Accounts Payable & Finance Assistant

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.