Assistant Accountant 12 month FTC

Scottish Friendly; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave (rising to 28)

10% employer pension contribution

Private Healthcare

Job summary

Scottish Friendly in Glasgow city centre is seeking an assistant accountant on a 12 month fixed-term contract. The role offers exposure across payments, reconciliations, cash management and financial controls, ideal for someone who is part qualified and eager to develop their career.

You will join the Finance team and handle bank reconciliations, assist with payment processing and cash management across Scottish Friendly and its subsidiaries, while contributing to continuous improvement

Qualifications

• Finance or accounting experience in financial services.
• Experience with monthly bank reconciliations and control account reconciliations.
• Experience taking accounts through to trial balance.
• Experience in high-volume payment processing.
• Part-qualified ACCA/CIMA or studying toward a professional qualification.
• Advanced Excel skills with ability to analyse financial data.

Responsibilities

• Manage and process a variety of financial transactions.
• Prepare bank reconciliations and control account reconciliations.
• Support daily banking activities, payment runs and cheque production.
• Upload financial data to the general ledger and reconcile to source systems.
• Monitor payment workflows and investigate discrepancies.
• Assist with month-end processes and control account reviews.
• Identify and implement process improvements across finance operations.
• Liaise with internal teams, partners, reinsurers and auditors.
• Provide support on finance projects and business initiatives.

Skills

Bank reconciliations

Cash management

Payments processing

Month-end processes

Advanced Excel

Financial analysis

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Education

Finance or Accountancy degree

Part-qualified ACCA/CIMA or equivalent

Tools

Excel

Job description

Do you want to be part of something more than just a financial services business? Do you believe everyone, regardless of wealth, should have the opportunity to save and look after their loved ones? Do you want to be part of something that has been here for 160 years and help it be here for 160 more?

Scottish Friendly have an exciting opportunity to join our team. Based in Glasgow City Centre, we are one of the most progressive mutual life insurance offices in the UK. We have a strong, clear culture which has grown since 1862 with our customers and colleagues of today and the future being at the heart of that growth.

We're looking for an assistant accountant to join our Finance team on a 12 month fixed-term contract. This is a varied and broad finance role offering excellent exposure across payments, reconciliations, cash management and financial controls, making it an ideal opportunity for someone who is part qualified and looking to further develop their career.

We are seeking candidates with a few years' experience within financial services and a strong background in month-end processes, posting journals and reconciliations. This role is not purely accounts payable and will suit someone who enjoys working across multiple areas of finance and contributing to continuous improvement initiatives.

The Role

Working as part of the Scottish Friendly Finance team, you will be responsible for managing bank reconciliations, supporting payment processing activities, and assisting with the cash management of key bank accounts across Scottish Friendly and its subsidiaries.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and process a variety of financial transactions, ensuring accuracy and compliance with company procedures.
• Prepare timely and accurate bank reconciliations and monthly control account reconciliations for Scottish Friendly and its subsidiaries.
• Support daily banking activities, payment runs and cheque production.
• Upload financial data to the general ledger and reconcile information back to source systems.
• Monitor payment workflows, investigate discrepancies and work with internal stakeholders to ensure smooth payment operations.
• Assist with month-end processes, including reconciliation activities and control account reviews.
• Identify and implement process improvement opportunities across finance operations.
• Liaise with internal teams and external parties, including partners, reinsurers and auditors.
• Provide support on finance projects and business initiatives as required.

About You

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Previous experience in a finance or accounting role within the financial services sector.
• Experience preparing monthly bank reconciliations and control account reconciliations.
• Experience taking accounts through to trial balance stage.
• Strong understanding of incoming and outgoing payment processing and associated accounting entries.
• Experience investigating and resolving reconciliation differences within high-volume transactional environments.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Advanced Excel skills and confidence working with financial data.
• The ability to prioritise workload effectively and meet deadlines.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to build relationships across the business.
• A proactive approach with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Part-qualified accountant (ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) or actively studying towards a professional qualification.
• Finance or Accountancy degree.
• Experience of banking payment cycles, including online banking platforms and cheque processing.

Why Join Scottish Friendly?

This is an excellent opportunity to gain exposure to a wide range of finance activities within a well-established financial services organisation. The role offers genuine variety, responsibility and the chance to get involved in projects and process improvements, making it ideal for someone looking to broaden their finance expertise and continue progressing their career.

With assets under management of over £4.2bn and more than 853,000 members we have lots to look after and lots more to do. If you want to be part of the team and you think this is you, we would love to hear from you.

We support life inside and outside work, offering:

• Recognition awards: Win exciting prizes, including one weeks’ annual leave plus £3,000 spending money.
• Refer-a-friend scheme: Earn rewards for bringing talented friends to our team.
• Annual Leave: 25 days annual leave (rising to 28 with service) plus 8 bank holidays, and options to buy or sell extra days.
• Supporting the future: 10% employer pension contribution, 4 x group life cover.
• Getting around: Access to cycle-to-work schemes, Electric Vehicle scheme* and travel loans.
• Wellbeing: 24/7 GP access, EAP, Private Healthcare, and free legal/financial advice a variety of savings at top high street and online retailers.

Hybrid model with up three remote days per week, totaling 35 hours per week Monday to Friday.

We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where all colleagues feel valued, respected and represented. If you require any accommodations during the application process, please don’t hesitate to let us know.

16 Blythswood SquareGlasgowG2 4HJUnited Kingdom