Job Description
Job Title / Finance Assistant
Reporting to / Finance Manager
Purpose of Role / To assist the Finance Manager with all the day to day activities of the Finance department.
Key Areas of Responsibility /
  • Assisting with preparation of trial balances and monthly operating accounts for both CILEx and IPS accounts.
  • To build (author) and maintain Analyst Financial templates.
  • Preparation of month end journals for fixed assets, accruals and prepayments.
  • Administration of Cash book and preparing bank reconciliations.
  • Assisting with the annual budgeting process.
  • Posting of cash book entries into Sage and reconciliation of balances.
  • Processing Concept refunds, dishonoured cheques, and cancelled Direct Debits.
  • Administration of Operations banking routines, and reconciliation of Sage sales ledger balance to Concept aged debtor report.
  • Investigation and posting of bacs payments.
  • Assisting with purchase ledger activities, dealing with supplier enquiries and issuing manual cheques.
  • Inter-company transfer.
  • Period end routines for Accounts payable, Cash Management, and Concept.
  • Assisting with quarterly VAT returns.
  • Maintenance of cashbooks and accounts for the CILEx Benevolent Fund.
  • Daily administration of post received for Department.
  • Liaising with auditors and assisting with the annual audit.
  • Generating reports on Excel spreadsheets.
  • Petty Cash Control.
  • Typing of letters, emails and filing.

Customer Service /
  • Deliver a high level of customer service in both written and verbal communication
  • Deliver customer service in line with Customer Service Standards

Other Areas /
  • Undertake training consistent with developing skills relevant to those duties and responsibilities of the role.
  • Undertake any other duties of a similar level and responsibility as may be required from time to time.

Person Specification
Qualifications Skills and Knowledge
Essential /
  • Proven experience of preparing accounts to trial balance and monthly operating accounts.
  • Able to demonstrate knowledge of accounting packages including building templates
  • Proven experienced in the preparation of month end journals for fixed assets, accruals and prepayments.
  • Prior experience of preparing VAT Returns.
  • Able to reconcile bank and sales ledger transactions.
  • Prior experience of investigating BACS payments and postings.
  • Proven ability of generating reports on excel spreadsheets.
  • Excellent time management skills with the ability to take responsibility for own workload and meeting tight deadlines.
  • Experience of working effectively and efficiently both individually and within a team.
  • Sound administrative skills with good keyboard skills with a high level of expertise in Word and Excel
  • Excellent communication skills with an emphasis on concise and accurate comprehension, and written skills.
  • Educated to Level2/GCSE standard or equivalent in English Language and Mathematics
  • Able to demonstrate an understanding of customer service excellence in both written and verbal communication

Desirable /
  • AAT Qualification or equivalent
  • Knowledge of VAT partial exemption

Behaviour Competencies
Positive Disposition / Meets challenges and seeks long-term improvement. Displays a can do attitude.
Analytical / Looks objectively at situations and assesses alternatives before coming up with solutions.
Innovation / Identifies and exploits opportunities.
Able to identify problems or alternative methods of working and puts forward ideas for improvement or cost reduction.
Flexibility / Is open to the benefits of change, embraces new ideas and not inappropriately rigid about their role.
Equality and Diversity Awareness / Able to demonstrate respect and understanding of a range of people irrespective of their race, disability, gender, age, religion, belief or sexual orientation and how they contribute to the success of the organisation.
Self Awareness / Understanding oneself to better understand and relate to others. Awareness of own strengths and weaknesses.
Team working / Co-operates to meet team goals, willing to help others and shares ideas.
Commercial Awareness / Able to think ahead and identify opportunities to generate income, and contribute to the efficiency and well being of the organisation.

07/14