Experienced Bookkeeper

Heelan Associates Ltd; Waterlooville; Hybrid; GBP 18,000 - 20,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

On-site parking

Company pension

Employee assistance

Job summary

Heelan Associates Ltd is a family-led accountancy practice that values personal relationships and trusted advisory services. This role offers an Experienced Bookkeeper to manage a portfolio of clients, delivering accurate, high-quality work while collaborating across the practice.

You will reconcile ledgers, prepare VAT/CIS returns, post journals, and maintain electronic records. The firm supports hybrid working, ongoing professional development and a range of employee benefits.

Qualifications

• Proven bookkeeping experience essential.
• Experience using cloud accounting software (Xero, QuickBooks Online, Dext).
• Sound understanding of double-entry bookkeeping.
• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Independent and collaborative team player.

Responsibilities

• Use accounting technology to manage data entry.
• Accurately reconcile ledgers (bank, credit card, cash).
• Reconcile control accounts and investigate discrepancies.
• Prepare and submit VAT returns on time.
• Prepare and submit CIS returns on time.
• Post journals (PAYE, VAT, pensions).
• Maintain electronic records and filing systems.
• Investigate and resolve bookkeeping queries.
• Follow internal procedures and record work clearly.
• Provide excellent client care over phone and in person.

Skills

Bookkeeping

Cloud accounting

Double-entry bookkeeping

Organisational skills

Communication

Independence

Tools

Xero

QuickBooks Online

Dext

Job description

Salary: £13.40 - £14.75 per hour (depending on experience)

Hours:36.5 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

Reporting to: Bookkeeping Manager

About Heelan Associates

We are proud of the relationships we build with our clients, and we are even prouder of the team behind them. At Heelan Associates, we are more than accountants. We are trusted advisers who genuinely care about helping businesses and individuals succeed.

We believe accountancy should be personal, approachable and built on long-term relationships. As a family-led practice, we have created a workplace where people enjoy coming to work, feel supported to develop and are encouraged to make a real difference. We invest in our team because we know that when our people thrive, our clients do too.

The Role - Looking for more than just your next bookkeeping job?

At Heelan Associates, bookkeeping is about far more than balancing the books. It is about building trusted relationships, helping clients understand the story behind their numbers and giving them the confidence to make informed decisions for their business. It is also about being part of a supportive team that genuinely enjoys working together.

We are looking for an Experienced Bookkeeper to join our growing practice. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys variety, takes pride in delivering accurate, high-quality work and thrives on building long-term relationships with clients. You will manage your own portfolio of clients, becoming a trusted point of contact while working closely with colleagues across the practice. No two days are the same, giving you the opportunity to develop your skills, share ideas and make a real difference to both our clients and our team.

If you are looking for somewhere you can enjoy coming to work, build lasting client relationships and continue developing your career, we would love to hear from you.

What You’ll Be Doing

• To use accounting technology efficiently to manage data entry.
• To accurately reconcile all ledgers, including bank, credit card and cash accounts.
• To methodically reconcile control accounts and investigate any discrepancies.
• To prepare and submit VAT returns accurately and within the required deadlines.
• To prepare and submit CIS returns accurately and within the required deadlines.
• To correctly post journals, including PAYE, VAT and pension journals.
• To diligently maintain electronic records and filing systems.
• To promptly investigate and resolve bookkeeping queries.
• To use internal recording systems and follow internal procedures, ensuring that work is properly recorded and completed to the required standard.
• To provide excellent client care professionally and courteously, both over the phone and in person. This may include answering incoming calls, greeting clients, welcoming them into the office, offering refreshments and showing them into and out of the building.
• To work effectively, efficiently and collaboratively as part of a close-knit bookkeeping team, providing support and cover for colleagues.
• To actively participate in activities that support the smooth running of the office.
• To complete any relevant continuing professional development required by your professional body, where applicable.

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for someone who shares our passion for delivering outstanding client service and enjoys working as part of a supportive team.

You will ideally have:

• Proven bookkeeping experience is essential. Ideally, you will have gained this within an accountancy practice or by managing a variety of competing finance priorities within a small business environment. Experience using cloud accounting software, particularly Xero, QuickBooks Online and Dext. A sound understanding of double-entry bookkeeping.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines. Strong attention to detail and pride in producing accurate, high-quality work.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Confidence working independently while also enjoying being part of a collaborative team. A proactive approach, always looking for opportunities to improve processes and develop your knowledge. A genuine commitment to delivering an exceptional experience for every client.

Our Values

We take finding the right people to join our business very seriously. For us, it’s about finding special people who share our values.

Our values represent who we are as a company, they guide our decisions, underpin our relationships and govern the way we conduct ourselves and our business.

Please take the time to familiarise yourself with our values HERE (Click) .

Why You’ll Love Working With Us

We believe that when our people feel valued and supported, they do their very best work. Alongside a competitive salary, we offer a range of benefits designed to support your wellbeing, professional development and work-life balance.

Working Pattern

• 4.00 pm finish every Friday.
• Hybrid working following successful completion of your probation (up to two days working from home each week, subject to business needs).
• 28 days' annual leave (including Bank Holidays), increasing with length of service.
• Flexible Bank Holidays– Outside of the Christmas closure, Bank Holidays are treated as normal working days. If you choose to work on a Bank Holiday, you can take the equivalent leave at another time, giving you greater flexibility over how you use your annual leave. If you would prefer to take a Bank Holiday as annual leave, this will always be approved.
• Paid Christmas Closure – Enjoy paid leave for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day (or the relevant Bank Holidays), plus Christmas Eve where it falls on one of your contracted working days, without using your annual leave entitlement.
• Birthday Leave– Enjoy a paid day off when your birthday falls on one of your contracted working days.
• Holiday Purchase Scheme – Purchase up to three additional days' annual leave each holiday year.

Health and Wellbeing

• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) available from your first day of employment, providing confidential support for wellbeing, mental health, financial guidance, legal advice and much more.
• WPA Healthcare Cash Plan following successful completion of your six-month probation period.
• Up to three days' full Company Sick Pay per holiday year following successful completion of your six-month probation period, in addition to Statutory Sick Pay where eligible.

Professional Development

• Ongoing training and development.
• Quarterly 1-2-1s to support your growth.
• Support towards relevant professional qualifications and memberships where appropriate.
• Career development opportunities within our growing practice.
• Access to the latest cloud accounting software and technology.

Our Workplace

• Modern, air-conditioned office.
• Free on-site parking.
• Complimentary tea, coffee and refreshments.
• Regular team socials and company events.
• A collaborative, supportive team where everyone's contribution is valued and successes are celebrated together.
• A family-led business where people are trusted, respected and encouraged to develop.

Additional Benefits

• Company pension scheme.
• Employee Referral Scheme.*
• Client Referral Scheme.*
• The odd pizza, McDonalds etc…

Subject to the terms and conditions of the relevant scheme.

Ready to Join Us?

If you are looking for a role where you can build strong client relationships, continue developing your career and be part of a genuinely supportive team, we would love to hear from you.

Please note: We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if a successful candidate is appointed before the advertised closing date of 28/11 /2026.

Do you want to do exciting stuff and make a difference?

Now’s your chance to join our rapidly growing, dynamic, and commercially savvy Accountancy Practice where:

>There’s no such thing as a silly question

> Time and talent are respected,

> There are endless opportunities to learn

> Alternative perspectives are welcome

> Family comes first

…. and (most importantly of all) nobody thinks they’re too big-time to make a round of brews!

Why choose to join Heelan Associates?

We are not your usual boring “back office” accountancy practice. Our phenomenal team of Accounting, Bookkeeping and Payroll professionals proudly set the standard for what modern small business accounting support should look like.

We are a team on a mission to support businesses to start, survive and grow and with a rapidly expanding caseload of clients to help, now is a really exciting time to join our team.

Hours

Full time (36.50 hours)

Genuine flexibility, great work-life balance, plentiful opportunities to learn and develop specialist knowledge, formal and informal training, company pension scheme, enhanced holiday allowance, enhanced sick pay, employee assistance programme, regular employee socials and events, family friendly, onsite parking, great working environment

£13.40 - £14.75 per hour (depending on experience)