Immediately Available Assistant Financial Accountant

Seeking a detail-oriented and proactive Assistant Financial Accountant to support the Financial Controller in maintaining the integrity of financial operations. This role will focus on ensuring accurate financial accounting, robust controls, and timely reporting while contributing to the development of an audit-ready finance function.

This is a key role in managing the General Ledger, supporting month-end close processes, and delivering high-quality financial information in a fast-paced and evolving business environment.

Key Responsibilities:

General Ledger & Month-End Close:

• Manage the General Ledger within Microsoft Business Central, ensuring transactions are accurate and correctly coded.
• Prepare and post journals for accruals, prepayments, depreciation, fixed assets, inventory adjustments, and intercompany transactions with appropriate documentation.
• Perform monthly balance sheet reconciliations, investigating and resolving discrepancies promptly.
• Reconcile intercompany balances and collaborate with Group Finance to address variances.
• Support monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close processes in line with reporting deadlines.
• Assist with fixed asset accounting (additions, disposals, transfers) and inventory valuation reconciliation.

Reporting, Audit & Compliance:

• Contribute to the preparation of monthly management accounts, including Balance Sheet and Profit & Loss reports for review.
• Assist with year-end statutory accounts preparation and external audit fieldwork by preparing schedules and responding to auditor queries.
• Support UK VAT compliance by preparing workings for quarterly VAT returns.
• Provide ad hoc financial information for due diligence or other requests as needed.

Controls & Process Improvement:

• Help design, document, and implement General Ledger controls as part of the financial control framework.
• Maintain clear audit trails for all journals and reconciliations.
• Identify opportunities to standardise, simplify, and automate recurring accounting processes.
• Support segregation of duties implementation and approval workflows within Microsoft Business Central.
• Assist with system testing, master data maintenance, and process improvements related to finance operations.
• Develop finance process documentation such as Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), month-end checklists, and reconciliation templates.

Ways of Working:

• Take ownership of assigned accounting processes while delivering accurate and timely financial information.
• Build collaborative relationships across Finance and other business teams.
• Demonstrate a continuous improvement mindset by identifying opportunities to enhance processes and controls.

Qualifications:

Essential Skills & Experience:

• Part-qualified accountant (ACCA/CIMA/ACA) or qualified by experience with at least 2 years' experience in General Ledger or Financial Accounting roles.
• Strong understanding of double-entry bookkeeping principles.
• Experience supporting month-end close processes.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and familiarity with ERP systems such as Microsoft Business Central, SAP, or Dynamics 365.
• Ability to manage high transaction volumes while investigating and resolving discrepancies effectively.
• Strong attention to detail with a genuine interest in building robust financial controls.
• Capable of working independently in a fast-paced environment while managing competing priorities during reporting periods.

Desirable Skills & Experience:

• Experience using Microsoft Business Central or similar ERP systems.
• Background in FMCG, retail, or consumer goods industries.
• Previous exposure to statutory audit processes.

Core Objective:

Provide dedicated accounting support to a newly established trading entity by ensuring robust financial control, accurate reporting, and operational finance assistance while reducing dependency on the Financial Controller.

This role offers an exciting opportunity for a motivated finance professional to "hit the ground running" in a dynamic business environment that values independence, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Robert Walters Operations Limited is an employment business and employment agency and welcomes applications from all candidates