Finance Assistant

Confidential; Essex; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Permanent full‑time

Salary range

Statutory pension

25 days holiday

Free parking

Staff BBQs

Friendly environment

Job summary

HBS Group, a growing family-owned educational supplies business based at Colchester Head Office, is seeking a Finance Assistant to join the team. The role suits someone early in their financial career or a recent graduate wanting hands-on experience in a busy finance function.

The successful candidate will support day-to-day finance tasks, process invoices, assist with month-end close and accounting reconciliations, and work with colleagues to ensure accurate financial records and timely

Qualifications

• 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.

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

Accounting basics

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Excel proficiency

Interpersonal skills

Confidential handling

Multitasking

Tools

Excel

Finance 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
• Salary £25,000-£30,000 per annum (DOE) Plus Company Bonus Plan
• Statutory pension and 25 days holiday + bank holidays
• Free Parking and staff BBQ's
• A friendly and positive team working environment and culture