Finance Assistant

Pioneering People; Colchester; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free Parking

Staff BBQs

Statutory pension

Job summary

HBS Group is seeking a Finance Assistant in Colchester to support day‑to‑day financial administration and processing of invoices within a family‑owned educational supplies business.

You will gain hands‑on experience across accounts payable/receivable, month‑end tasks and financial reporting in a growing organization with a long‑standing presence in the sector.

Qualifications

• Basic understanding of accounting
• Strong attention to detail and numerical accuracy
• Good organisational and time-management skills
• Confident using Excel and financial/accounting systems
• Ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines
• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• A proactive, reliable and collaborative approach
• Ability to handle confidential financial information appropriately

Responsibilities

• Support the day‑to‑day finance function and ensure accurate and timely financial administration.
• Process purchase and sales invoices, expenses and payment requests.
• Maintain accurate financial records and assist with account reconciliations.
• Assist with accounts payable and accounts receivable activities.
• Prepare and process supplier payments and resolve invoice queries.
• Monitor outstanding customer and supplier balances.
• Assist with monthly management accounts and financial reporting.
• Support month‑end and year‑end accounting processes.
• Reconcile bank, credit card and other balance sheet accounts.
• Assist with maintaining the finance system and ensuring data accuracy.
• Provide financial information and reports to management when required.
• Liaise with suppliers, customers and internal departments regarding financial queries.
• Ensure finance processes comply with company policies and relevant regulations.
• Support the Finance Manager with ad‑hoc analysis and administrative tasks.

Skills

Basic accounting principles

Attention to detail

Organisational skills

Excel proficiency

Communication skills

Confidential information handling

Tools

Excel

Accounting software

Job description

Finance Assistant / Colchester / Salary £25,000-£30,000 (DOE) & Benefits

A growing, successful and well-established family-owned educational supplies business is looking to hire a Finance Assistant at their Colchester Head Office.

The role would be ideal for someone who is the early stages of their financial career or a recent graduate and is looking to gain experience in a hands‑on role. This is an exciting opportunity to join a key company in the educational supplies sector that has a been at the forefront of the industry for over 50 years.

With a client base that exceeds 3,000 schools across the South East, HBS Group is focussed on continuing to strengthen their product offering which already spans over 15,000 products as well as optimising procurement operations and fostering innovation in product development.

Key Responsibilities of the Finance Assistant:

• Support the day‑to‑day finance function and ensure accurate and timely financial administration.
• Process purchase and sales invoices, expenses and payment requests.
• Maintain accurate financial records and assist with account reconciliations.
• Assist with accounts payable and accounts receivable activities.
• Prepare and process supplier payments and resolve invoice queries.
• Monitor outstanding customer and supplier balances.
• Assist with monthly management accounts and financial reporting.
• Support month‑end and year‑end accounting processes.
• Reconcile bank, credit card and other balance sheet accounts.
• Assist with maintaining the finance system and ensuring data accuracy.
• Provide financial information and reports to management when required.
• Liaise with suppliers, customers and internal departments regarding financial queries.
• Ensure finance processes comply with company policies and relevant regulations.
• Support the Finance Manager with ad‑hoc analysis and administrative tasks.

Skills and Experience Required:

• Good understanding of basic accounting principles.
• Strong attention to detail and numerical accuracy.
• Good organisational and time‑management skills.
• Confident using Excel and financial/accounting systems.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• A proactive, reliable and collaborative approach.
• Ability to handle confidential financial information appropriately.

What’s in it for you:

• Permanent full‑time position
• Statutory pension and 25 days holiday + bank holidays
• Free Parking and staff BBQ’s
• A friendly and positive team working environment and culture

Finance Assistant • Colchester, Essex, England