Accounts Payable & Finance Assistant
Parkside
Accounts Payable & Finance Assistant Location: Brentford (4 days office-based, Fridays WFH) Salary: Up to £45,000 + Bonus Reporting to: Finance Director Company: £7m Turnover Leasing Group The Opportunity An established and growing leasing business is seeking an experienced and hands-on Finance Assistant / Accounts Payable professional to work closely with the Finance Director. This is a broad finance role requiring someone who is comfortable taking ownership of accounts payable and payment processes while also supporting month-end and general ledger activities. The successful candidate will be highly organised, detail-oriented and confident managing day-to-day transactional finance responsibilities within a fast-paced environment. Key Responsibilities Accounts Payable & Payments - Take full ownership of the Accounts Payable function, ensuring invoices are processed accurately and efficiently. - Process supplier invoices and maintain accurate supplier account records. - Reconcile supplier statements, investigate discrepancies, and resolve outstanding queries. - Prepare and process bank payments in line with authorised approval procedures. - Build and maintain effective relationships with suppliers, responding promptly to payment and account-related enquiries. - Manage the finance inbox, ensuring all invoices and correspondence are dealt with in a timely manner. - Process employee expenses and provide guidance on expense claims and company policies where required. Banking & Cash Management - Manage scheduled payment runs and ad hoc payments across the Group. - Administer banking activities, including liaison with the Group's banking partners regarding new payees, account maintenance, and payment verification requests. - Produce daily cash position reports and monitor cash flow across multiple entities. - Prepare monthly bank reconciliations, ensuring all balances are accurately accounted for. - Allocate and reconcile cash receipts on a daily basis. Financial Systems & Ledger Management - Maintain the integrity of financial records within the Soft4 system across all Group companies. - Process sales, purchase, and banking transactions accurately and in a timely manner. - Post and reconcile general ledger journals, including payroll, acquisitions, accruals, prepayments, and other month-end adjustments. - Perform monthly balance sheet and general ledger reconciliations. - Identify opportunities for continuous improvement and support the development and implementation of enhanced finance processes and systems. Accounts Receivable - Raise monthly sales invoices relating to Group property income. - Record and maintain sales transactions within Soft4. - Proactively monitor outstanding balances, issuing statements and following up overdue accounts where necessary. - Process end-of-contract balance adjustments and authorised write-offs in accordance with company procedures. VAT, Payroll & Compliance - Prepare and submit VAT returns for three Group companies, ensuring accuracy and compliance with HMRC requirements. - Maximise legitimate VAT recovery and ensure bad debt relief claims are correctly accounted for. - Arrange VAT payments within statutory deadlines. - Support the Finance Director with RAL reporting requirements and other indirect tax matters. - Process approved monthly payroll payments through online banking platforms. - Ensure all payroll-related payments to HMRC are made accurately and on time. Reporting, Audit & Month-End - Support the month-end and year-end close processes across the Group. - Assist in the preparation of management information, financial reports, and supporting analysis. - Maintain effective relationships with external auditors, providing information and documentation as required. - Support the Finance Director with ad hoc reporting, finance projects, and business initiatives. Skills & Experience Required - Previous experience in an Accounts Payable, Finance Assistant, Finance Officer, Assistant Accountant, or similar finance position. - Strong hands-on experience managing accounts payable processes from invoice receipt through to payment. - Proven experience with payment processing and online banking platforms. - Sound understanding of supplier management and accounts payable controls. - Experience posting journals and maintaining accurate general ledger records. - Strong reconciliation skills, including bank, supplier, and balance sheet reconciliations. - Experience preparing and submitting VAT returns. - Experience using ERP or accounting systems, ideally Soft4, Microsoft Dynamics Business Central, or Dynamics 365. - Advanced Excel skills with the ability to analyse and reconcile financial data. - Excellent attention to detail and a high level of accuracy. - Strong organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities. - Self-motivated and able to work independently while taking ownership of key finance processes. - Confident communicating with stakeholders at all levels, including senior management and the Finance Director. Ideal Candidate The successful candidate will be a proactive and detail-oriented finance professional with strong Accounts Payable and payment-processing experience. They will be comfortable managing day-to-day transactional finance activities while also supporting month-end processes, financial reporting, and wider finance initiatives within a growing organisation. Skills & Experience Required - Previous experience within an Accounts Payable, Finance Assistant or similar finance role. - Strong practical experience of payment processing and bank payments. - Good understanding of accounts payable and accounts receivable processes. - Experience posting journals and general ledger entries. - Strong general ledger reconciliation experience. - Experience using Microsoft Dynamics Business Central / Dynamics 365 . - Confident using Excel and other Microsoft Office applications. - Excellent attention to detail and accuracy. - Able to work independently and take ownership of responsibilities. - Strong communication and organisational skills. Package - Salary up to £45,000 - Discretionary annual bonus - Christmas bonus - 25 days annual leave - Hybrid working (4 days office, Fridays from home) Ideal Candidate This role would suit a capable and proactive finance professional who enjoys being hands-on, has strong Accounts Payable expertise, and is comfortable supporting a broad range of finance activities while working closely with the Finance Director in a growing business. Urgent requirement - immediate interviews available.