Assistant Accountant

The Recruitment Co; Belfast City District; On-site; GBP 43,528,000 - 58,891,000; Full time

Job summary

The Recruitment Co in Belfast is seeking an Assistant Accountant to join a dedicated finance team. The role covers day-to-day management accounting and reporting, supporting a busy division within a major organisation with turnover of over £1.2bn.

You will work closely with the team to plan budgets, monitor expenditures, and ensure accurate financial records while complying with relevant legislation and corporate policies. The position is 37 hours per week, with a fixed hourly rate of £19.32.

Qualifications

• One of the following qualifications: final examinations of AAT or IATI; or CCAB foundation papers; or a relevant Bachelor's degree (accounting major) or equivalent.
• Minimum of 3 years' experience in accounting in at least 3 of the specified areas.
• Experience in budget setting, forecasting, monitoring and reporting of expenditure.
• Experience in the preparation of statutory accounts.
• Experience in process improvements within finance to drive performance.
• Experience in managing a team in a busy finance environment to meet deadlines, staff development and performance.
• Experience using an integrated financial management system and advanced spreadsheets.
• Experience in writing reports using SAP Business Objects/Crystal Reports.
• Experience in finance systems implementation projects including project management and training.

Responsibilities

• Deliver day-to-day management accounting and reporting for a Division within NIHE.
• Develop devolved budgetary control and provide reports and advice on corrective actions.
• Plan, manage and organise the day-to-day operation of the Finance section to meet targets and procedures.
• Maintain financial systems and records in line with legislation, standards and policy.

Skills

Budgeting

Forecasting

Expenditure reporting

Statutory accounts

Process improvements

Team management

Finance systems

SAP Business Objects/Crystal Reports

Project management

Advanced Excel

Education

AAT or IATI qualification

CCAB foundation papers

Bachelor's degree in Accounting

Tools

SAP

Crystal Reports

Excel

ERP systems

Job description

Assistant Accountant

Belfast

37 hours Monday to Friday

£s19.32 per hour

MAIN PURPOSE

The Assistant Accountant will be responsible to a team accountant for the provision of an efficient, effective, and professional management accounting service to a Directorate within the business. This role represents a great opportunity for the successful candidate to develop their accounting knowledge, skills, experience and career opportunities within a diverse business environment with a turnover in excess of £s1.2bn per annum.

Key Responsibilities

• The Assistant Accountant will play a key role in delivering all aspects of day-to-day management accounting and reporting requirements for a Division within NIHE. These roles are wide ranging in nature and will require the Assistant Accountant to flexibly work within a dynamic environment as business activities continue to evolve to meet increasing levels of business demand.

This role represents a great opportunity for the successful candidate to develop their accounting knowledge, skills, experience and career opportunities within a diverse business environment with a turnover in excess of £s1.2bn per annum.

Management Accounting

• Play a key role in the development of devolved budgetary control, supporting budget holders with the provision of reports, investigation of variances and providing advice on necessary corrective actions.
• Plan, manage and organise the day-to-day operation of the relevant Finance section to ensure all transactions and requests for information are processed within organisational targets, timescales and procedures.
• Maintain effective financial systems and records to fulfil the requirements of legislation, accounting standards, NIHE policy and financial control obligations. This will involve reaction to, and anticipation of, changes in legislation and policy.

Experience and Qualifications

Applicants must provide evidence by the closing date for application that they meet the following essential criteria:

Essential

• Candidates must hold one of the following qualifications:
  • the final examinations of AAT or IATI; or
  • the foundation papers of a CCAB body (or equivalent) or
  • a relevant Bachelor's degree (where accounting is the major component) or equivalent qualification
• Candidates must demonstrate a minimum of 3 years' experience in an accounting environment in at least 3 of the following areas in their application:
• Experience in budget setting, forecasting, monitoring and reporting of expenditure.
• Experience in the preparation of statutory accounts.
• Experience in the identification and implementation of business process improvements within a finance environment to drive improved performance.
• Experience in managing a team (Manager/Supervisor role) within a busy finance environment in order to ensure deadlines are achieved and procedures followed, whilst ensuring suitable arrangements for staff training, motivation, discipline and performance assessment.
• Experience in the use of an integrated financial management system, linked reporting tools and advanced spreadsheets skills.
• Experience in writing reports using SAP Business Objects/Crystal report writing tool.
• Experience in finance systems implementation projects, demonstrating experience in a key role in any of the following: project management, system testing, production of control procedure documentation, implementation support and training.