Finance Assistant

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

Benefits offered by this job

Company bonus plan

Pension scheme

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Free parking

Job summary

HBS Group, Colchester, is seeking a Finance Assistant to support daily financial administration at the head office. The ideal candidate is early in their finance career or a recent graduate, with a hands-on approach and a drive to learn in a growth-focused family business.

You will handle invoices, processing, reconciliations, supplier payments, and month-end processes, while maintaining accurate records and collaborating across departments.

Qualifications

• Understanding of basic accounting principles.
• Proficient with Excel and accounting systems.
• Ability to manage multiple 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

Basic accounting principles

Attention to detail

Organisational skills

Time management

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Confidential information handling

Education

Relevant degree or accounting qualification

Tools

Excel

Accounting systems

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