Finance Assistant

Confidential; Cheltenham; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work (2 days on-site, 3 remote)

Flexible working hours

Annual bonus scheme

Development opportunities

AAT study package

Private healthcare

Job summary

Hays Accountancy & Finance is partnering with a Cheltenham-based finance services organisation to recruit a permanent Finance Assistant. You will support a portfolio of clients, ensuring accurate records while improving processes and technology.

The role offers hybrid work (2 days on-site, 3 remote) with flexible hours, a bonus scheme, study support for AAT, private healthcare, and development opportunities.

Qualifications

• AAT qualified or equivalent with practical transactional finance experience.
• Experience using Xero and/or Sage.
• Intermediate Excel skills.
• Good understanding of sales and purchase ledger processes.
• Experience or confidence with AI-based tools and automation in finance.
• Strong attention to detail with a process-driven approach.
• Ability to work independently and manage competing priorities.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills.
• Proactive and adaptable in a fast-paced environment.
• Interest in continuous improvement and developing more efficient ways of working.
• Multi-client experience is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Process sales transactions from order to invoicing and receipt with high accuracy.
• Process purchase transactions from requisition to payment.
• Support onboarding of new clients within the engagement team.
• Assist in implementing standardised finance processes and automation tools.
• Build strong client relationships to ensure accurate information and transactions.
• Help clients adopt new processes, systems and ways of working.
• Collaborate with the team to identify improvements driving accuracy and efficiency.

Education

AAT qualified or equivalent

Tools

Xero

Sage

Excel

Job description

Your new company:

Hays Accountancy & Finance are partnering exclusively with a growing and forward-thinking finance services organisation based in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire to recruit an experienced permanent Finance Assistant. This is an exciting opportunity to join a progressive business that provides high-quality finance support to a varied portfolio of growing organisations. You will work as part of a collaborative client services team, gaining exposure to different businesses while helping clients improve their financial processes, systems and ways of working.

The organisation embraces technology, automation and continuous improvement, making this an excellent opportunity for an experienced Finance Assistant who enjoys working in a fast-paced, modern finance environment. The position offers remote/office hybrid working of 2 days on-site, 3 days remote, flexible working hours, company/personal annual bonus scheme, development opportunities, study package for AAT if applicable, private healthcare and more.

Your new role:

Reporting to the wider client services team, you will work directly with a portfolio of clients, ensuring accurate financial records are maintained while supporting the implementation and improvement of processes and technology.

Key responsibilities will include:

• - Processing sales transactions from sales order through to invoicing and receipt, ensuring a high level of accuracy.
• - Processing purchase transactions from requisition and purchase order through to invoice and payment.
• - Working as part of the client engagement team to support the onboarding of new clients.
• - Supporting the implementation of standardised finance processes and automation tools.
• - Building strong working relationships with clients to ensure the correct information is obtained and transactions are processed accurately.
• - Helping clients adopt new processes, systems and ways of working.
• - Working with the wider team to identify and implement improvements that increase accuracy, efficiency and the overall service delivered to clients.

What you'll need to succeed:

To be considered for this hands-on Finance Assistant position, you will ideally be AAT qualified or equivalent, with practical transactional finance experience.

• - Previous experience using accounting software such as Xero and/or Sage.
• - Intermediate Microsoft Excel skills.
• - A good understanding of sales and purchase ledger processes.
• - Experience or confidence in using AI-based tools and automation to improve finance processes, reconciliations, data entry or reporting.
• - Strong attention to detail with a process-driven approach.
• - The ability to work independently and manage competing priorities.
• - Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain financial information clearly.
• - Strong organisation and time-management skills.
• - A proactive and adaptable approach with the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced and changing environment.
• - A genuine interest in continuous improvement, technology and developing more efficient ways of working.
• - Multi-client experience would be advantageous but not essential.

You will be a collaborative and commercially minded individual who enjoys building trusted relationships with both clients and colleagues. You will take ownership of your work, be comfortable working at pace and enjoy being part of a growing organisation.

What you'll get in return

This permanent Finance Assistant position offers the opportunity to join an ambitious and growing finance services organisation in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire with exposure to a diverse portfolio of clients and businesses. Salary of £28,000 - £34,000 per annum, dependable on experience with up to a 10 % personal/company annual bonus.

The role offers a flexible working arrangement of two days on-site, three days remote, flexible working hours, private health care, critical illness cover, group income protection, development opportunities, study package for AAT if required and more. It is an excellent opportunity if you are looking to join a modern environment where technology, automation, client service and continuous improvement are central to the organisation.