Assistant Accountant

Confidential; Hertford; Hybrid; GBP 29,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

Confidential in Hertford is seeking an Assistant Accountant to join its finance team. This role is ideal for an AAT qualified professional or someone studying towards AAT Level 4, looking to broaden financial accounting experience and take ownership of key processes.

The position offers more than transactional work, with exposure across VAT, general ledger accounting, month end, cash reporting, reconciliations and year end.

Qualifications

• AAT qualified or currently studying towards AAT Level 4.
• Experience in accounts or finance team.
• Comfortable with double entry bookkeeping and GL accounting.
• Experience preparing journals, accruals, prepayments and reconciliations.
• VAT returns experience would be advantageous.
• Proficient with Excel and accounting systems.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Able to resolve reconciliation differences and meet month-end deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of VAT returns preparation and submission.
• Support year-end and external audit preparations.
• Prepare and post month-end accruals and prepayments.
• Process and reconcile intercompany recharges and cash postings.
• Complete GL journals and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Assist with month-end close and reporting.
• Maintain accurate accounting records and documentation.
• Collaborate with finance team to improve processes and controls.

Skills

Double entry bookkeeping

Journals & accruals

Reconciliations

VAT returns experience

Attention to detail

Communication

Education

AAT Level 4 study / AAT qualification

Tools

Sage

Excel

Job description

Elevate Search is working exclusively with an established business in Hertford to recruit an Assistant Accountant to join its finance team.

This is an excellent opportunity for an AAT qualified accountant or someone currently studying at AAT Level 4 who is looking to broaden their financial accounting experience and take greater ownership of key accounting processes.

The position offers considerably more than purely transactional accounting, with exposure across VAT, general ledger accounting, month end, cash reporting, reconciliations and year end.

The Role:

• - Taking ownership of the preparation and timely submission of VAT returns
• - Ensuring annual return deadlines are met and supporting information is accurate and complete
• - Preparing and posting month end accruals and prepayments
• - Processing and reconciling intercompany and intergroup recharges
• - Completing daily cash postings and producing associated cash reports
• - Ensuring cash and relevant control accounts are reconciled and balanced at the end of each day
• - Preparing and posting general ledger journals
• - Completing balance sheet reconciliations and investigating outstanding items
• - Supporting the month end close and production of accurate financial information
• - Assisting with year end and external audit requirements
• - Maintaining accurate accounting records and supporting documentation
• - Working with the wider finance team to investigate and resolve accounting queries
• - Supporting improvements to finance processes, reporting and controls

About You:

• - AAT qualified or currently studying towards AAT Level 4
• - Experienced within an accounts or finance team
• - Comfortable with double entry bookkeeping and general ledger accounting
• - Experienced in preparing journals, accruals, prepayments and reconciliations
• - Ideally experienced with VAT returns
• - Confident working with Excel and accounting systems
• - Highly accurate with strong attention to detail
• - Able to investigate and resolve reconciliation differences
• - Comfortable working to month end and statutory deadlines
• - A good communicator who enjoys working as part of a finance team

Previous experience using Sage would be advantageous but isn't essential.

What's On Offer?

Salary up to £35,000 depending on experience.

Hybrid working with 3 days per week in the Hertford office.

An opportunity to broaden your financial accounting experience and take ownership of key processes.

Supportive finance team with scope to develop your responsibilities as you progress.