JOB DESCRIPTIONAssistant Accountant

Location: Birmingham MailboxHours: 9am – 5.30pm Mon-FriSalary: 16k – 18kReporting to: Regional Commercial Accountants

Overview

An Assistant Accountant will be part of a busy finance team. The role will report to the Regional Commercial Accountants and work closely with a small team of Management Accountant who will provide guidance and support. The role will ideally suit a candidate who is commencing their career within finance and study support will be offered alongside on the job experience.

Working closely with the rest of the Finance Department in order to ensure consistency and best practice is developed and maintained across the function, proactively driving the ongoing improvement of business practices and performance across the team. Working co-operatively and positively with all internal departments, providing excellent service and support and advice where applicable.

Responsibilities

Bank and sales ledger tasks

Reconciling the bank accounts on a daily basis and posting transaction to the general ledger

Allocating customer payments to the sales ledger Liaising with centre managers and the wider business to resolve

account issues Administering centre petty cash returns Processing customer direct debits Assisting with credit management – sending aged debt reports to the

centre managers and assisting with sending reminder letters Dealing with general customer and centre queries Any other ad hoc tasks as required

Month End Management Accounts

There will be a number of core duties but over time it is expected that the candidate will seek to get involved in all areas of the month end process

Assisting the management accountants in preparing the month end numbers

Importing month end sales invoice data from the business billing software

Producing analysis of service income and providing explanations for variances to prior month results

Reconciling customer deposit balances and overseeing the return of deposits where required.

Health & Safety & Other

Ensure that you are aware of and work to policies relating to their statutory H&S obligations.

To actively participate in team meetings, reviews, training and development, as agreed with your line manager

To carry out any other duties within the scope of the post.

Responsible for:

No responsibility for staff shall exist although there may be a requirement to supervise temporary or seconded staff on occasions.

Person Specification

Centre AssistantCriteria Essential attributes Assessment Education & Qualifications • A high standard of general education

• Demonstrate a high standard of English

• GCSEs / A Levels or similar.• Part Qualified and or working towards

CIMA, ACCA, AAT or similar qualification would be desirable but not essential

Application

Experience • Customer service experience • Promotions experience • Previous experience of working within

the sector be desirable• Previous office administrative

experience• A background of working within a

Finance department would be desirable.

• Experience involving banking, account reconciliations, preparing financial statements and preparing VAT returns.

Application

Knowledge • A high level of computer literacy is needed and they should be a proficient user of Microsoft Excel, Word and Outlook and will be expected to use Office 365.

• Report Writing skills are also a requirement for the role and they should be comfortable analysing large amounts of data and reporting the results.

Skills & Competencies • Be effective in both verbal and written communications and have the ability to communicate confidently at all levels of authority within the business and strive to develop strong working relationships with the wider business and suppliers

Application/ Interview

• Good analytical and problem solving skills combined with attention to detail and good communication skills.

• Committed to developing strong working relationships within the finance team and play an active part in the development of its systems and processes as the company grows

• Demonstrates ability to work well within a team environment, recognising busy times and actively shares the workload to ensure the team delivers to deadlines

• Adheres to Finance policies and procedures and those applicable to the wider business

• Have the ability to maintain consistency throughout all work

• Excellent numeracy and literacy skills

Personal Attributes • Be able to work from own initiative • Prepared to go the extra mile to

ensure an issue is resolved• Demonstrates a commitment to

studying and passing a recognised professional accounting qualification

• Hard working and conscientious• Be creative and imaginative • Possess the ability to promote a

professional image of the company at all times, both in and out of work.

• Smartly dressed and neatly turned out• Courteous and efficient• Professional approach• Well spoken• Approachable and not shy away from

confrontations• Strong Interpersonal Skills• Non‐judgemental and an

understanding of equality• Financially minded

Interview