Assistant Accountant (Financial Accounts)

Confidential; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 23,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

Sellick Partnership is seeking an Assistant Accountant (Financial Accounts) in Birmingham for a fixed-term contract until December 2027. The role combines financial accounting, month-end, reconciliations and audit support within a public sector context.

The ideal candidate has strong Excel skills (VLOOKUP, PivotTables), experience with balance sheet accounting, and an AAT or equivalent qualification. Hybrid working includes one office day per week.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in financial accounting with month-end focus
• Strong Excel skills (VLOOKUP, PivotTables) and numeric accuracy
• Experience in balance sheet reconciliations and financial controls
• Public sector exposure or experience preferred

Responsibilities

• Support month-end accounting processes: journals, prepayments, close activities
• Perform balance sheet, control account, AP/AR reconciliations
• Maintain fixed assets and lease records; ensure accuracy
• Assist with VAT, tax, statutory returns and audits
• Prepare information for financial statements and audits
• Liaise with internal/external auditors for queries
• Support AP/AR and employee expenses processes
• Assist with finance system maintenance and process improvements
• Support wider government accounting requirements

Skills

Excel

Communication

Financial accounting

Month-end processes

Education

AAT or equivalent

Tools

ERP/Finance system

Oracle

Job description

Role Title: Assistant Accountant (Financial Accounts)
Type: Fixed-Term Contract until December 2027
Salary: Up to £38,486 per annum
Hybrid: 1 day per week in the office
Location: Birmingham

This is an excellent opportunity for a finance professional with a strong financial accounting background to join a well-established Finance function. The successful candidate will support a broad range of financial control and accounting activities, with particular emphasis on month-end processes, reconciliations, balance sheet accounting, financial reporting and audit.

The role would suit someone who enjoys working across a varied finance function and has a genuine interest in working within the public sector. While forecasting experience is useful, the team are particularly keen to speak with candidates who have strong hands‑on experience across financial accounting, balance sheet reconciliations and financial control.

The responsibilities of the Assistant Accountant will be:

• Supporting month-end accounting processes, including journals, prepayments and period close activities.
• Completing a range of balance sheet, control account, accounts payable and accounts receivable reconciliations.
• Supporting the maintenance of fixed asset and lease records, ensuring balances are accurate and up to date.
• Assisting with VAT, tax, statutory and other financial returns.
• Supporting the preparation of financial statements and information required for audit.
• Working with internal and external auditors to provide supporting information and resolve queries.
• Supporting accounts payable, accounts receivable and employee expense processes.
• Assisting with the maintenance of the finance system and identifying opportunities to improve financial controls and processes.
• Supporting wider government accounting requirements and providing assistance to the wider Finance team as required.

The ideal candidate for the Assistant Accountant role will have:

• Previous experience working within a Public Sector organisation.
• Extensive experience working within a financial accounting environment, ideally with strong exposure to month-end and reconciliations.
• A good understanding of balance sheet accounting and experience reconciling accounts using an ERP or finance system.
• Strong Excel skills, including VLOOKUPs and PivotTables, with a high level of numerical accuracy and attention to detail.
• AAT qualification or equivalent finance/accounting qualification or degree.
• Experience using finance or ERP systems, with Oracle experience being advantageous.
• Experience supporting financial statements, audit activity and financial controls.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to explain financial information clearly to non-finance stakeholders.

Sellick Partnership is proud to be an inclusive and accessible recruitment business and we support applications from candidates of all backgrounds and circumstances.