Accounts Assistant

Automata; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vitality Health Insurance

Eye Care

Salary Sacrifice - EV

Salary Sacrifice - Bike & Tech

Wellbeing & Support

Wellbeing & Development Allowance

Spill & Employee Assistance Programme

Additional Leave

Pension Scheme

Group Life & Critical Illness cover

Job summary

Automata is seeking an Accounts Assistant to own the day-to-day Accounts Payable function and support financial reporting in a hybrid setup. You will manage end-to-end supplier payments, assist month-end processes, and help maintain strong controls across UK, US and German entities.

This role requires accuracy, good organisation and solid Excel skills in a fast-paced, tech-led finance environment.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in an Accounts Payable or general accounts role within a larger team.
• Solid understanding of accounting principles and double-entry bookkeeping.
• Experience managing end-to-end processes.
• Experience with invoice and expense processing, supplier payment runs and bank reconciliations.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Excellent organisational and time-management skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Accounting/Finance qualification or studying towards one such as AAT preferable but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Financial Reporting and Reconciliation: Complete monthly bank reconciliations and aged receivables reconciliations.
• Accounts Payable: Own end-to-end AP across all entities, three-way matching, coding and supplier statement reconciliation.
• Supplier Payments: Prepare and process weekly/monthly supplier payment runs and maintain Aged Payables.
• Employee Expenses: Process expense claims in line with policy, validating receipts and coding.
• Intercompany and Ledger: Support intercompany payables across UK/US/German entities and resolve variances.
• Cashflow and Overheads: Update cash transactions file and produce overhead reports.
• Compliance and Documentation: Maintain audit-ready docs and assist with audits.
• Systems and Process Improvement: Improve AP systems to increase efficiency.
• Customer Invoicing: Invoice customers per contracts and update weekly Aged Debtors.

Skills

Accounts payable

Double-entry bookkeeping

End-to-end processes

Invoice processing

Bank reconciliations

Attention to detail

Time management

Excel

Accounting qualification" or studying

Education

Accounting/Finance qualification or studying (AAT)

Tools

Xero

Job description

Level:3 Salary band: £32,000–£36,000 Location: Hybrid

At Automata, we're on a mission to transform how scientists work by making automation accessible to every lab in the world. We believe that by giving labs the power to automate, we can unlock discoveries that will shape the future of life sciences—from diagnostics and drug discovery to synthetic biology.

But we’re more than just a company disrupting the industry—we're a team of innovators, problem-solvers, and creators passionate about empowering scientists. Our LINQ platform combines hardware and software to streamline workflows, making lab automation fast, flexible, and affordable. This means our customers can focus on groundbreaking research, while we take care of the rest.

Why Work at Automata?

• Impact: Your work will directly contribute to advancements in science and medicine, supporting labs around the globe as they push boundaries in research and innovation.

• Innovation: You’ll be part of a team solving complex problems (seriously, no one else has figured out how to do this yet), using cutting-edge technology (we have robots).

• Growth: We invest in our people. Whether through hands-on experience, professional development, or collaborative projects, you’ll grow both professionally and personally.

• Community: Join a diverse, passionate team that values collaboration (golf on a Thursday, Soccer once a month, movie nights whenever we fancy it).

We’re looking for an Accounts Assistant to take ownership of our day-to-day Accounts Payable function, alongside core financial reporting and reconciliation duties.

This is a permanent role suited to someone with previous accounts experience who thrives on accuracy, organisation and keeping a fast-moving finance function running smoothly. You’ll manage the end-to-end supplier payment cycle, support month-end processes and help maintain strong financial controls across a multi-entity, technology-led business.

This is a great opportunity for someone looking to build a broad, hands-on finance skillset within a fast-paced, forward-looking environment.

What You’ll Do

• Financial Reporting and Reconciliation: Complete monthly bank reconciliations and aged receivables reconciliations, ensuring compliance with month-end and year-end closing procedures.

• Accounts Payable: Own the end-to-end Accounts Payable process across all entities, from invoice receipt through to payment. This includes three-way matching, invoice coding, supplier statement reconciliation and query resolution.

• Supplier Payments: Prepare and process weekly and monthly supplier payment runs, obtain the appropriate approvals and maintain the Aged Payables report, flagging any overdue or disputed items.

• Employee Expenses: Process employee expense claims in line with company policy, including validating receipts and applying the correct coding.

• Intercompany and Ledger: Support the management of intercompany payables and recharges across our UK, US and German entities, investigating and resolving any variances.

• Cashflow and Overheads: Update the weekly and monthly cash transactions file to support cashflow forecasting, and produce departmental overhead reports to assist with overhead forecasting.

• Compliance and Documentation: Maintain organised and complete documentation for audit purposes, assist with audit requests and help update company policies and process notes to support strong internal controls.

• Systems and Process Improvement: Help clean up and improve our finance and payment systems, identifying opportunities to make the Accounts Payable function more efficient.

• Customer Invoicing: Invoice customers in line with signed contracts, complete customer credit checks and update the weekly Aged Debtors report.

What You Bring

Essential

• Previous experience in an Accounts Payable or general accounts role within a larger team.

• A solid understanding of accounting principles and double-entry bookkeeping.

• Experience thinking through and managing end-to-end processes.

• Practical experience with invoice and expense processing, supplier payment runs and bank reconciliations.

• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.

• Excellent organisational and time-management skills.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel.

• An Accounting and Finance qualification, or ongoing study towards one such as AAT, is preferable but not essential.

What Makes You Stand Out

• Experience using accounting systems such as Xero and other finance tools.

• Confidence liaising directly with suppliers and resolving queries professionally.

• The ability to manage internal queries and proactively support colleagues across the wider business.

• Experience managing a high volume of transactions using a structured and methodical approach, while maintaining accuracy and meeting regular deadlines.

• The ability to work independently, exercise good judgement and elevate issues when appropriate.

• Experience working within a scaling, technology-led or high-growth business.

• Exposure to multi-entity groups or experience helping to build processes for new entities.

UK Team Benefits

• Vitality Health Insurance
• Eye Care
• Salary Sacrifice - EV
• Salary Sacrifice - Bike & Tech
• Wellbeing & Support
• Wellbeing & Development Allowance
• Spill & Employee Assistance Programme
• Additional Leave
• Pension Scheme
• Group Life & Critical Illness cover

We are an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Discrimination of any kind based on race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status is strictly prohibited.