FTC Finance Assistant

Chemtech Environmental Limited; North East; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Performance bonus

Free on-site parking

Health programme

Life insurance 2x salary

Referral bonus £1,000

Sick pay and enhanced maternity/patern

Christmas shutdown

Job summary

Chemtech Environmental Limited is seeking a Finance Assistant on a fixed-term contract for 6 months to manage customer accounts and ensure timely invoicing.

You will oversee credit control, reconcile bank accounts in Xero, produce statements, and support the wider finance team with admin tasks while building strong relationships with customers.

Qualifications

• 2+ years' experience in credit control, accounts receivable or finance role.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end credit control, raise and issue invoices.
• Monitor outstanding debt and chase overdue payments.
• Reconcile bank accounts daily and allocate payments in Xero.
• Respond to customer queries and resolve invoice disputes.
• Produce weekly and monthly customer statements and reports.
• Support the wider finance team with general administration and process improvements.
• Make regular outbound calls to chase debt and arrange payment plans.

Skills

Credit control

Xero

Excel

Customer relations

Education

GCSE Maths (Grade 4/C or above)

AAT or accounting qualification advantageous

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Finance Assistant - Fixed term contract for 6 months

At Chemtech Environmental, we like to think of ourselves as an extension of your team — the kind that adds value without adding hassle (and yes, the sample containers are free). We keep things simple, personal and practical, offering tailored solutions and responsive support through our network of regional laboratories. With years of industry experience behind us, we help clients get the answers they need, make smart decisions and keep projects moving — all while sweating the small stuff so they don’t have to.

Department: Administration

Location: County Durham

Compensation: £28,000 / year

Part of the Celnor Group

Celnor Group is a UK-based environmental services group operating across the Testing, Inspection, Certification and Compliance (TICC) landscape. With a growing portfolio of specialist businesses, Celnor provides essential services that protect people, property and the environment. While each business retains its own identity, culture and technical specialism, all are supported by a central group function that invests in people, systems and long-term sustainable growth.

Job details

As our Finance Assistant, you will play a key role in managing customer accounts and ensuring outstanding invoices are collected promptly and professionally.

What you will do

• Manage the end-to-end credit control process, including raising, checking and issuing daily and monthly invoices.
• Proactively monitor outstanding debt, chase overdue payments and negotiate payment terms to ensure timely collection.
• Reconcile company bank accounts daily, allocate payments and maintain accurate financial records using Xero.
• Respond to customer queries, resolve invoice disputes efficiently and build strong, professional client relationships.
• Review new credit applications, assess creditworthiness and maintain customer accounts, terms and contact information.
• Produce weekly and monthly reports, prepare customer statements and ensure all finance documentation is accurate and up to date.
• Support the wider finance team with general finance administration while working collaboratively across the business to improve processes and customer service.
• Make regular outbound calls to customers to chase outstanding debt, agree payment plans and confirm realistic payment dates.

Who you are

• Minimum of 2 years' experience in a credit control, accounts receivable or finance role, with a good understanding of finance processes and debt collection.
• Confident using Xero and Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, with the ability to maintain accurate financial records and produce reports.
• Excellent communication, organisation and time management skills, with the ability to build strong customer relationships and manage competing deadlines.
• Proactive, analytical and detail-oriented, with the confidence to use initiative, solve problems and identify opportunities to improve processes.
• Able to work independently and collaboratively, taking ownership of tasks while maintaining high standards of accuracy, compliance and professionalism.
• GCSE Maths (Grade 4/C or above) or equivalent required. AAT or another recognised accounting qualification would be advantageous.

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays — and it increases the longer you stick around.
• Performance bonus- win together, celebrate together.
• Free on-site parking, because the only thing you should be hunting for at work is results, not a parking space.
• Health and wellbeing programme to help keep both mind and body in good working order.
• Life insurance (2x salary) for a little extra peace of mind.
• Referral bonus of £1,000 if you bring great people into the team.
• Sick pay and enhanced maternity & paternity pay to support you when life happens.
• Christmas shutdown, giving you proper time to switch off, relax and enjoy the festive season.

Important information

Celnor Group and its businesses manage recruitment directly. We do not require agency support for this role and will only engage with recruitment partners from our preferred supplier list where necessary. We may use technology, including AI-enabled tools, to support parts of the recruitment process. AI is not used for candidate screening, scoring or hiring decisions. All hiring decisions are made by people, for people. Our recruitment systems are ISO 42001 accredited, reflecting our commitment to ethical, transparent and responsible use of technology.