Full job descriptionJob Title: Accounts Assistant
Location: Warrington, Cheshire
Position Type: Full-time, Contract
Salary: £28,000 - £32,000 per annum
Reporting To: Finance Manager / Financial Controller
Job Summary
An adaptable and detail-focussed Accounts Assistant is required to join a growing finance function based in Warrington. This varied role supports both purchase and sales ledgers, bank reconciliations, and general ledger journal postings, serving as a key operational link between daily transactional accounting and month-end financial reporting.
Key Responsibilities
*Ledger Maintenance: Assisting with the end-to-end processing of purchase invoices, matching purchase orders, and processing sales invoices and credit notes.
*Bank Reconciliations: Performing daily and monthly bank reconciliations across multi-currency accounts, ensuring all receipts and payments are matched accurately.
*Credit Control Support: Monitoring debtor aging, performing light debt collection, and assisting with customer account allocations and query resolution.
*Payment Runs: Assisting with weekly and monthly BACS payment runs for trade creditors and staff expenses.
*Month-End Assistance: Preparing basic journal entries (prepayments, accruals, and nominal ledger adjustments) to support month-end balance sheet reconciliations.
*VAT & Compliance: Assisting in the preparation of quarterly UK VAT returns and maintaining compliant digital records under Making Tax Digital (MTD).
*Ad-Hoc Support: Providing general administrative support to the wider finance team, including supplier queries and audit file preparation.
Person Specification
Required Skills & Experience:
*Minimum 1-2 years of experience within a broad, transactional finance or accounts assistant role.
*Solid understanding of double-entry bookkeeping, nominal ledgers, and trial balances.
*Proficiency in accounting ERP software (e.g., Sage 50/200, Xero, SAP, or Business Central).
*Intermediate Microsoft Excel skills (vlookups, pivot tables, basic formatting, and sum formulas).
*Strong numerical accuracy and attention to detail when managing high volumes of data.
Key Competencies:
*Communication: Clear, professional verbal and written communication with internal department heads and external clients.
*Organisation: Strong time management skills with the ability to balance daily transactional duties with month-end deadlines.
*Proactivity: Strong problem-solving mindset and eagerness to learn wider management accounting processes.
Desirable Criteria:
*Currently studying towards or holds AAT Level 3 / Level 4 qualifications (study support package available).
Prior experience in an SME or fast-paced finance department within the North West.