Business Finance Assistant

Allhires; Ipswich; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

Birketts is a full-service UK Top 50 law firm recruiting for a Finance/Accounts Payable role in Ipswich. The team supports Client and Business Finance, handling purchase ledger, payments, and supplier queries in a collaborative, flexible hybrid environment.

The role requires good IT skills, strong organisation and attention to detail, with a focus on accuracy and prioritisation during timely processing of supplier payments. Hybrid pattern offered after probation.

Qualifications

• A-level qualification or equivalent.
• Strong IT skills, including Word and Excel.
• Good organisation and administrative skills.
• Accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to effectively prioritise.

Responsibilities

• Input, check and post purchase ledger transactions, including expenses and disbursements.
• Dealing with internal and external Accounts Payable queries.
• Supporting in the preparation of weekly supplier payment runs.
• Assist with processing of CHAPS/BACS/International payments.
• Allocating payments within the finance system.
• Provide administrative support to the Finance department.
• Take action on improving/enhancing existing systems and processes and driving improvements.
• Ensuring that own knowledge and skills are kept up-to-date and requesting training where necessary.

Skills

Attention to detail

Organisation

Prioritisation

Accuracy

Time management

Education

A-level qualification or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Birketts is a full service, UK Top 50 law firm. With a heritage spanning 160 years, we have more than 700 lawyers and legal professionals and over 600 staff based in Bristol, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Ipswich, London, Norwich and Sevenoaks. We advise businesses, government and public sector organisations and individuals in the UK and internationally across four principal practice groups: Real Estate, Corporate Services, Dispute Resolution and Private Client.

We are defined by our Next Level Law proposition. We work with our clients as a proactive partner, horizon scanning and thinking ahead to the changes, challenges or opportunities that they may face.

Next Level Law is also applied to our people. Our collegiate culture means everyone is encouraged to achieve their next level in everything they do. RollOnFriday recently ranked us as the 6th best law firm to work at in 2026.

With our ambition to succeed, comes a strong desire to make a positive contribution to the communities we serve, and we are committed to delivering the objectives set out in our ESG strategy. Diversity plays an integral part in all that we do, with female partners comprising 45% of our partnership.

The team you will join

The Client and Business Finance team sits within our wider Business Services Division. The team supports the firm through expert financial management across client and internal operations. We are a collaborative team made up of Client Finance, Business Finance, Finance Systems and Credit Control, working together to deliver clarity, compliance and efficiency. The focus is on enabling secure, transparent and future-ready financial processes that align with the firm’s strategic goals.

The work you will be doing

This role plays a key part in supporting the Business Services team and wider firm by ensuring the smooth and accurate operation of the Accounts Payable function.

Responsibilities include:

• Input, check and post purchase ledger transactions, including expenses and disbursements.
• Dealing with internal and external Accounts Payable queries.
• Supporting in the preparation of weekly supplier payment runs.
• Assist with processing of CHAPS/BACS/International payments.
• Allocating payments within the finance system.
• Provide administrative support to the Finance department.
• Take action on improving/enhancing existing systems and processes and driving improvements.
• Ensuring that own knowledge and skills are kept up-to-date and requesting training where necessary.

Please note that this job profile is not an exhaustive list of duties but merely an outline of the key components of the role. You may be required by your line manager to take on additional responsibilities when requested.

What we are looking for

• A-level qualification or equivalent.
• Strong IT skills, including Word and Excel.
• Good organisation and administrative skills.
• Accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to effectively prioritise.

Hybrid Working

Birketts is a flexible business which has embraced a hybrid working model where our colleagues enjoy a mix of home and office working. During your 6 month probation period, there will be a requirement to be in the office full time whilst you are developing in the role. Once you have successfully passed probation, this role attracts a split of 60% office days and 40% working from home days per week.

We welcome applications from people looking for flexible, agile, and part-time roles and we are happy to explore your preferred working patterns as part of your application.

As a Birketts colleague, you will be eligible to receive a wide range of benefits:

• Long Service holiday award – 1 extra week every 10 years continuous service
• Private Healthcare with BUPA (offered after probation is passed)
• Staff Profit Share and Individual Performance Bonus Scheme
• Salary sacrifice (Pensions, Staff Profit Share)
• Life Assurance - 4 x salary / Permanent Health Insurance

At Birketts, our culture is driven by ambition and a commitment to positively impact all the communities we serve. We are dedicated to the success, development, and wellbeing of our colleagues, helping them achieve their goals and seize the opportunities that come with our growth.

Birketts is committed to being an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our policy is unequivocal: we do not tolerate discrimination based on age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, or sexual orientation.

We pride ourselves on being an inclusive organisation that actively promotes equality of opportunity for all, valuing the right mix of talent, skills, and potential. We welcome applications from a diverse range of candidates, and selection for roles is based solely on individual merit.

If you require this advert in an accessible format, please visithttps://diversityjobsgroup.com/company/birketts/

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

At Birketts, we recognise the evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the legal profession and recruitment. We welcome innovation and understand that candidates may use AI tools to support their job applications. However, we expect all applicants to use AI responsibly and ethically.

Our expectations regarding AI use in applications

• Your application should reflect your own voice, experiences, and insights. AI may assist in structuring or refining your responses, but it must not replace your personal input.
• Do not use AI to misrepresent your qualifications, experiences, or skills. Any form of exaggeration or fabrication may result in rejection from the process.
• If you have used AI tools to assist with your application, be prepared to discuss how and why you used them during the interview process.
• Do not submit content generated by AI tools that may include personal or sensitive data not intended for public disclosure.
• AI-generated content should be reviewed and edited by you to ensure accuracy, relevance, and alignment with the role and our firm’s values.

We are committed to fair and inclusive recruitment practices. The use of AI should enhance, not compromise, your application. We encourage candidates to demonstrate critical thinking, commercial awareness, and a genuine interest in our firm.

If you have any questions about our expectations or the use of AI in your application, please contact our Talent Acquisition Team via [e-mail]