Assistant Accountant

Scottish Environment Protection Agency; Holytown; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid and Flexible working options

Annual leave 35 days + 7 publichols (l

Wellbeing and volunteering leave

Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)

Family-friendly policies

Training & development

Job summary

Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is seeking a full-time Assistant Accountant on a permanent basis in Scotland. You will join our Finance, Modernisation and Digital portfolio to deliver accurate month-end close, reporting and budgeting support in a public sector environment.

This role emphasizes collaboration with budget holders, producing timely management accounts, and ensuring audit readiness.

Qualifications

• Process journals, accruals, prepayments and reconciliations for month-end and year-end.
• Prepare monthly management accounts and maintain records.
• Support budgeting and forecasting, monitor variances.
• Provide financial information to budget holders.
• Assist audits and drive process improvements.

Responsibilities

• Process month-end close including journals and reconciliations.
• Prepare monthly management accounts and maintain records.
• Support budgeting and forecasting, monitor variances.
• Provide financial information to budget holders.
• Assist audits and drive process improvements.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Excel proficiency

Education

HND in Accounting

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

We are recruiting a full time Assistant Accountant on a permanent basis

Your passion has never had a greater purpose

Here at SEPA, we’re connected by a passion that drives us to be purposeful in every action we take - to protect our environment. Through our expertise, we lead projects that make a difference for Scotland, and our workplaces are grounded in respect for that expertise.

That’s why, when you join us as Assistant Accountant, you’ll discover enriching benefits, meaningful support, and opportunities to learn every day. That’s what it means to be Passionately Purposeful - for our environment, and for your career.

Work that goes beyond your desk

Experts at what we do, we work in a professional way towards our shared goals, knowing the work we do makes a genuine, lasting difference on the environment. As a Assistant Accountant, that involves:

• Financial Closing & Reconciliation: Process journals, accruals, prepayments, and complete balance sheet reconciliations for month-end and year-end
• Management Reporting: Prepare monthly management accounts and maintain accurate financial records
• Budgeting & Variance Analysis: Support budgeting and forecasting while monitoring performance and investigating financial variances
• Stakeholder Support: Provide financial information and analytical guidance to budget holders
• Audit & Compliance: Support internal and external audits, ensure compliance, and drive process improvements

Respect for your expertise

This is a highly important role within our Finance, Modernisation and Digital portfolio, which means you’ll need:

• Minimum HND in Accounting qualification or equivalent
• Previous relevant accounting experience ideally in a public sector environment
• Proficient skills in the application of Microsoft packages, particularly Excel or relevant financial management systems
• Excellent IT and advanced Excel skills, with experience delivering timely monthly management accounting reports under tight deadlines
• Ability to communicate complex financial information in plain English to non-financial managers

Support that goes beyond the workplace

We’re cultivating a workplace that supports not only your passion and your professional lives, but your personal life. So, you’ll find benefits that make a difference at work and at home. Such as:

• Hybrid and Flexible working opportunities
• Up to 35 days annual leave and 7 additional public holidays each year (pro rata)
• Paid time off to support your Wellbeing and enable you to Volunteer in your community
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Progressive Family Friendly policies
• Training & development to enable colleagues to improve their skills, competencies and knowledge to perform at their best.

Plus, many more lifestyle benefits such as 24/7 access to an online employee discount platform, credit union facilities and access to a Cycle to Work Scheme.

Passionately you. Purposefully supportive

SEPA is committed to promoting equality, diversity, and good relations in everything it does - as a community leader, as a provider and commissioner of services, and as an employer.

Passionately Purposeful about Scotland’s environment - and your career.

Protecting our environment, promoting our work, and supporting our people, working at SEPA means being part of an organisation that’s grounded in respect for your expertise - and your wellbeing. So you can be your best, and make the biggest impact.

We recruit solely based on merit. Our shortlisting process is conducted on an anonymous basis.

We support flexible working arrangements to help you maintain a healthy balance between career and homelife. This includes working part time, reduced hours, job sharing, working remotely. As a flexible first employer we are open to having conversations about flexible working arrangements that work for you and SEPA from day 1 of your employment with us.

We are proud to be a 'Disability Confident' employer and will work to identify and implement reasonable adjustments and equipment to support you in the role that you do.

Applicants with a visual impairment can request job descriptions and application forms in Braille, large print or on tape.

For the security and wellbeing of our colleagues, successful candidates will undergo Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) pre-employment checks including a level one Disclosure Scotland check.