Accounts Assistant

Zero Surplus; Essex; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A fast-growing research and technology firm in Essex is seeking an Accounts Assistant for a full-time, office-based role. The position involves supporting day-to-day finance operations, managing purchase invoices, and assisting with month-end activities. The ideal candidate will have experience managing ledgers and proficiency in Microsoft Excel, with Sage knowledge being a plus. This role offers growth opportunities within a collaborative team as the company expands its finance function.

Qualifications

• Previous experience managing ledgers is essential.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Excel required.
• Experience using Sage will be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Support day-to-day transactional finance activities.
• Code and process purchase invoices accurately.
• Assist with month-end close activities.

Skills

Organisational skills

Proactive approach

Management of ledgers

Microsoft Excel proficiency

Experience with Sage

Job description

Job Overview

We are working with a fast-growing research and technology organisation based in Saffron Walden, operating across the UK and internationally. As the company continues to scale, they are now looking to appoint an Accounts Assistant to join their finance team in a newly created role. This is an excellent opportunity for someone organised, proactive, and looking to build broad, hands-on experience within a growing finance function.

Key Responsibilities

In this position, you will support the day-to-day transactional finance activity, including coding and processing purchase invoices, checking approvals, and posting them accurately into the finance system. You will raise and update purchase orders, prepare payment runs, process employee expenses, and create sales invoices while setting up and maintaining supplier accounts. You will also assist with general accounts payable activities to ensure the smooth running of the finance operation.

Alongside these core responsibilities, you'll support wider finance processes such as posting journals, maintaining the fixed asset register, processing bank transactions and allocating payments, and assisting with month-end close activities. As the business develops, you will also contribute to ad hoc finance projects, reporting tasks, and process improvements, gaining exposure to a varied and evolving accounting environment.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have previous experience managing ledgers and a good working knowledge of Microsoft Excel. You should bring a hands‑on, proactive approach, with strong organisational skills and the confidence to manage multiple tasks accurately and efficiently. Experience using Sage would be advantageous, as would an interest in pursuing professional accounting qualifications. Study support may be available for the right candidate.

Benefits and Working Conditions

This is a full‑time, office‑based role in Saffron Walden, working five days per week within a collaborative organisation of around 30 employees. As a newly created position, it offers the chance to grow alongside the company and take on increasing responsibility as the finance function expands.

We Want to Hear From You

If you are looking for a varied Accounts Assistant role where you can build your skills, gain exposure across multiple areas of finance, and grow within a scaling technology business, we would love to hear from you.