Accounts Assistant

SmartRecruiters, Inc.; Greater London; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Colliers, a leading commercial real estate services firm, is seeking an Accounts Payable/Receivable specialist in London to support the Enterprise Project Solutions – Finance team. The role focuses on principal contracting delivery, processing supplier invoices, PO alignment, and VAT/CIS compliance across multiple UK/EMEA projects.

You will manage payments, supplier onboarding, and project financial trackers, ensuring internal controls and timely reconciliations.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in accounts payable or finance administration.
• Strong attention to detail, accuracy and ability to manage a high volume of deadlines.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and finance systems.
• Experience in a project-based, construction or professional services environment.
• Exposure to principal contracting, CIS, VAT including domestic reverse charge, and multi-currency transactions.
• Experience using project financial trackers.
• Strong organisational, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Proactive, solutions-oriented approach with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Accounts Payable and Payment Processing – Process supplier invoices across multiple projects, validate against PO and contract terms, code to budgets and cost centres, support payment runs.
• Principal Contracting Support – Align invoices with POs and project trackers, monitor spend, support finance and project teams with workflows.
• Invoice Query Management – Serve as first contact for invoice queries, resolve discrepancies with managers and suppliers to avoid delays.
• Supplier Onboarding & Compliance – Onboard new suppliers, ensure documentation and compliance with finance/audit requirements.
• CIS & VAT Compliance – Assist CIS returns, verify subcontractors, apply CIS deductions, VAT treatment including domestic reverse charge.
• Month-end and reconciliation – Assist accruals, month-end close, supplier statements, maintain records across projects.

Skills

Accounts payable experience

Attention to detail

Excel proficiency

Project-based environment

CIS/VAT/multi-currency

Project financial trackers

Stakeholder management

Independent and team work

Tools

Finance systems

Job description

Colliers is a leading commercial real estate services company, providing a full range of services to real estate occupiers, developers and investors on a local, national and international basis. Services include brokerage sales and leasing (landlord and tenant representation), real estate management, valuation, consulting, project management, project marketing and research. We provide our services across the core sectors (office, industrial, retail and hotel) as well as many specialised property types.

The UK business is headquartered in London, with over 1300 specialists throughout 16 offices across the UK and Ireland.

Job Description

Department

Enterprise Project Solutions – Finance

Reporting To

Finance Manager

Location

London (supporting EMEA projects)

Role Purpose

To provide dedicated accounts payable and accounts receivable support to the Project Management service line, with a primary focus on principal contracting delivery.

The role will ensure timely and accurate processing of supplier invoices, maintain alignment between purchase orders, project budgets and financial trackers, and support compliance with internal financial controls and external regulatory requirements, including VAT and CIS.

Key Responsibilities

• Accounts Payable and Payment Processing – Process supplier invoices accurately and in a timely manner across multiple projects, validate them against approved purchase orders and contract terms, ensure correct coding to project budgets and cost centres, and support payment runs within agreed terms.
• Principal Contracting Support – Maintain alignment between supplier invoices, purchase orders and project trackers, monitor contractor spend against approved budgets, and support finance and project teams with principal contracting workflows. Prepare finance related client approval documents, ensuring alignment with client requirements and guidelines.
• Invoice Query Management – Act as a first point of contact for invoice queries, liaise with project managers, cost managers and suppliers to resolve discrepancies, and ensure timely resolution to avoid payment delays.
• Supplier Onboarding & Compliance – support onboarding new suppliers, ensuring all required documentation is complete and assist in maintaining compliance with finance and audit requirements.
• CIS & VAT Compliance – Support the administration of the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS), and VAT compliance by helping verify subcontractors, apply the correct CIS deductions, prepare monthly CIS returns, maintain accurate financial records, and ensure supplier invoices are treated correctly for VAT, including domestic reverse charge requirements.
• Month-end and reconciliation – Assist with accruals, month-end close, supplier statement reconciliations and maintenance of accurate records of invoices, payments and outstanding liabilities, while supporting process standardisation across projects.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in accounts payable or finance administration
• Strong attention to detail, accuracy and ability to manage a high volume of deadlines
• Experience processing invoices, purchase orders and reconciliations
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and finance systems
• Experience in a project-based, construction or professional services environment
• Exposure to principal contracting, CIS, VAT including domestic reverse charge, and multi-currency transactions
• Experience using project financial trackers
• Strong organisational, communication and stakeholder management skills
• Proactive, solutions-oriented approach with the ability to work independently and as part of a team

Additional Information

Please tell us what would help you take part and give enough practical detail for us to arrange it. We will handle your request confidentially, and it will not affect how you are assessed. We make reasonable adjustments in line with the Equality Act 2010.

At Colliers, we empower people to perform at their best. As a Disability Confident Employer, we want every candidate to feel welcome. If anything would help you take part in our process, such as extra time or rest breaks, step-free access, or a different interview format, please tell us in your application. You are not expected to share a diagnosis or medical history.

Colliers is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We do not discriminate based on age; disability; gender; gender reassignments; marriage and civil partnership; pregnancy and maternity; race (including colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins); religion or belief; sex; or sexual orientation. We also value diverse experience and neurodiversity.

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