Accounts Assistant

Harwoods Ltd; Crawley; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

An automotive retail group in Crawley seeks a detail-oriented candidate for a purchase ledger role. Responsibilities include managing invoicing, reconciling statements, and preparing monthly payments. The ideal candidate has clerical experience and excellent organizational skills. Flexible working options are available, with some remote work on Mondays and Fridays.

Qualifications

• Experience at a clerical level with accounting and bookkeeping principles.
• Ability to work proactively and efficiently in a fast-paced environment.
• Driving licence required for this role.

Responsibilities

• Manage purchase ledger duties, including processing invoices and reconciling statements.
• Prepare monthly supplier payment runs for BACS submission.
• Reconcile daily bank postings and upload daily BACS payments.

Skills

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Job description

JOB PURPOSE: You will be responsible for managing our purchase ledger accounts, maintaining a high degree of accuracy and ensuring that suppliers are paid within the agreed terms. You will also be responsible for posting the bank statement and reconciling the cash book, as well as working closely with the operational team to ensure the accurate posting of dealership banking.

Department/Business/Location: Accounts / Group

Reports to: Management Accountant

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• To carry out general purchase ledger duties, to include processing of supplier and manufacturer invoices, reconcile supplier and manufacturer statements and ensure a high level of accuracy is maintained.
• Manage aged credit reports; reconcile balances to statements on both vehicle and general ledgers.
• Prepare monthly supplier payment runs & customer direct debit payments for BACS submission.
• Process new supplier requests - ensuring the correct checks are carried out, obtaining approval, and setting up the accounts.
• Reconcile OEM accounts.
• Agree and reconcile daily bank postings (bank statements, vehicle, service & parts banking).
• Upload daily BACS payments to the bank.
• To carry out general sales ledger duties, to include credit applications, set up of customer accounts.
• Manage aged debt reports; chase outstanding balances and maintain unallocated funds across the vehicle and general ledgers.
• Reconcile and post intercompany journals to clear internal debtor and creditor accounts daily.
• Preparation of reports for month end balance sheet reconciliations.
• Manage the accounts payable email inbox for any queries relating to your responsibilities.
• Answering the phone and directing calls.
• Other duties as required to support the preparation of timely and accurate of management accounts.

Skills & Requirements

You will have experience at a clerical level, showing a thorough understanding of accounting and bookkeeping principles. You should have excellent organisational skills, allowing you to work proactively and efficiently in a fast-paced environment. Strong communication skills are essential, allowing you to work effectively as a member of a team. You should show exceptional attention to detail and be able to work to a high degree of accuracy. A driving licence is required for this role.

Experience in a bookkeeping role is essential. Knowledge of the industry would be beneficial, but is not required.

Hours: Mon - Fri 8.30 - 5pm Monday and Friday can be worked remotely.

The Harwoods Way

Harwoods Group is a values led, family owned automotive retail group that was founded in 1931. Our values are lived and breathed by all of our colleagues to enable industry leading customer experience and colleague engagement.

• We Treasure our people and our customers
• We challenge ourselves to grow & improve
• We grab responsibility
• We run in the same direction as one team
• We inject energy and fun into our work

We are a top 30 automotive dealer group, as ranked by annual turnover on AM100, representing the following brand partners: Bentley, McLaren, Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover, Audi, Volvo, BMW & Mini (Service), MAN. We operate across 5 counties in the South East of England, namely: Surrey, East Sussex, West Sussex, Wiltshire, Hampshire.

With a high colleague engagement score of 72%, Harwoods Group has a real differentiator with our industry leading people development programme, including: recruitment and selection; onboarding; induction; probation; lets talk one to ones; Harwoods Academy; succession and development; colleague recognition. After continued growth, we now operate with circa 1,100 colleagues across circa 28 state of the art facilities.

We demand the best for our colleagues and our customers and look forward to your application at [e-mail]

Harwoods Group is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates.