Role: Senior Finance Assistant
Sector: Education/Charity
Location: West London
Hybrid: Minimum 2 days per week in office
Hours: Full Time
Contract: 3 months with possibility of going permanent
Salary: £30,000 - £35,000 FTE
Reporting to: Financial Controller
Ref: VFR 3264


VisionFR is delighted to be working closely with an education charity to find a Senior Finance Assistant to join the finance team on an initial 3-month contract, with the possibility of the role turning permanent. This role will suit an experienced Finance Assistant supporting month-end and staying calm whilst working in a busy environment. This role is a key to the organisation


Key Responsibilities of the Senior Finance Assistant


• Oversee and process day-to-day transactional finance activities, covering payables, receivables, employee expenses and company card transactions
• Ensure financial data is recorded accurately and consistently in line with internal policies
• Complete regular reconciliations across bank accounts, card statements and balance sheet items
• Investigate and resolve variances, discrepancies and finance queries promptly
• Prepare and manage weekly supplier and expense payment runs, ensuring correct authorisation
• Support timely month-end close processes across payables and receivables, applying appropriate cut-off procedures
• Prepare and post month-end journals, including accruals, prepayments and internal recharges
• Review and reconcile key balance sheet accounts, investigating movements and variances
• Assist with the preparation of accurate and timely monthly reporting
• Process income streams and work closely with internal stakeholders to ensure accurate recording
• Maintain strong financial controls and adherence to internal procedures
• Identify and implement opportunities to improve processes and efficiencies
• Provide ad hoc support to the senior finance team as required


Key Requirements and Skills of the Senior Finance Assistant


• 2+ years’ experience in a finance role
• Part-qualified or working towards a professional accounting qualification
• Proven experience handling daily accounting tasks and month-end processes
• Skilled in preparing month-end journals and reconciliations, including prepayments and accruals
• Confident user of accounting software and Microsoft Excel
• Comfortable collaborating with both finance and non-finance colleagues across the organisation
• Knowledge of charity or not-for-profit finance is desirable but not essential
• Quick to learn new processes and adaptable to change
• Proactive and self-driven, with a strong sense of ownership and accountability
• Exceptional attention to detail and ability to consistently meet deadlines
• Flexible team player who thrives in a dynamic work environment
• Able to follow instructions accurately while taking initiative and exercising sound judgement
• Open to learning and improving systems and processes to enhance efficiency
• Positive and calm under pressure, with a helpful approach to colleagues
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, and able to build relationships with the wider team
• Excellent time-management skills and ownership of plans
• Proactive
• Eligible to work in the UK


VisionFR is committed to encouraging equality, diversity, inclusion and eliminating unlawful discrimination within our workforce and whilst fulfilling our Clients recruitment needs.


Due to the high level of applications being received if you do not hear from us within 5 working days, please assume your application has not been successful on this occasion, usually due to other candidates having more relevant sector exposure, qualifications or required skills. We thank you for your interest.