Assistant Accountant

Leisure (Operations); Preston; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension matched up to 7%

Bonus scheme 2%

35 days holiday incl. bank holidays

Healthcare cashback plan

Wellbeing support & EAP

Place Rewards discounts

Training & progression

Star/Colleague recognition

Gym membership to Places Gyms

Life Assurance & will writing services

Job summary

Places for People is seeking an Assistant Accountant for its Assets and Investments Finance team in Preston. You will support financial management for social housing operations and the planned investment programme, delivering accurate packs and forecasts while handling accruals and reconciliations.

The role emphasises improving controls, standardising reporting, and working with diverse stakeholders across locations.

Qualifications

• Experience producing or supporting management accounts with accruals, prepayments and reconciliations.
• Strong Excel skills used to analyse or report financial information.
• Experience with finance policies, procedures and controls.
• Knowledge of statutory/regulatory accounting or reporting requirements.
• Finance qualification or progress towards a professional finance qualification (AAT or equivalent).

Responsibilities

• Support financial management of social housing operations, planned investment programme and compliance activity.
• Produce reporting packs, management information, forecasts and budgets; complete journals and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Collaborate with finance and operational teams and external managing agents to ensure accurate financial information.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen controls and standardise reporting.

Skills

Management accounts

Variance analysis

Financial reporting

Stakeholder communication

Journals & reconciliations

Education

AAT qualification or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

As the UK's leading Social Enterprise, we move lives forward every day by building, managing and supporting thriving Communities. From new homes, social housing and student accommodation to leisure, education and Community initiatives, our work makes a positive difference to millions of People across the UK. And that takes People who care about doing the right thing. People who are ambitious, ready to grow and motivated to make a difference through the work they do.

We're looking for Colleagues who bring energy, curiosity and ownership. People who enjoy being challenged, support those around them and want to keep raising the bar. Because when we perform at our best, we create more opportunities to invest in our Customers, our Communities and each other.

Experience matters, but it's only part of the story. If you share our values and want to build a career where your work has real impact, we'd love to hear from you.

More about your role

As our Assistant Accountant within Assets and Investments Finance, you will support the financial management of our social housing operations, planned investment programme and compliance activity. You will help produce accurate reporting packs, management information, forecasts and budgets, while completing accruals, prepayments, payroll journals and balance sheet reconciliations.

You will investigate financial performance and variances, resolve errors and help provide a clear picture of performance at cost-centre level. Working with finance and operational teams, as well as external managing agents, you will ensure financial information is accurate, appropriately coded and recorded in line with accounting standards, tax requirements and internal procedures. You will also identify opportunities to strengthen controls, standardise reporting and make financial processes more efficient.

This is an initial fixed term contract until May 2027. This role is based on site in Preston 2 days a week.

At Places for People we are committed to a safe working environment so a basic DBS check is mandatory.

Essential criteria

• Experience producing or supporting management accounts, including accruals, prepayments, journals and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Practical knowledge of Microsoft Excel and experience using it to analyse or report financial information.
• Experience working with finance policies, procedures and financial controls.
• Knowledge of statutory and regulatory accounting or reporting requirements.
• A relevant finance qualification, progress towards a professional finance qualification, AAT qualification, or equivalent practical accounting experience.

More about you

You are comfortable working with detailed financial information, investigating variances and meeting regular reporting deadlines. You can organise your workload, use your initiative and build effective working relationships with finance and non-finance colleagues across different locations.

Management accounts experience would be particularly valuable, as would experience improving financial controls or processes. You will be confident working with a varied group of stakeholders and able to explain financial information clearly to support informed decisions.

What you'll get

We know rewarding work deserves rewarding benefits. That's why, alongside a competitive salary, you'll have access to a package designed to support you at work and beyond. You'll receive:

• Pension with matched contributions up to 7%
• Bonus scheme for colleagues at 2%
• 35 days holiday (including bank holidays) with the option to buy or sell days
• Healthcare cashback plan for everyday medical costs, with private GP and health support services available
• Comprehensive wellbeing support including counselling, flu jabs, our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) and access to our Wellbeing Hub, supporting your mental, physical and financial wellbeing
• Access to Our Place Rewards, offering discounts and savings on groceries, travel, shopping, home products and other lifestyle purchases
• Ongoing training, professional qualifications, internal development programmes and career progression opportunities
• Recognition programmes including Star Awards and Colleague Awards, celebrating achievements and recognising great work
• Strong focus on inclusion, wellbeing and colleague engagement
• Free membership to Places Gyms
• Life Assurance to provide financial security for your loved ones, alongside access to will writing services to help you plan for the future with confidence