Job Description

The broad scope of activities is aligned to that expected for a small Finance team in a company with less than 50 FTE.

Role Accountabilities

General Ledger

• Prepare and post month end journal entries for accruals, prepayments, and fixed assets in support of the production of timely, complete and accurate monthly management accounts – including the reconciliation of an accurate balance sheet position and preparation of a monthly cash flow statement.
• Review payroll reports for accuracy and post monthly payroll journal to GL.
• Act as a final check, ensuring DB/DC pension and flexible benefits contributions are being accurately calculated and deducted.
• Monitor accounts receivables with support from relevant colleagues and make recommendations for provisioning.

Cash flow

• Monitor and project short to medium term cash flows to manage liquid reserves across the company bank account and Money Market Fund.
• Cash match income to supplier invoices on a daily basis.

Purchase 2 Pay

• Maintain supplier master data and maintain evidence all changes have been approved by the Financial Controller.
• Process supplier invoices, ensuring the 3-way match principle is upheld and that only legitimate business costs are recognized.
• Process weekly Accounts Payable payment runs through the Company’s online banking facility, ensuring 95% of supplies are paid within agreed credit terms.
• Process non-PO driven and one-off payments, ensuring all necessary authorizations are received.
• Verify supplier accounts by reconciling to statements on a frequent basis.
• Reconcile credit card statements to receipts or invoices and ensure the accurate posting of these costs into ledgers, including the accurate treatment of VAT.
• Monitor POs for correct classification and for any abnormal trends. Liaise with the Contracts function to ensure expenditure is appropriately accounted for.
• Verify business expense claims for employees against the company policy and then process them for payment, ensuring this expenditure is correctly accounted for.

Reporting and Partnering

• Assist in the preparation of monthly Directorate/Cost Centre financial reports, including reconciliation of reports to the GL and variance analysis.
• Support the Financial Controller in Business Partnering with Directorate and Cost Centre leads, presenting financial information in an easily digestible format and explaining accounting principles to non-accountants.
• Support the Financial Controller with the annual Budgeting process and quarterly Forecasting process.
• Support the Financial Controller in preparation of the year end statutory accounts and the subsequent annual audit, acting as the main point of contact with auditors during fieldwork.
• Respond to Internal Audit reviews, evidencing appropriate financial controls are being maintained.
• Assist in the preparation of the VAT/Class 1A/PSA returns.
• Collate and produce accurate and timely information for submission to relevant external bodies as required e.g. ONS reporting.
• Support the Financial Controller in any other ad-hoc finance related requests.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

In advanced stages of a recognized accountancy qualification (ACCA / CIMA / ACA). Experienced in working in a small to medium enterprise Finance function including day to day operation of a Finance system/ERP (SAP preferable but not mandatory). Can demonstrate versatility, initiative, and an organized approach to working. Understand best practice controls and has a willingness to learn and apply continuous improvement techniques. Prepare accurate and complete documentation in accordance with confidential records retention policies and procedures. Experienced in performing month end close duties, including the posting of financial journals. An appreciation of basic VAT legislation to support business expense processing and reviews. Balance sheet control account completion and cash flow forecasting know how. Demonstrate an advanced knowledge of MS Excel and is analytically minded. A working knowledge of a mid-tier financial system (SAGE, SAP BI, and QuickBooks etc.) is an advantage. Demonstrated track record of working in a finance role, with an ability to understand financial management and accounting concepts and processes.