Senior Accounts Assistant – O5273

SEARCHLIGHT; Greater London; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

SEARCHLIGHT is seeking a Senior Accounts Assistant to support day-to-day financial operations, ensuring supplier invoices, expenses and payments are processed accurately and efficiently.

Your responsibilities include maintaining supplier accounts, overseeing billing and credit control, keeping ledgers up to date, and assisting with month-end and year-end processes. You will collaborate with a small finance team in a fast-paced TV/entertainment setting.

Qualifications

• Strong numerical ability and analytical thinking with high attention to detail.
• Experience with accounting software (MS Excel) and Sage 50 is desirable.
• High accuracy in processing supplier invoices, expenses and payments.

Responsibilities

• Maintain supplier accounts through PO matching, reconciliations and query resolution.
• Oversee billing and credit control: raise invoices, monitor debtors and assist collections.
• Keep ledgers, employee expenses and credit card activity up to date.
• Assist with financial reporting, statements, budgets and management insights.
• Support month-end and year-end processes to ensure accurate outputs.
• Collaborate across teams to gather data and ensure policy compliance.
• Assist with VAT and audit preparation and maintain audit-ready records.
• Contribute to finance projects and provide flexible support.

Skills

Numerical ability

Analytical thinking

Attention to detail

Accounting software proficiency

Education

Accounting/Finance qualification or exposure

Tools

MS Excel

Sage 50

Job description

THE COMPANY

Our client is a trusted industry leader, delivering high-quality work across advertising, film and television. They are a valued partner to leading directors, agencies and global brands.

THE ROLE

As a Senior Accounts Assistant, you will support day‑to‑day financial operations, ensuring supplier invoices, expenses and payments are processed accurately and efficiently.

Key responsibilities:

• Maintain supplier accounts through matching purchase orders, reconciling statements and resolving queries promptly.
• Oversee billing and credit control by raising client invoices, monitoring debtors and supporting timely collections.
• Keep financial records up to date including ledgers, employee expenses and credit card activity.
• Support reporting and analysis by assisting with financial reports, statements, budgets and management insights.
• Assist month‑end and year‑end processes to ensure accurate financial outputs.
• Work cross‑functionally with internal teams to gather financial data and ensure compliance with company policies.
• Support VAT and audit preparation by helping compile documentation and maintain audit‑ready records.
• Contribute to finance projects and provide flexible support across the team as needed.

THE PERSON

You should have relevant qualifications or prior exposure to accounting or finance. Strong numerical ability, analytical thinking and excellent attention to detail are essential, along with confidence working with accounting software, MS Excel and ideally Sage 50.

It is important you feel comfortable managing your workload independently while also collaborating closely with a small finance team in a fast‑paced environment.

The ability to balance multiple deadlines while staying organised is key. An eagerness to learn, develop and grow your career in finance is important, as is a genuine interest in the TV and entertainment industry.

WHAT TO EXPECT

• Searchlight only advertises active roles
• Your details will be sent directly to the Consultant who is handling this role
• We aim to respond to candidates within 14 days.

We strive to promote equal opportunities for all. We welcome applications regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief.