Assistant Accountant

Unilabs; York and North Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A financial services company in York is seeking an Assistant Accountant to assist in maintaining accurate accounting records and prepare monthly financial statements. Responsibilities include processing purchase ledger transactions, cash forecasting, and supporting year-end audits. Ideal candidates should have at least 2 years of finance experience, strong knowledge of accounting fundamentals, and advanced Excel skills. Experience with Sage and effective communication are also valued. This role is essential for ensuring compliance with internal controls.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years’ experience in a finance/accounting role.
• Experience in posting journals and understanding of accounting fundamentals.
• AAT qualification or early stages of CIMA/ACCA is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Assist in maintaining accurate accounting records.
• Process purchase ledger accounting transactions.
• Prepare monthly Management Accounts and cash flow forecasts.

Skills

Journal postings

Strong understanding of accounting fundamentals

Advanced Excel knowledge

Excellent communication skills

Team player

Education

AAT qualification or early stages of CIMA/ACCA

Tools

Sage 50/200

Job description

The function of the Assistant Accountant is to assist in the maintenance of accurate accounting records to reflect all business transactions undertaken by York Bioanalytical Solutions and Unilabs Ltd, in order to assist with the smooth and efficient running of the businesses and to enable the preparation of accurate and timely monthly and annual financial statements. You will be reporting directly to the Financial Controller (York) who in turn reports directly to the–Head of Finance – Pharma. You will also have a dotted reporting line to the Financial Controller in London which will require you to have the ability to work with a remote team.

You will be responsible for:

• Purchase ledger accounting transactions, including invoice approvals through Docusign, three-way match including statement reconciliation and follow up, resolution of supplier and internal requests;
• Generation of information supporting new supplier requests and processing of supplier modifications;
• Expense claims, Navan processing & credit card processing as well as petty cash (including currency) control;
• Generation of and processing of payment runs;
• Cash posting;
• Some sales ledger accounting transactions – recharges and pass through costs;
• Kyriba daily reconciliations and vendor payment forecasts;
• Stock valuation, monthly reporting and maintaining stock records, identification of anomalies and follow through to resolution;
• Quarter end revaluations- cash and purchase ledger.

During the month end process and production of the monthly Management Accounts, Group reporting and weekly cash flow forecasts;

Specific duties for which you will be responsible:

• Journal postings;
• Late invoice accruals;
• Updating pre payments for new contracts on a monthly basis;
• Resolving queries- supplier/expense/cash/fixed asset related;
• Currency creditor revaluations at quarter ends;
• Bank reconciliations & other control account reconciliations;
• Stock control and updating stock valuations & audit schedules;
• Improving controls and reporting processes, at all times ensuring compliance with Unilabs Internal Controls, DOA and Finance Policies;
• Kyriba monthly cash forecasting- supplier payments and CAPEX;
• Support year end closing and audit, by preparation of material for audit and resolution of audit queries.

General tasks as part of finance function:

• Ensure continuous updating of own education and continuing education;
• Participate in ad hoc tasks assigned by Head Finance;
• Participate in relevant meetings;
• Process optimization;
• Assist in description of workflows (SOPs) in relation to finance/ P&C department;
• Ensure structured process descriptions and descriptions of various workflows.

Qualifications and experience

• Minimum of 2 years’ experience in a finance/accounting role;
• Experience of posting journals and strong understanding of accounting fundamentals (debits/credits, prepayments/accruals, etc.);
• AAT qualification or the early stages of CIMA/ACCA is desirable but not essential;
• Advanced working knowledge of Excel;
• Experience of Sage 50/200;
• Excellent communication skills;
• An aptitude for learning to use new accounting software;
• Team player experience and be able to promote and sustain a constructive, supportive and friendly working relationship and be prepared to do what is required.