Assistant Accountant

Distinct Recruitment; Oxford; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Company pension

Free on-site parking

Job summary

Distinct Recruitment is seeking an experienced Assistant Accountant for a hands-on, on-site role in Oxford. You will run day-to-day finance for a site within a private equity-backed, acquisitive manufacturing group and report to the Group Head of Finance.

You’ll manage payroll with an external provider, handle AP/AR, and contribute to month-end and forecasting while collaborating with non-finance staff and auditors. A proactive, independent approach is essential.

Qualifications

• Experience with accounting systems (Sage 50 and/or Xero).
• Strong Excel skills (pivot tables, lookups, formulas).
• Solid grasp of core accounting principles.

Responsibilities

• Own day-to-day finance operations for the site.
• Process accounts payable and manage payments.
• Handle accounts receivable, invoicing and credit control.
• Complete bank reconciliations and other general ledger reconciliations.
• Process payroll (liaising with an external provider).
• Run month-end close, accruals, prepayments and journal postings.
• Monitor and forecast cashflow needs.
• Support internal reporting to Group Head of Finance.
• Assist external advisors (auditors, tax) with information requests.
• Partner with the site MD on day-to-day finance support.
• Contribute to wider group finance projects as the business grows.

Skills

Excel

Reconciliation

Attention to detail

Independent worker

Tools

Sage 50

Xero

Excel

Job description

Assistant Accountant, Oxford - Full-time, permanent

About the business:

A private equity-backed manufacturing group is growing its central finance function to support the wider operation and is looking to add an assistant accountant to it's team

The role:

An experienced, hands-on Assistant Accountant is needed to run day-to-day finance for the acquired site. You'll be the only finance person based on-site, but you'll sit within the broader group finance team, reporting into the Group Head of Finance and working closely with the site's Managing Director.

A strong opportunity for someone proactive and eager to build their career inside a growing, acquisitive group.

What you'll be doing:

• Owning day-to-day finance operations for the site
• Processing accounts payable and managing payments
• Handling accounts receivable, invoicing and credit control
• Completing bank reconciliations and other general ledger reconciliations
• Processing payroll (liaising with an external provider where needed)
• Running month-end; accruals, prepayments and journal postings
• Monitoring and forecasting cashflow needs
• Supporting internal reporting to the Group Head of Finance
• Assisting external advisors (auditors, tax) with information requests
• Partnering with the site MD on day-to-day finance support
• Contributing to wider group finance projects as the business grows

What we're looking for:

• Background in a similar Assistant Accountant or all-round accounts role, ideally SME or multi-site.
• Comfortable with accruals, prepayments and journal postings.
• Strong reconciliation skills and high attention to detail.
• Hands-on, proactive, and confident working independently.
• Keen to learn and progress as the business grows.
• Good time management across competing priorities.
• Able to communicate well with both finance and non-finance colleagues.

Skills & experience:

• Experience with an accounting system (Sage 50 and/or Xero preferred)
• Strong Excel skills (pivot tables, lookups, formulas).
• Solid grasp of core accounting principles.
• Management Accounts experience required
• Payroll experience (direct or via a provider) an advantage.

What's on offer:

• Salary up to £38,000, depending on experience.
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays.
• Company pension.
• Free on-site parking.
• Genuine scope to grow within a PE-backed, acquisitive group.