Chartered Accountant (SA) – Partner Designate / Director Track

This appointment is intended for an experienced CA(SA) seeking a genuine pathway to leadership, directorship and potential equity participation.

The successful candidate will be expected to contribute not only technical expertise, but also client relationship development, business growth and long-term strategic value to the firm

Role Overview

This is a senior leadership-track role for a Chartered Accountant who combines technical depth with commercial judgement, strong client relationship capability, and the ambition to help grow a professional services practice.

The successful candidate will operate at manager-to-director level, taking ownership of a client portfolio while contributing meaningfully to advisory work, business development and team leadership.

The role is designed for someone who wants to move beyond technical delivery into client ownership, practice development and long-term leadership within the firm.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is an established CA(SA) in public practice or professional services who is confident managing senior client relationships, reviewing technical work, developing people, and contributing to commercial growth. They should bring the credibility, initiative and entrepreneurial mindset required to transition into a future leadership and ownership role.

Key Responsibilities

1. Client Portfolio Ownership & Growth

• Take ownership of a portfolio of clients across SMEs and mid-market entities
• Act as primary relationship lead for key clients
• Identify and convert new business opportunities through existing client relationships and external professional networks
• Support onboarding of new clients and transition of portfolios into the firm
• Strengthen long-term client retention through proactive advisory engagement and trusted relationship management

2. Accounting, Reporting & Technical Oversight

• Review and finalise annual financial statements (IFRS / IFRS for SMEs)
• Oversee full monthly and annual reporting cycles for client portfolio
• Resolve complex accounting, tax, and reporting issues requiring technical judgement
• Ensure quality control across all deliverables within the portfolio
• Maintain high technical standards aligned with professional requirements

3. Advisory & Commercial Input

• Provide commercial insight on client performance, structuring, and planning
• Support valuations, transaction readiness, and financial analysis work
• Engage in forward-looking advisory discussions with clients
• Partner with firm leadership on strategic client matters, growth opportunities and higher-value advisory engagements

4. Leadership & Practice Development

• Supervise, mentor, and develop junior and trainee accountants
• Review technical work and strengthen internal capability
• Contribute to improving systems, processes, and delivery efficiency
• Help shape a high-performance, client-centred team culture grounded in accountability, quality and responsiveness

5. Partner Designate Pathway

This role is structured as a deliberate pathway into senior leadership and potential equity participation, subject to sustained performance, cultural alignment, commercial contribution and the successful development of client relationships.

Progression will be assessed through:

• Expansion and successful management of a sustainable client portfolio
• Meaningful contribution to firm-wide strategy, operational improvement and leadership decisions
• Consistent involvement in business development, revenue growth and client acquisition
• Demonstrated readiness for directorship and potential equity participation

6. Business Development & Market Presence

• Actively represent the firm within the business community and professional networks
• Build and maintain referral relationships.
• Contribute to sustainable fee growth and long-term practice development
• Enhance the firm's reputation through professional engagement and networking activities

6. Business Development & Market Presence

• Actively represent the firm within the business community and professional networks
• Build and maintain referral relationships.
• Contribute to sustainable fee growth and long-term practice development
• Enhance the firm's reputation through professional engagement and networking activities

Requirements

Essential

• Qualified Chartered Accountant (SA)
• Minimum 10+ years post-articles experience preferred
• Strong portfolio management experience within an accounting/audit firm
• Demonstrated ability to manage clients independently at senior level
• Strong technical knowledge of IFRS and IFRS for SMEs
• Proven effectiveness in a client-facing, commercially driven environment
• Proven ability to review and sign off junior staff work

Highly Advantageous

• Existing portfolio of professional network that can contribute to future business development opportunities
• Demonstrated history of originating new client relationships and growing fee income within a professional services environment
• Experience in advisory services (valuations, structuring, financial strategy)
• Established reputation within the SME, owner-managed business, legal, banking or professional advisory community

Skills & Attributes

• Strong commercial mindset with entrepreneurial thinking
• High accountability and independent decision-making ability
• Confident client communicator with strong interpersonal presence
• Ability to manage complexity and competing priorities
• Leadership capability with a hands-on approach
• Growth-oriented, resilient and comfortable operating in a performance-driven professional environment

Systems Exposure (Advantageous)

• CaseWare
• Xero
• Sage
• Cloud-based accounting and reporting tools

Adaptability and willingness to work across multiple systems is essential.