Associate/Senior Associate (Business restructuring)

Business restructuring and insolvency in Exeter

  • Vacancy Working Pattern:
    Full Time

In a nutshell

Business restructuring offers a varied and engaging career for individuals who enjoy problem‑solving at pace and working across complex commercial situations. The team supports businesses through periods of change, combining strong technical expertise with sound commercial judgement and a people‑focused approach. The work is case‑led and wide‑ranging, with regular exposure to senior stakeholders such as directors, lenders and professional advisers. There is also close collaboration with the Corporate Finance team, particularly on accelerated M&A processes and debt refinancing, giving team members insight into transaction‑driven work alongside restructuring and insolvency matters.

Against this backdrop, we are seeking an Associate/Senior Associate to join the team. We welcome internal applications from part‑qualified or newly qualified candidates, including those with no prior insolvency experience who are looking to transition into this service line and build a long‑term career in restructuring. You will be supported by a collaborative, team‑based environment with a strong focus on learning and development, including support for both accountancy and insolvency qualifications, along with exposure to a broad range of client work and increasing responsibility as experience grows.

What you'll be doing day to day

  • Act as case administrator for corporate insolvency appointments, including administrations, liquidations and voluntary arrangements, managing cases from commencement through to closure, with appropriate senior support
  • Prepare and review statutory documentation, reports, correspondence and case systems, working closely with the appointed Insolvency Practitioner
  • Undertake financial analysis and investigations, identifying potential issues or irregularities
  • Produce clear and timely progress updates for clients and partners, highlighting key developments and recommendations
  • Support and mentor junior team members, contributing to their development and maintaining quality standards across assignments

About you

  • ACCA, ACA or AAT qualified or part‑qualified (or equivalent), with an interest in developing further through specialist restructuring or insolvency qualifications (such as CPI or JIEB)
  • A genuine interest in insolvency/business restructuring, with a desire to build a career in this service line
  • Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with sound judgement
  • Clear and professional communication skills, both written and verbal
  • Comfortable working independently while contributing effectively within a team environment

Why work at PKF Francis Clark

As the largest firm of independent chartered accountants and business advisers in South West England, PKF Francis Clark offers a breadth of opportunities to develop your career in the way that’s right for you. 

Established in 1919, we’ve grown to a team of nearly 1,000 people, based across our offices in Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth, Poole, Salisbury, Southampton, Taunton, Torquay and Truro. This means we’re big enough to do challenging work for exciting clients, but small enough to maintain our friendly and supportive culture. 

We work hard to ensure you can belong, be yourself and be brilliant as part of a forward-thinking team. This includes a flexible approach to hybrid working. And our focus on wellbeing and learning and development has been recognised nationally. 

For the past three years, PKF Francis Clark has been certified as a Great Place to Work and ranked among the UK’s Best Workplaces. In 2025, we climbed four places to 20 out of 100 large organisations on this prestigious list. 

We’re also in the UK’s top 10 Best Workplaces for Women (6 out of 100 large organisations), as well as being ranked among the Best Workplaces for Wellbeing (35 out of 100), Best Workplaces for Development (24 out of 100) and Best Workplaces in Consulting and Professional Services. 

All these lists are compiled by workplace culture experts Great Place to Work. Our rankings are a direct result of feedback from our people in a confidential, independent annual survey. 

The success rates of our trainees mean we’re also ranked 33rd in The Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers 2025. 

While we’re proudly independent, we collaborate with colleagues around the world to enable our clients to succeed. PKF Francis Clark is a member of the PKF Global family of firms – together we’re the 12th largest provider of accountancy services in the UK. Being part of this international network provides opportunities to connect with like-minded accountants and business advisers in 150 countries. 

Why work at PKF Francis Clark

As the largest firm of independent chartered accountants and business advisers in South West England, PKF Francis Clark offers a wide range of opportunities to develop your career in the way that’s right for you.

Established in 1919, we’ve grown to nearly 1,000 people across offices in Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth, Poole, Salisbury, Southampton, Taunton, Torquay and Truro. Our size means we can offer ambitious work with exciting clients and a friendly, supportive culture.

We want you to belong, be yourself and do your best work as part of a forward-thinking team, with a flexible approach to hybrid working and a strong focus on wellbeing, learning and development.

For the past four years, PKF Francis Clark has been certified as a Great Place to Work and ranked among the UK’s Best Workplaces, rising to 6th out of 100 large organisations.

We’re a top 10 Best Workplace for Women, as well as being ranked for Wellbeing, Development, and Consulting and Professional Services. These rankings are compiled by Great Place to Work, based on confidential, independent feedback from our people. In addition, we’re one of The Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers.

Being a Certified B Corp means we’re held to high standards for environmental and social performance. We’re independently assessed to ensure we support our people, act responsibly and make long-term decisions that balance people and planet.

We’re proudly independent, while collaborating internationally through the PKF Global family of firms. Together we’re the 13th largest provider of accountancy services in the UK, with connections to like-minded advisers in 150 countries.

Your core benefits 

Financial wellbeing 

  • Group personal pension to help you build your future savings through employer and employee contributions 
  • Group life assurance providing cover up to four times your basic annual salary 
  • Group income protection available after six months’ service 
  • Health cash plan giving money back on everyday health costs, with free cover for up to four dependent children (up to age 24 in full‑time education) and the option to add a partner or spouse 

Mental wellbeing 

  • Counselling and emotional support for you and your immediate family 
  • Virtual GP and second opinion services for you and your immediate family 
  • Access to trained Mental Health First Aiders for confidential, peer to peer support 

Physical wellbeing 

  • Cycle to work scheme, with the option to purchase a bike and accessories up to £4,000* 
  • Discounted membership at gyms, pools and studios across the UK 
  • Digital health and wellbeing tools available through the employee health cash plan 
  • Support for colleagues experiencing menopause, as part of our Menopause Workplace Pledge, including webinars and a dedicated Microsoft Teams channel for ongoing support 

Additional benefits 

  • Family friendly benefits, including enhanced pay, family leave coaching sessions and a parent network  
  • The option to buy up to five extra days of holiday (pro rata for part‑time colleagues) * 
  • One paid volunteering day each year to support local organisations 
  • Electric vehicle lease scheme (grade and pay criteria apply) * 
  • Gifts to mark key career and family milestones 
  • Expert led webinars on mental, physical and financial wellbeing 
  • Francis Clark Charitable Foundation, offering support for current and former employees experiencing financial hardship 

* These benefits are provided via a salary exchange and are subject to employee’s post exchange hourly rate remaining above the national minimum wage 

Additional information 

Please be aware that the job title used internally may not align exactly with the title displayed in this advert

What happens next

To apply for the Associate/Senior Associate (Business restructuring) role click the ‘Apply now’ button below.

If you don't have an up-to-date CV or if you would like an informal chat about the role before applying then please contact James Beck on: [email protected].

PKF Francis Clark is an Equal Opportunities employer with a strong and passionate commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We’re dedicated to fostering a work environment that supports, inspires, and respects all individuals. We do not discriminate based upon age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, or any other applicable legally protected characteristic.

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and all aspects of employment at PKF Francis Clark are based on merit, qualifications, and business needs. We’re committed to providing reasonable adjustments or accommodations for applicants, so if you need assistance or support during the recruitment process please let us know. We promise to reply to all applications.

Exeter office location

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Location
Exeter
Centenary House,, Peninsula Park, Rydon Lane,, Exeter, UK, EX2 7XE
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