We’re looking for a UK-based Chartered Accountant on a monthly retainer to support our purpose-driven conservation organisation with core bookkeeping services, accounting, tax, and financial advice — plus personal tax support for the directors.

Seeking UK Chartered Accountant (ICAEW/ACCA) – Monthly retainer

We want someone who will ensure that everything is submitted on time, with zero stress or last-minute
surprises. You’ll be the one keeping things on track, reminding us of upcoming deadlines, and ensuring a
smooth flow across all reporting periods.

The business
We are Conservation Careers (www.conservation-careers.com), a careers advice centre for
conservationists – helping 700,000 conservationists in 178 countries across the globe. We have diverse
online income streams from recurring membership subscriptions, and one-off payments for courses and
advertising and more. We use Stripe and PayPal for online payments and currently use Quickbooks for our
accounting, but we’re looking to move to Xero.
Scope of Services
Business Accounting
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Ensure the company is fully compliant with all relevant UK tax, VAT, payroll, and company law regulations.
Preparation and submission of quarterly VAT returns, including:
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Reverse charge handling
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VAT categorisation guidance
Annual accounts and Corporation Tax (CT600) submissions.
Monthly payroll processing and advice on salary/dividend/pension structure.
Provide quarterly business insights to support budgeting, cash flow management, and planning.
Bookkeeping
Your role is to ensure the books are always accurate, reconciled, and ready for reporting and compliance
submissions. We are looking for someone to manage all core bookkeeping responsibilities for our business
as part of the monthly retainer. This includes:
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Importing and categorising all transactions from:
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Stripe.
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PayPal.
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Business bank accounts.
Matching incoming payments to customer invoices, including Stripe/PayPal reconciliation.
Matching expenses to receipts, and ensuring accurate categorisation.
Applying correct VAT codes (including reverse charge where applicable).
Ensuring all accounts are fully reconciled monthly.
Ensuring receipts and documentation are attached where needed.
Maintaining clean, up-to-date records in Xero / Quickbooks (see below).
Preparing quarterly financial reports against set budgets (Profit & Loss).
We will handle the following internally:
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Creating and issuing invoices
Chasing unpaid invoices (credit control)
Software Integration & Migration
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We are currently using QuickBooks but plan to migrate to Xero.
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Experience with both platforms is essential.
You should be able to manage, or support, a seamless migration with minimal disruption
and accurate data transfer.
We use Stripe and PayPal online payment platforms for our online business and require:
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Automated, accurate reconciliation setting up and maintaining
Familiarity with tools like Dext and Synder (or similar alternatives) is essential.
Personal Tax Support
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Completion of annual self-assessments for both directors (myself and my wife).
Ongoing advice on dividend allocations and personal tax planning.
Essential Criteria
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. UK-based Chartered Accountant (ICAEW, ACCA, or equivalent), with detailed knowledge of
relevant UK and international tax, VAT, payroll, and company law regulations.
Experienced working with digital businesses with high transaction volumes and multiple
income streams and Stripe and PayPal.
Strong knowledge of VAT (including reverse charges) and Corporation Tax.
Strong experience with Xero and QuickBooks, including the ability to streamline and automate
the reconciliation of transactions from PayPal and Stripe.
Drives the reporting processes — proactively manages deadlines, provides reminders, and
ensures all filings are completed smoothly and early.
6. A proactive communicator who offers strategic guidance and flags issues before they become
problems.
Fee Structure
We propose a monthly retainer of £300 (plus VAT if applicable), inclusive of:
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Monthly bookkeeping
Quarterly VAT returns
Payroll
Annual accounts and CT600
Quarterly business insights and financial reporting
Two personal self-assessments (for directors)
Ongoing advice and tax planning.
In addition, we offer a one-off setup fee to cover:
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●Initial Xero setup and configuration
Migration of all data from QuickBooks to Xero
Integration of Stripe and PayPal data
Automation setup (e.g. via Dext or Synder or similar, if applicable)
This setup fee can be agreed based on scope and timeline, with the aim of ensuring a smooth transition
and minimising disruption to the business.
How to Apply
Please send a short (1-2 page) proposal by Friday 25th April, providing the following:
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Evidence of how you meet each of the six Essential Criteria
Your approach to software migration
Your approach to automation of accurate reconciliation of payments from Stripe and PayPal
including VAT.

How you manage deadlines
Any relevant case studies, references or similar work

Contact: Dr Nick Askew, Director, nick@conservation-careers.com,

Website: www.conservation-careers.com