finance assistant

9 Month Fixed Term Contract (Maternity Cover)
Location: St Albans
Salary: Up £33,000 / £34,000 per annum DOE
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm

The Opportunity
Our client, a well established and highly respected organisation based in St Albans, is seeking a Finance Assistant to join their busy finance team on a 9 month maternity cover contract.
Reporting directly to the Head of Finance, you will play a key role in supporting the day to day financial management of the business, working closely with colleagues across the organisation to ensure the finance function operates efficiently and accurately.
This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Finance Assistant looking for a varied role with responsibility across all areas of finance.

Key Responsibilities
·Supporting the Head of Finance with the day to day running of the finance function
·Updating financial spreadsheets and maintaining accurate financial records
·Preparing monthly management reports and profit and loss schedules
·Completing daily and monthly bank reconciliations
·Preparing and submitting VAT returns
·Processing tax payments as instructed
·Recording monthly payroll entries and payroll journals
·Processing pension payments and maintaining associated records
·Processing supplier invoices and liaising with suppliers where required
·Assisting with budget preparation
·Supporting the annual audit process
·Monitoring fees against targets and producing financial reports
·Processing and authorising bank transfers
·Producing reports and analysing financial data using Microsoft Excel
·Using Excel functions including VLOOKUPs, Pivot Tables and other advanced formulas
·Assisting with the development and maintenance of finance procedures and policies
·Providing support to senior management and colleagues across the business

Skills and Experience
·Previous experience within a Finance Assistant or similar accounts position
·AAT Level 2 or equivalent finance or bookkeeping qualification would be advantageous
·Strong knowledge of bookkeeping and accounting procedures
·Previous experience with month end journals, reconciliations and management reporting
·Experience preparing VAT returns
·Payroll administration experience
·Excellent Microsoft Excel skills, including VLOOKUPs, Pivot Tables and reporting functions
·Experience using accounting or practice management software would be beneficial
·Excellent organisational and time management skills
·High level of accuracy with strong attention to detail
·Ability to prioritise workload and meet deadlines
·Strong written and verbal communication skills
·A positive, flexible and proactive approach to work
·Ability to maintain complete confidentiality when handling financial information

Salary and Benefits
·£33,000 to £34,000 per annum
·Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm
·9 Month Fixed Term Contract
·Office based in St Albans
·Opportunity to work closely with an experienced Head of Finance
·Varied and rewarding role within a supportive and professional finance team
·Opportunity to work 1 day from home after completion of probation

Thank you for your interest in this vacancy, advertised by SMT Recruitment (Smart10 Ltd), acting as an employment agency/business. Your application will be considered alongside others, and we will contact you within three working days if you are shortlisted.
SMT Recruitment is a multi-award-winning specialist recruitment consultancy providing temporary, contract, and permanent recruitment solutions across selected business sectors. To stay up to date with our latest opportunities, please visit our website, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram or LinkedIn. Please refer to SMT's Privacy Policy for details on how we manage your data