Assistant Accountant AP Focus

Salt Separation Services Limited; Rochdale; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension (Aviva)

Company Bonus Scheme

Employee Referral Scheme

Employee Assistance Services

Life insurance

Income protection

Early finish Friday

Training & development

Holiday buy-back

Team events

Job summary

Salt Separation Services is seeking an Assistant Accountant in Rochdale to join a growing finance team. The role focuses on Accounts Payable processing, supplier relationships and supporting month-end activities.

You will report to the Head of Finance, ensuring accurate financial data and timely payments within an expanding engineering business. The ideal candidate has 3–5 years in a finance function, strong Excel skills and experience with ERP (Epicor).

Qualifications

• 3–5 years in a finance function with Accounts Payable responsibility.
• Experience end-to-end purchase ledger processing and supplier payments.
• Experience with BACS/CHAPS and international payments.
• Experience month-end/year-end close and GL reconciliations.
• Experience VAT information and HMRC compliance.
• ERP experience, preferably Epicor.

Responsibilities

• Process and post supplier invoices accurately and promptly.
• Manage accounts payable queries and supplier statements.
• Support monthly and year-end close activities.
• Maintain supplier master data and banking details.
• Assist with audits, SOPs and compliance
• Support working capital initiatives and accruals

Skills

3-5 years' finance experience

End-to-end purchase ledger

BACS/CHAPS & international payments

Month-end & year-end close

Journals & balance sheet reconciliat

Working capital management

VAT & HMRC compliance

ERP experience (Epicor)

Excel advanced (PivotTables, XLOOKUP,

Education

Tools

Epicor ERP

Excel (advanced)

Job description

Department: Finance

Location: Rochdale

Compensation: £32,000 - £34,000 / year

Description

Location: Rochdale

Salary: £32,000 - £34,000

Contract: Full Time, Permanent

We are seeking a proactive and detail-oriented Assistant Accountant to join our growing finance team at Salt Separation Services. Reporting to the Head of Finance, you will play a key role in providing a professional finance service to the business, ensuring the smooth operation of the Accounts Payable function and supporting the accurate preparation of financial data.

This is a varied and hands‑on position that will primarily focus on Accounts Payable whilst providing wider support across the finance function. The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring the accurate processing of financial transactions, maintaining strong supplier relationships, supporting month‑end activities, and contributing to continuous improvement initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

As Assistant Accountant, your responsibilities will include:

Accounts Payable

• Processing and posting supplier invoices accurately and in a timely manner.
• Downloading invoices from supplier portals and matching them to supporting documentation.
• Managing and resolving Accounts Payable queries and maintaining the unposted invoices log.
• Preparing, generating and reviewing aged creditors reports.
• Supporting bi‑monthly supplier payment runs and issuing payment remittances.
• Performing supplier statement reconciliations.
• Maintaining supplier banking and financial information within the ERP system.

Financial Reporting & Controls

• Preparing and posting journals within Epicor ERP.
• Performing general ledger account analysis.
• Processing monthly Accounts Payable accruals.
• Reviewing and amending Goods Received Not Invoiced (GRNI) balances.
• Completing monthly balance sheet reconciliations.
• Supporting employee expense checking and processing.

Audit & Compliance

• Assisting with annual external audits, including preparing audit schedules, documentation and responding to audit queries.
• Supporting annual stock takes and ensuring accurate documentation.
• Conducting annual supplier credit checks and credit limit reviews.
• Documenting, maintaining and periodically reviewing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

• A minimum of 3 to 5 years' experience within a finance function, including significant Accounts Payable responsibility.
• Proven experience managing the end-to-end purchase ledger process.
• Experience preparing and reviewing supplier payment runs, including BACS, CHAPS and international payments.
• Strong experience performing supplier statement reconciliations and resolving complex invoice discrepancies.
• Experience supporting month-end and year-end close processes, including accruals and prepayments.
• Experience posting journals and reconciling balance sheet accounts.
• Experience supporting working capital management activities.
• Experience preparing VAT information and supporting HMRC compliance requirements.
• Experience supporting external audits through the provision of accurate financial information.
• Demonstrable success in improving Accounts Payable processes, controls and efficiencies.
• Experience working with ERP or accounting systems, ideally Epicor.

Technical Skills

• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including:
  • PivotTables
  • XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP
  • SUMIFS
  • Data analysis and reporting
• Strong analytical, reconciliation and problem‑solving skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and a high level of accuracy.
• Ability to identify process improvements and implement more efficient ways of working.

Personal Attributes

• Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise competing deadlines and manage a varied workload.
• Excellent communication skills with the confidence to build relationships and liaise effectively with suppliers, stakeholders and senior colleagues.
• A proactive and collaborative approach to work.
• Strong investigative and problem‑solving capabilities.
• Comfortable working within a growing and evolving engineering business environment.

Job Benefits

A value at Salt Sep is family, and as such, we have designed benefits package which we believe give our people the very best support we can professionally, personally and for your future.

Benefits:

• Competitive employer matched pension scheme (Aviva)
• Company Bonus Scheme
• Employee Referral Scheme
• Free Employee Assistance Services; giving counselling, GP access, financial and wellbeing advice.
• Life insurance
• Income protection (after 5 yrs service)
• Early finish Friday (finishing at 1pm)
• Plenty of training and development
• Holiday buy‑back
• Excellent team building, social and company events

At Salt Separation Services, you’ll have the opportunity to work on impactful projects in a dynamic environment, as part of a small family‑owned business.

We have some big goals on our horizon, we take pride in supporting our employees' own growth and provide a culture that values quality, communication, integrity, health and safety and family.

Salt Separation Services is committed to creating an inclusive environment where diversity is valued, we encourage all candidates from all backgrounds, and are very happy to facilitate any adjustment you might need.