Finance Assistant

Sheffield Forgemasters Engineering Ltd; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Onsite canteen

Free onsite parking

Job summary

Sheffield Forgemasters Engineering Ltd is seeking a Finance Assistant to join our Finance team at our Sheffield site. You will support day-to-day financial operations, focusing on purchase and sales ledgers, reconciliations, and the processing of invoices in line with our policies.

This role offers a hands-on opportunity to contribute to the recapitalisation programme and broader financial planning activities.

Qualifications

• Experience working in both purchase ledger and sales ledger environments.
• Credit control experience and knowledge of GRNI.
• Ability to process high volumes of invoices accurately and efficiently.

Responsibilities

• Process purchase ledger and sales ledger invoices in a timely and accurate manner.
• Manage supplier and customer account reconciliations and resolve invoice, payment and account queries.
• Process employee expenses and credit card transactions.
• Match receipts to invoices and prepare invoices for payment.
• Chase overdue customer invoices and support credit control activities.
• Liaise with suppliers, customers and internal stakeholders to resolve issues and maintain relationships.
• Support month-end activities, payment runs and deadlines.
• Provide cover for sales ledger duties and assist with ad hoc tasks.

Skills

Purchase ledger experience

Sales ledger experience

Credit control

High invoice volume

Organisational skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Teamwork

Process improvement

Job description

At Sheffield Forgemasters we have an exciting opportunity for a Finance Assistant to join our team.

This role is based at our 64-acre site, sitting in the heart of Sheffield, and will be working as part of our Finance team. Our Finance department plays a crucial role in ensuring the organisation's financial health, operational efficiency, and strategic growth. Covering everything from day-to-day financial operations to long-term financial planning and analysis, the team also supports the successful delivery of our major recapitalisation programme, helping to drive the future growth and transformation of Sheffield Forgemasters.

As a Finance Assistant, you will support the Finance team by accurately processing purchase and sales invoices, maintaining financial records, resolving queries, supporting reconciliations and ensuring transactions are completed in line with company policies and procedures. You will work closely with suppliers, customers and internal stakeholders to support the efficient management of accounts payable and receivable activities.

What you'll be doing

• Processing purchase ledger and sales ledger invoices in a timely and accurate manner.
• Managing supplier and customer account reconciliations and resolving invoice, payment and account queries.
• Processing employee expenses and credit card transactions.
• Matching receipts to invoices and preparing invoices for payment.
• Chasing overdue customer invoices and supporting credit control activities.
• Liaising with suppliers, customers, purchasers and internal stakeholders to resolve issues and maintain strong working relationships.
• Supporting month-end activities, payment runs and ensuring transactions are completed in line with agreed deadlines.
• Providing cover for sales ledger duties when required and supporting the Transactional Finance Supervisor with ad hoc tasks and continuous improvement activities.

About You

• Experience working within both purchase ledger and sales ledger environments.
• Credit control experience and knowledge of GRNI.
• Proven ability to process high volumes of invoices accurately and efficiently.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise workloads and meet deadlines.
• Excellent attention to detail and a high level of accuracy.
• Confident communication and interpersonal skills.
• A collaborative approach with the ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• A proactive mindset with a focus on improving processes and ways of working.

As well as having the skills, knowledge and experience for this role, we are also looking for someone who embodies our core values: Customer Focus; Working Together; Trust & Respect; Quality & Innovation and Safety & Wellbeing.

The Working Pattern

This is a full-time role working 37.5 hours per week, Monday – Friday. We offer flexibility in our start and finish times between 06:15 - 09:30 and 14:30 – 18:00.

Why Sheffield Forgemasters?

Sheffield Forgemasters is an iconic steel production and engineering company, with a history that can be traced back to the 1750s, starting life as a small blacksmith forge. We have since gone through many evolutions and gone by several different names and guises, whilst consistently being at the forefront of innovation and new process development in the steel industry.

Recognising Sheffield Forgemasters as a global leader in the designing, manufacturing and delivering of world-class steel forgings and castings, we were acquired by the UK Ministry of Defence in 2021. The acquisition has secured our role as a critical supplier to the next generation of UK defence programmes. As part of this programme of work, £1.3bn is being invested in modernising our plant and equipment, creating new opportunities for the business and our colleagues.

What We Offer

• Stability, with large-scale & long-term investment and orders already secured into the 2040s.
• A programme of redevelopment that will include state-of-the-art new machinery and facilities on site.
• Up to 9% employer pension contribution.
• Life Assurance Scheme as part of the pension programme, 4 x annual salary.
• All Employee Bonus Scheme, up to £1000 paid annually, dependent on company performance.
• Onsite canteen.
• Free onsite parking and available EV chargers.
• Multi-Faith Room.
• Long service award scheme.
• Free Sheffield Forgemasters branded coat upon joining, with other branded workwear available to purchase online.
• You at Work – Access to online discounts portal.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Discounted Westfield Health Plan Scheme.
• Onsite Occupational Health Team, providing health screening and wellbeing initiatives and support, including but not limited to:
  • Availability to confidentially discuss any physical or mental health concerns.
  • Referrals and access to Physiotherapy sessions, when required.
  • Ear irrigation.
  • Flu Vaccinations.
  • Blood Pressure management clinics.
  • Weight management clinics.
  • Occupational Health checks in line with health promotion and wellbeing events. e.g. Cholesterol, Blood sugar, Icle tests, etc.
  • Health promotion campaigns, utilising outside companies / charities, such as Andy's Man Club.
  • Access to Zest Fit – Lifestyle Coach.
  • Skills for life sessions offered to all, including CPR, managing bleeds, burns etc.
  • Financial Wellbeing Sessions – Pension providers coming on site to talk to colleagues and offering advice.
  • Chaplain Service.
• Support for ex-military and reservists in employment as a bronze accredited participant in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.

Equality and Diversity

Our people are at the heart of everything we do at Sheffield Forgemasters. It’s vital that our workforce reflects the diversity of both our local catchment area and the wider society in the UK, so we’re proud to be an equal opportunities employer and we actively seek candidates from diverse backgrounds and communities.

Flexible Working

We recognise the importance of work-life balance and are open to discussing flexible working arrangements that align with our policies. Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office-based and remote working. Applicants can request further information regarding the policy and how this may work in their role, from our People & Culture Team and / or the line manager for the applicable role.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. People working with government / MOD assets must complete Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks.

Nationality limitations

Please be aware that many roles at Sheffield Forgemasters are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 - 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.