Accounts & Purchasing Assistant (Temporary, Part-Time)

Reed; St Osyth; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 19,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hours across 3 days

Early finish on Fridays

Pension scheme

Bonus opportunities

Team events

Sick pay

Job summary

Reed is seeking an Accounts & Purchasing Assistant to join their Rochford-based team on a temporary, part-time basis (approx. 24 hours per week, 3 days).

The role supports both the Finance and Purchasing functions, handling banking, sales and purchase ledgers, and general purchasing administration. The ideal candidate will have experience in accounts or admin support, strong Excel skills, and the ability to work independently or with the team.

Qualifications

• Experience in accounts, finance or administrative support.
• Strong Excel and Outlook skills.
• Experience using accounting software.
• Excellent attention to detail and numerical accuracy.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Reliable, proactive and adaptable approach.
• Quick to learn new systems and processes.

Responsibilities

• Post and allocate daily bank transactions.
• Allocate customer receipts and supplier payments.
• Maintain accurate banking records within the accounting system.
• Investigate and resolve routine allocation queries.
• Generate and issue customer invoices.
• Update daily sales reporting.
• Respond to customer account queries.
• Issue statements and payment reminders.
• Process customer refunds.
• Maintain accurate customer account records.
• Process supplier invoices accurately and efficiently.
• Reconcile supplier statements and resolve discrepancies.
• Maintain supplier account records.
• Support the smooth running of the purchase ledger function.
• Administer invoice discounting submissions.
• Monitor overdue retentions and pursue follow-up actions.
• Liaise with external providers regarding routine account queries.
• Maintain accurate records and reporting.
• Provide purchasing administration cover when required.
• Raise and process purchase orders.
• Assist with supplier invoice query resolution.
• Monitor supplier acknowledgements and delivery schedules.
• Update backorder reports.

Skills

Accounts experience

Excel

Outlook

Accounting software

Attention to detail

Time management

Communication skills

Independent and team work

Education

AAT qualification or studies in progress

Tools

Sage 200 or similar ERP

Job description

Accounts & Purchasing Assistant (Temporary, Part-Time)

Location: Rochford, Essex Job Type: Temporary, Part-Time (Approx. 24 hours per week, 3 days) Competitive Hourly Rate + Benefits

The Opportunity

An established and growing business based in Rochford is seeking a proactive and organised Accounts & Purchasing Assistant to join their team on a temporary basis. This is a varied role supporting both the Finance and Purchasing functions, making it ideal for someone who enjoys a diverse workload and thrives in a busy office environment.

The successful candidate will primarily support day-to-day accounts activities whilst also providing purchasing administration support when required.

Key Responsibilities

Banking

• Post and allocate daily bank transactions.
• Allocate customer receipts and supplier payments.
• Maintain accurate banking records within the accounting system.
• Investigate and resolve routine allocation queries.

Sales Ledger

• Generate and issue customer invoices.
• Update daily sales reporting.
• Respond to customer account queries.
• Issue statements and payment reminders.
• Process customer refunds.
• Maintain accurate customer account records.

Purchase Ledger

• Process supplier invoices accurately and efficiently.
• Reconcile supplier statements and resolve discrepancies.
• Maintain supplier account records.
• Support the smooth running of the purchase ledger function.

Invoice Discounting

• Administer invoice discounting submissions.
• Monitor overdue retentions and pursue follow-up actions.
• Liaise with external providers regarding routine account queries.
• Maintain accurate records and reporting.

Purchasing Support

• Provide purchasing administration cover when required.
• Raise and process purchase orders.
• Assist with supplier invoice query resolution.
• Monitor supplier acknowledgements and delivery schedules.
• Update backorder reports.

About You

Essential Skills & Experience

• Previous experience in an accounts, finance or administrative support role.
• Strong Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel and Outlook.
• Experience using accounting software.
• Excellent attention to detail and numerical accuracy.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Reliable, proactive and adaptable approach.
• Quick to learn new systems and processes.

Desirable

• Previous finance department experience.
• Experience with sales ledger and purchase ledger processes.
• Knowledge of Sage 200 or similar ERP/accounting systems.
• AAT qualification or studies in progress.

What's on Offer?

• Flexible part-time hours across 3 working days
• Early finish on Fridays
• Friendly and supportive team environment
• Company pension scheme
• Bonus opportunities
• Company events
• Sick pay
• Convenient Rochford location

If you are an experienced accounts or administration professional looking for a flexible temporary opportunity within a supportive business, we'd love to hear from you.