Accounts Payable & Finance Assistant
Location: Brentford (4 days office-based, Fridays WFH) Salary: Up to £45,000 + Bonus Reporting to: Finance Director Company: £7m Turnover Leasing Group
The Opportunity
An established and growing leasing business is seeking an experienced and hands-on Finance Assistant / Accounts Payable professional to work closely with the Finance Director. This is a broad finance role requiring someone who is comfortable taking ownership of accounts payable and payment processes while also supporting month-end and general ledger activities.
The successful candidate will be highly organised, detail-oriented and confident managing day-to-day transactional finance responsibilities within a fast-paced environment.
Key Responsibilities
Accounts Payable & Payments
Take full ownership of the Accounts Payable function, ensuring invoices are processed accurately and efficiently.
Process supplier invoices and maintain accurate supplier account records.
Reconcile supplier statements, investigate discrepancies, and resolve outstanding queries.
Prepare and process bank payments in line with authorised approval procedures.
Build and maintain effective relationships with suppliers, responding promptly to payment and account-related enquiries.
Manage the finance inbox, ensuring all invoices and correspondence are dealt with in a timely manner.
Process employee expenses and provide guidance on expense claims and company policies where required. Banking & Cash Management
Manage scheduled payment runs and ad hoc payments across the Group.
Administer banking activities, including liaison with the Group's banking partners regarding new payees, account maintenance, and payment verification requests.
Produce daily cash position reports and monitor cash flow across multiple entities.
Prepare monthly bank reconciliations, ensuring all balances are accurately accounted for.
Allocate and reconcile cash receipts on a daily basis. Financial Systems & Ledger Management
Maintain the integrity of financial records within the Soft4 system across all Group companies.
Process sales, purchase, and banking transactions accurately and in a timely manner.
Post and reconcile general ledger journals, including payroll, acquisitions, accruals, prepayments, and other month-end adjustments.
Perform monthly balance sheet and general ledger reconciliations.
Identify opportunities for continuous improvement and support the development and implementation of enhanced finance processes and systems. Accounts Receivable
Raise monthly sales invoices relating to Group property income.
Record and maintain sales transactions within Soft4.
Proactively monitor outstanding balances, issuing statements and following up overdue accounts where necessary.
Process end-of-contract balance adjustments and authorised write-offs in accordance with company procedures. VAT, Payroll & Compliance
Prepare and submit VAT returns for three Group companies, ensuring accuracy and compliance with HMRC requirements.
Maximise legitimate VAT recovery and ensure bad debt relief claims are correctly accounted for.
Arrange VAT payments within statutory deadlines.
Support the Finance Director with RAL reporting requirements and other indirect tax matters.
Process approved monthly payroll payments through online banking platforms.
Ensure all payroll-related payments to HMRC are made accurately and on time. Reporting, Audit & Month-End
Support the month-end and year-end close processes across the Group.
Assist in the preparation of management information, financial reports, and supporting analysis.
Maintain effective relationships with external auditors, providing information and documentation as required.
Support the Finance Director with ad hoc reporting, finance projects, and business initiatives. Skills & Experience Required
Previous experience in an Accounts Payable, Finance Assistant, Finance Officer, Assistant Accountant, or similar finance position.
Strong hands-on experience managing accounts payable processes from invoice receipt through to payment.
Proven experience with payment processing and online banking platforms.
Sound understanding of supplier management and accounts payable controls.
Experience posting journals and maintaining accurate general ledger records.
Strong reconciliation skills, including bank, supplier, and balance sheet reconciliations.
Experience preparing and submitting VAT returns.
Experience using ERP or accounting systems, ideally Soft4, Microsoft Dynamics Business Central, or Dynamics 365.
Advanced Excel skills with the ability to analyse and reconcile financial data.
Excellent attention to detail and a high level of accuracy.
Strong organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities.
Self-motivated and able to work independently while taking ownership of key finance processes.
Confident communicating with stakeholders at all levels, including senior management and the Finance Director. Ideal Candidate
The successful candidate will be a proactive and detail-oriented finance professional with strong Accounts Payable and payment-processing experience. They will be comfortable managing day-to-day transactional finance activities while also supporting month-end processes, financial reporting, and wider finance initiatives within a growing organisation.
Skills & Experience Required
Previous experience within an Accounts Payable, Finance Assistant or similar finance role.
Strong practical experience of payment processing and bank payments.
Good understanding of accounts payable and accounts receivable processes.
Experience posting journals and general ledger entries.
Strong general ledger reconciliation experience.
Experience using Microsoft Dynamics Business Central / Dynamics 365.
Confident using Excel and other Microsoft Office applications.
Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
Able to work independently and take ownership of responsibilities.
Strong communication and organisational skills.
Package
Salary up to £45,000
Discretionary annual bonus
Christmas bonus
25 days annual leave
Hybrid working (4 days office, Fridays from home)
Ideal Candidate
This role would suit a capable and proactive finance professional who enjoys being hands-on, has strong Accounts Payable expertise, and is comfortable supporting a broad range of finance activities while working closely with the Finance Director in a growing business.
Urgent requirement - immediate interviews available
