Accounts Assistant

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Accounts Assistant to join a thriving business based in St. Albans, fulltime office based supporting both private and commercial clients. This role offers you the chance to work closely with a knowledgeable Financial Controller, gaining exposure to all aspects of day-to-day accounts operations within a supportive and collaborative team environment.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Accounts Assistant to join a thriving business based in St. Albans, supporting both private and commercial clients. This role offers you the chance to work closely with a knowledgeable Financial Controller, gaining exposure to all aspects of day-to-day accounts operations within a supportive and collaborative team environment. You will play a vital part in ensuring the smooth running of financial processes, from purchase and sales ledgers to credit control and month-end reporting. The organisation values your commitment to accuracy, your ability to communicate effectively with colleagues and external partners, and your enthusiasm for learning new systems. If you are looking for a position where your attention to detail and interpersonal skills will be truly valued, this is the perfect next step in your career.

• Work directly with an experienced Financial Controller, providing comprehensive support across all areas of accounts administration and reporting.
• Enjoy a varied workload that includes purchase ledger management, sales invoicing, credit control, reconciliations, VAT returns, and more, offering excellent opportunities for professional growth.
• Be part of a friendly and dependable team that values collaboration, open communication, and ongoing development in a welcoming office environment located in St. Albans.

What you'll do:

As an Accounts Assistant, you will become an integral member of the finance team, working closely with the Financial Controller to ensure seamless day-to-day operation of all accounting functions. Your responsibilities will span from managing purchase and sales ledgers through to reconciling accounts and supporting month-end processes. You will be trusted to handle sensitive financial data with care while communicating effectively with suppliers, clients, and colleagues alike. Your proactive approach will see you resolving queries swiftly, maintaining accurate records, preparing essential reports, and contributing positively to the overall efficiency of the finance department. This role provides an excellent platform for you to develop your skills further within a supportive environment that encourages knowledge sharing and teamwork.

• Process purchase invoices accurately into the accounts software and CRM system while collaborating with part-time support already in place.
• Handle supplier queries promptly and professionally, ensuring strong relationships are maintained with key partners.
• Reconcile supplier statements regularly to ensure all records are up-to-date and discrepancies are resolved efficiently.
• Prepare weekly payment runs via BACS, ensuring timely settlement of outstanding balances.
• Manage the sales ledger by issuing retail and contract sales invoices as required, maintaining accurate records at all times.
• Undertake credit control duties including following up on outstanding payments and preparing ad-hoc sales invoices when necessary.
• Oversee IRP (Dealer) invoice processing and associated credit control activities to support business operations.
• Assist with balance sheet reconciliations and bank reconciliations to maintain financial integrity across all accounts.
• Support the preparation of CIS deduction statements and records for review and submission in line with regulatory requirements.
• Contribute to weekly cash flow and sales reporting as well as assisting with month-end processing, employee expense claims, VAT return preparation, and other ad hoc finance tasks.

What you bring:

To excel as an Accounts Assistant in this setting, you will bring hands-on experience from a similar finance or administrative background where accuracy was paramount. Your methodical approach ensures that every transaction is recorded correctly while your proficiency in Excel allows you to analyse data efficiently. You thrive when working collaboratively yet are equally comfortable taking ownership of individual tasks. Your interpersonal skills enable you to build rapport quickly whether dealing with internal teams or external contacts. A willingness to adapt-whether learning new software like SAP or embracing additional responsibilities-will help you make a positive impact from day one. Above all else, your reliability, honesty, and commitment to supporting others set you apart as someone who can be counted on within any team.

• Demonstrated experience working within an accounts or finance function where you have managed both purchase ledger and sales ledger responsibilities.
• Excellent attention to detail with proven ability to input data accurately into accounting software or CRM systems.
• Strong Excel spreadsheet skills are essential for success in this role; you should be comfortable using formulas and managing large datasets.
• Experience handling supplier queries professionally via phone, email, or in person is highly desirable.
• Ability to perform regular reconciliations of supplier statements, balance sheets, and bank accounts with precision.
• Familiarity with credit control processes including issuing invoices and following up on outstanding payments is advantageous.
• Previous involvement in preparing VAT returns or CIS deduction statements would be beneficial but not mandatory.
• Experience using SAP is preferable but not essential; willingness to learn new systems is important.
• A self-motivated approach combined with the ability to work independently using your own initiative while also being a dependable team player.
• Confident communication skills enabling you to interact effectively with staff members at all levels as well as external suppliers and clients.

Robert Walters Operations Limited is an employment business and employment agency and welcomes applications from all candidates