Assistant Accountant (12 Months)

Group 1 Automotive; Chester; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A premier automotive retailer is seeking an Assistant Accountant for a 12-month fixed-term contract in Chester. The successful candidate will ensure financial integrity through accurate accounting and reporting, while supporting a leading automotive brand. The role requires a part qualified accountant and offers a range of benefits including annual leave, retail discounts, and a comprehensive pension scheme. Join a team committed to delivering excellence and fostering professional growth.

Benefits

33 days of annual leave

Exclusive retail discounts

Discounts on new and used cars

Company pension scheme

Industry-leading family-friendly policies

Cycle-to-work scheme

Wellbeing support

24/7 access to healthcare professionals

Paid volunteer day

Company share purchase plan

Referral rewards

Training and development opportunities

Life assurance

Qualifications

• Part qualified accountant (AAT/CIMA/ACA/ACCA) is preferred.
• Strong communication skills required for effective delegation.
• Able to manage a range of customer requirements with professionalism.
• Organise and manage workload to meet deadlines consistently.
• Conscientious, with attention to detail is a must.
• Importance of fostering relationships with stakeholders.
• Seeks to improve service levels continuously.

Responsibilities

• Ensure accurate accounting for financial transactions and month-end reports.
• Prepare GL and Sub-Ledger Balance Sheet reconciliations.
• Comply with policies and act as audit contact point.
• Accountable for allocated Franchise specific balance sheet accounts.
• Ensure accuracy of Franchise P&L.
• Resolve internal/external customer/supplier issues.

Skills

Part qualified accountant (AAT/CIMA/ACA/ACCA)

Strong communication skills

Ability to manage customer requirements

Organisational skills

Attention to detail

Relationship building

Continuous improvement mindset

Job description

Assistant Accountant - JLR Chester

Fixed term contract - 12 Months

Driving Efficiency in Automotive Accounting

As an Assistant Accountant at Jaguar Land Rover Chester you'll be crucial in ensuring the financial integrity of the balance sheet through efficient accounting and reporting processes. This role offers you the opportunity to support a global leader in the automotive industry, working with prestigious brands and a team dedicated to delivering excellence.

What we can offer you

• Enjoy 33 days of annual leave (including bank holidays) to rest and recharge
• Save money every day with our exclusive retail discounts
• Get drive a great deal with discounts on new and used cars, plus servicing offers
• Plan for the years ahead with our company pension scheme
• Balance home and work with our industry-leading family‑friendly policies designed to help you spend more time with the people that matter
• Enjoy cycle‑to‑work scheme to commute for less
• Prioritise your wellbeing with dedicated support for you and your family
• 24/7 access to healthcare professionals, ensuring you get the expert advice you need quickly and easily
• Make a difference with a paid day to volunteer in your community
• Invest in your future with our company share purchase plan
• Earn financial rewards when you refer a friend to join the team
• Keep learning and growing with our training and development opportunities for everyone
• Life assurance with the option to increase cover
• We're open to flexible working options – just ask

What you'll do day to day

• Responsibility for the efficient, accurate and timely accounting for financial transactions, including the production of routine month‑end reports ensuring compliance with applicable accounting, tax, legislative and other regulatory standards
• Preparation of relevant GL and Sub‑Ledger Balance Sheet reconciliations and reviews
• Comply with all policies and processes ensuring adherence to the Minimum Control Framework; act as a point of contact for internal and external audit requirements
• Full accountability and ownership of any allocated Franchise specific balance sheet accounts e.g. bonus debtor, vehicle funding
• Responsible for the integrity and accuracy of the Franchise P&L
• Full Accountability and ownership of investigating & resolving internal / external Customer / Supplier issues

Helpful skills and qualifications

Don't worry about ticking off every single skill here – if you care about delivering great experiences as much as we do, we want to hear from you.

• Part qualified accountant (AAT/CIMA/ACA/ACCA)
• Strong communication skills, able to delegate effectively, prioritise requests and workload
• Ability to manage a range of external and internal customer requirements, some of which may be conflicting, with integrity and professionalism
• Able to organise and manage your own workload to consistently deliver to deadlines and work to high standards
• Conscientious, with an ability to delve into detail
• Understand the importance of fostering partnerships and good working relationships with stakeholders and internal customers
• Actively seeks to deliver a better level of service through continuous improvement

We value diversity and believe it strengthens our team. If you don't meet every requirement listed but are enthusiastic about this role and eager to learn, we encourage you to apply.

Be part of something big

Group 1 Automotive is on an exciting growth journey. We are home to over 7000 colleagues dedicated to providing exceptional customer service, with 114 dealerships in the UK, representing 21 brands at the forefront of automotive retail.

But you don't need to love cars to work with us – just need to share our mission to create outstanding and trusted experiences for our customers, our partners, and our people.

Our Values

At Group 1 Automotive, we pride ourselves on our five core values that are incorporated in all that we do:

• Respect
• Integrity
• Transparency
• Teamwork
• Professionalism

These are the principles that every member of our team lives by, whether that be business functions, customer interactions, how we interact with the local community and even how we view each other in the team.