Accounts Assistant

HAWK3 Talent Solutions; Bradford, North East; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

HAWK3 Talent Solutions in Bradford is seeking an experienced Accounts Assistant to join a busy finance team. The role covers sales and purchase ledgers, VAT, reconciliations and month-end duties, with a fast-paced environment and a focus on accuracy.

The ideal candidate will have at least 3 years' experience, strong Excel skills (XLOOKUP, Pivot Tables) and familiarity with Sage. This is a permanent, on-site position offering a salary of £28,000–£29,000 per annum and 37.5 hours per week.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years' experience within an accounts or finance environment.
• Experience across sales ledger and purchase ledger functions.
• Experience with credit control, payment allocation and account reconciliations.
• Practical experience completing bank reconciliations and processing financial transactions.
• Experience supporting month-end and year-end processes.
• Knowledge of VAT returns, ideally including UK and EU VAT.
• AAT Level 2 or equivalent qualification.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills, including XLOOKUP, Pivot Tables and spreadsheet analysis.
• Previous experience using Sage would be advantageous, although training will be provided.
• Good understanding of accounting principles and financial processes.
• Excellent attention to detail and a high level of accuracy.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise and manage deadlines.
• Able to work independently while also contributing as part of a finance team.
• Proactive and practical approach to problem-solving.
• Comfortable working within a busy, high-volume environment.

Responsibilities

• Process and post sales ledger transactions accurately and within agreed timescales.
• Maintain accurate customer account records and monitor outstanding balances.
• Review aged debtor reports and proactively follow up overdue accounts.
• Allocate and reconcile customer payments and remittances.
• Investigate discrepancies and resolve customer account queries.
• Check, process and upload purchase invoices onto Sage.
• Maintain accurate supplier account records.
• Monitor aged creditor balances and follow up outstanding supplier items.
• Reconcile supplier payments and remittances.
• Investigate and resolve invoice and supplier account discrepancies.
• Post daily banking transactions onto Sage, including multi-currency transactions.
• Complete regular bank reconciliations.
• Identify and investigate any differences or discrepancies.
• Ensure financial records are maintained accurately and up to date.
• Support the Accounts Manager with month-end and year-end accounting processes.
• Assist with the preparation of financial information and supporting documentation.
• Provide relevant information and records for internal and external audits.
• Ensure finance documentation is accurate, organised and readily available.
• Assist with the preparation of UK quarterly VAT returns across multiple companies.
• Support the preparation of EU VAT returns on a monthly and quarterly basis.
• Liaise with overseas accounting partners where required.
• Assist with general finance administration and ad-hoc accounting projects.
• Work alongside other departments to improve financial controls, processes and procedures.
• Provide support to the wider finance team as required.

Skills

Accounts experience

Sales ledger

Purchase ledger

Credit control

Bank reconciliations

VAT returns

AAT Level 2

Excel

XLOOKUP

Pivot Tables

Sage

Attention to detail

Organisational skills

Independent worker

Problem solving

High-volume environment

Education

AAT Level 2 or equivalent

Tools

Sage

Excel

Pivot Tables

XLOOKUP

Job description

Accounts Assistant

Location: Bradford
Salary: £28,000 – £29,000 per annum, depending on experience
Working Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday, with flexible start and finish times between 6:00am and 6:00pm
Contract: Permanent
Working Pattern: On-site

About the Role

Our client is a well-established and growing business with an expanding finance function. They are looking for an experienced Accounts Assistant to provide hands‑on support across a busy, high-volume finance environment.

This is a varied role covering sales ledger, purchase ledger, banking, reconciliations, VAT and month-end activities. You will be responsible for ensuring financial information is processed accurately and efficiently, while supporting the wider finance team with day-to-day accounting requirements.

The role would suit someone with a minimum of three years' accounts experience who is confident working with Excel, enjoys working with figures and is comfortable managing their own workload in a fast‑paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

Sales Ledger

• Process and post sales ledger transactions accurately and within agreed timescales.
• Maintain accurate customer account records and monitor outstanding balances.
• Review aged debtor reports and proactively follow up overdue accounts.
• Allocate and reconcile customer payments and remittances.
• Investigate discrepancies and resolve customer account queries.

Purchase Ledger

• Check, process and upload purchase invoices onto Sage.
• Maintain accurate supplier account records.
• Monitor aged creditor balances and follow up outstanding supplier items.
• Reconcile supplier payments and remittances.
• Investigate and resolve invoice and supplier account discrepancies.

Banking & Reconciliations

• Post daily banking transactions onto Sage, including multi‑currency transactions.
• Complete regular bank reconciliations.
• Identify and investigate any differences or discrepancies.
• Ensure financial records are maintained accurately and up to date.

Month End, Year End & Audit

• Support the Accounts Manager with month‑end and year‑end accounting processes.
• Assist with the preparation of financial information and supporting documentation.
• Provide relevant information and records for internal and external audits.
• Ensure finance documentation is accurate, organised and readily available.

VAT & General Finance Duties

• Assist with the preparation of UK quarterly VAT returns across multiple companies.
• Support the preparation of EU VAT returns on a monthly and quarterly basis.
• Liaise with overseas accounting partners where required.
• Assist with general finance administration and ad‑hoc accounting projects.
• Work alongside other departments to improve financial controls, processes and procedures.
• Provide support to the wider finance team as required.

Experience & Skills Required

• Minimum 3 years' experience within an accounts or finance environment.
• Previous experience working across sales ledger and purchase ledger functions.
• Experience with credit control, payment allocation and account reconciliations.
• Practical experience completing bank reconciliations and processing financial transactions.
• Experience supporting month-end and year-end processes.
• Knowledge of VAT returns, ideally including UK and EU VAT.
• AAT Level 2 or equivalent qualification, or higher.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills, including XLOOKUP, Pivot Tables and spreadsheet analysis.
• Previous experience using Sage would be advantageous, although training will be provided.
• Good understanding of accounting principles and financial processes.
• Excellent attention to detail and a high level of accuracy.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise and manage competing deadlines.
• Able to work independently while also contributing effectively as part of a finance team.
• A proactive and practical approach to problem‑solving.
• Comfortable working within a busy, high‑volume and fast‑paced environment.

Closing date is 14.10.2026 Please note this could change subject to suitable applications.