious firm with a clear strategy for profitable growth where you can get early responsibility and early involvement in growing the business. Here you can expect a competitive and fair reward as well as recognition based on all round performance. This forms part of our internal promise to you, The Deal, between the firm and its employees.

You can expect:

• A competitive salary and a host of family friendly policies
• Life assurance, private health and dental care for you and your family
• A range of flexible benefits including gym discount and retail vouchers
• Tech, cycle and electric car schemes
• The opportunity to support the firm's charity through volunteering leave
• A wellbeing strategy that focuses on preventative measures to maintain overall health, and tools and support for when our people experience physical or mental difficulties. The strategy focuses on four pillars: physical, emotional, financial and social aspects.
• Most of our roles are hybrid, meaning that colleagues benefit from working in our office and remotely. We are happy to discuss this and other flexible working arrangements with you as part of the application and interview process.
• We are an equal opportunity organisation, committed to having a diverse workforce. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, culture, or any other protected characteristics. We aim to create a culture where everyone can be themselves and is valued for their strengths and unique perspectives.

The London partnership accounting team currently comprises of 4 people and is headed up by the Head of Tax & Partnership, who reports into the Chief Finance Officer.

The Partnership Accountant will help to supervise the partnership accounting assistant and will be expected to work closely with partnership accounting manager on all UK and international partner queries, organising partner payments, preparation of partner current account statements and dealing with queries from partners relating to their payments.

The candidate will also liaise with the firm’s tax advisors regarding the partners’ tax accounts & returns.
Reconciliation of all partner current accounts, tax reserves & capital accounts and ensuring that any discrepancies are highlighted and resolved.

• Reviewing the monthly reconciliation of partner capital account balances prepared by the partnership accounting assistant. Ensuring new partner loans are arranged with the bank on a timely basis.
• Preparation of annual partner statements, including reconciliation of partner balances between statements and the accounts system.
• Assisting with the preparation of the partner tax reserves and reconciling them to Aderant. Investigating differences and liaising with our external tax advisors as necessary.
• Reviewing the monthly drawings to be paid to all partners including their quarterly interest and annual draw payments.
• Ensuring monthly and quarterly drawings are paid on time both in the UK and internationally and that they are recorded correctly in the accounting system.
• Dealing with partner queries in relation to their drawings payments and partnership obligations.
• Assisting with partner benefits queries and arranging benefit cover for both new and existing partners.
• Providing partners with mortgage reference letters.
• Providing partner balances for partner retirement letters including a schedule of payments due to the partner, HMRC and the bank.
• Reconciliation of retired partner balances, including repayment of balances to partners as scheduled.
• Ad hoc duties as required.

• Ideally a qualified accountant with several years’ experience of working in partnership accounting.
• Previous legal finance or professional services experience necessary.
• Highly visible with a flexible, positive approach and proactive manner.
• Aderant or Elite knowledge would be advantageous but not essential.
• Intermediate Excel skills & knowledge required.
• Good attention to detail.
• A team player with a flexible and willing attitude.

This job description is indicative only and does not represent an exhaustive list of responsibilities. The firm reserves the right to alter or change the responsibilities at any time, in line with the firm's strategy and business needs.

With 8 offices worldwide and with our headquarters based in London, Stephenson Harwood is a law firm where our people are committed to achieving the goals of our clients - listed and private companies, institutions and individuals across the globe. Our mix of expertise and culture results in a combination of deep local insight and the capability to provide a seamless international service.

Our experience encompasses corporate, commercial litigation and arbitration, employment, pensions and private wealth, finance, marine and international trade, and real estate and projects.

We assemble teams of bright thinkers to match our clients' needs and give the right advice from the right person at the right time. Dedicating the highest calibre of legal talent to overcome the most complex issues, we deliver pragmatic, expert advice that is set squarely in the real world.

We understand the power of diversity in delivering that high calibre advice to our clients. We want to attract diverse talent and we particularly encourage applications from underrepresented demographics.

Our Values

Individuality - We encourage creativity and devlop talent. 

Commitment - To be the best and deliver the highest standard.

Teamwork - We work together to build close, long-term relationships.

Straight talking - We say what we mean and do what we say. 

Our Vision into 2026

To be a successful firm where talented people work together in an entrepreneurial environment, building long term client relationships. 

This version is about who we want to be, as well as who we are. It is as much about our values as about our character - the attributes we want to see from all of our people. That's how we unlock our entrepreneurial spirit, advising our clients with top performing teams. 

A key part of the 2026 strategy is to focus on five core sectors: energy transition; life sciences and healthcare; private capital and funds; technology; transportation and trade. These have been identified as crucial in the drive for accelerated profitable growth.