Bookkeeper (Maternity Cover) - Southend-On-Sea

Xeinadin; Southend-on-Sea; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company Pension Scheme

25 days annual leave + bank holidays

Additional leave days for seniority

Buy up to 5 extra days of leave

Job summary

Xeinadin is seeking an experienced Bookkeeper for a maternity cover role in Southend-on-Sea. The position is fixed term for 12 months and office-based, supporting multiple clients with precise bookkeeping, VAT work, and management accounts.

You will work under the line manager, ensuring accurate accounting records, timely VAT returns, and effective client communication while upholding accounting standards and tight deadlines.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years in a practice environment.
• Robust knowledge of double entry accounting.
• Experience with Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, Excel and Word.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Bookkeeping and data input for multiple clients.
• Enter opening/closing balances and year-end adjustments.
• Prepare management accounts and VAT returns.
• Set up clients on Xero and manage conversion balances.
• Maintain audit trail and file documents timely.
• Meet deadlines and budgets; notify manager of issues.

Skills

Double entry bookkeeping

VAT knowledge

Time management

Communication skills

Organised

Attention to detail

Education

AAT or ACCA (part qualified) or qualified by experience

Tools

Xero

QuickBooks

Sage

Excel

Word

Outlook

Job description

Vacancy Name Bookkeeper (Maternity Cover) - Southend-On-Sea

Vacancy No VN2358

Employment Type Fixed Term

Duration 12 months

Location City Southend

Location Country United Kingdom

Company Description Xeinadin was established in 2019 when a number of leading business advisory and accountancy practices across the UK and Ireland came together to re-imagine the future of accountancy. Our collective mission to provide locally forged, trusted business advice to SMEs through forward-thinking, close-knit relationships remains pivotal to our growth. It's our people who drive our business forward, and we offer them future-focused career opportunities whilst supporting individual specialisms. Our regional offices of over 3000 colleagues operate collaboratively, combining collective expertise to maximise potential.

Description

We are looking for an experienced Bookkeeper within an accountancy practice to join our expanding organisation. You will be self-motivated, able to work to tight deadlines, have excellent interpersonal and supervisory skills together with an ability and interest in understanding our clients’ business.

Key Responsibilities

Bookkeeping:

• Undertake bookkeeping, inputting data, for a variety of clients as allocated by the line manager.
• Bookkeeping to final TB. This would involve understanding the year end process, entering opening and closing balances for adjusted trial balance.
• Able to calculate and post accruals and prepayments, depreciation and other year-end journals.
• Prepare management accounts.
• Maintain a full and accurate audit trail by filing and referencing documents in a timely manner.
• Adhere to accounting standards.
• Meet deadlines and time budgets.
• Advise line manager of any outstanding issues.
• Complete VAT returns for allocated clients.
• Setting up clients on Xero and dealing with conversion balances.

Client Relations:

• Develop and maintain good client relations.
• Liaise with clients directly or through relevant manager to resolve queries or obtain further information. Ensure a high level of service to meet clients’ expectations.
• Ensure that all hours worked on assignments are correctly recorded and budgets are adhered to, escalating issues to managers so that fee conversations can be undertaken with the client.

Key Requirements

• Able to prepare VAT summaries and Return.
• VAT Registration; De-registration etc.
• Minimum 3 years in a Practice environment
• Must have a robust knowledge of double entry.
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal.
• Have experience with Xero, QuickBooks, Sage , Excel and Word
• Excellent time management and organisation skills.
• Comfortable working to deadlines.
• Able to understand the concept of PAYE for bookkeeping purposes.
• Assist The Manager/Partner to collect information required in reply to HMRC enquiries.
• Have a working knowledge of CIS requirements and experience in making submissions.

Additional Requirements

• AAT qualified or ACCA part qualified, or qualified by experience.
• Excellent knowledge of Xero and QuickBooks.
• Excellent communication skills both verbal and written.
• Organised and methodical.
• Client focussed.
• Strong IT skills including Word, Outlook and Excel, to an intermediate level, for the production of letters and spreadsheets.
• Carrying out tasks with a high degree of efficiency and accuracy.
• Organisation/time management.
• Ability to operate strict deadlines and handle conflicting priorities.
• Ability to work under own initiative.
• Ability to keep calm under pressure.

Model

Office Based

Salary

Competitive

Benefits

• Company Pension Scheme
• 25 days of annual leave + bank holidays
• Additional annual leave days from certain levels of seniority
• Ability to buy up to 5 days of annual leave to reach a maximum of 30 days per annum
• Business closure over Christmas*
• Life Assurance x4 annual salary
• Enhanced family leave policies
• Enhanced Company Sick Pay
• Employee Assistance Programme – 24/7 support, free and confidential
• Corporate Discounts Platform

Flexible Benefits platform with ability to opt-in to various insurances (level of seniority dependent & self-funded at corporate rates) such as:

• Critical Illness Cover
• Cash plan
• Cycle to work
• Eye care
• Dental
• subject to exceptions and business needs