Full Job Description
Job Title: Accounts Assistant
Reports To: Business Operations Manager
Location: Midlands Floor Screeding Limited, Hednesford, Cannock WS12 2FS
Hours: Full-time (40 hours per week), Monday to Friday
Job Purpose
The Accounts Assistant is responsible for the day-to-day management of the company's finance function, maintaining accurate financial records, and ensuring the efficient financial administration of a busy construction/flooring contractor. The role covers purchase and sales ledgers, CIS and VAT compliance, credit control, liaison with the company's outsourced payroll provider, and the production of management information to support the business in decision-making.
The successful candidate will be an experienced, hands-on accounts professional with strong knowledge of the construction industry, capable of working independently and taking full ownership of the accounts function.
Key Responsibilities
Purchase Ledger
- Process supplier invoices accurately and in a timely manner.
- Reconcile purchase invoices to purchase orders and delivery notes.
- Reconcile supplier statements and resolve invoice queries.
- Prepare and process supplier payment runs.
- Maintain accurate supplier records.
Sales Ledger & Credit Control
- Raise sales invoices, applications for payment, and credit notes.
- Reconcile customer accounts and resolve account queries.
- Chase outstanding debts and manage credit control effectively.
- Monitor retentions and ensure timely release requests.
CIS & Subcontractors
- Verify subcontractors with HMRC and process CIS deductions.
- Prepare and submit monthly CIS returns.
- Issue subcontractor payment and deduction statements.
VAT & Compliance
- Maintain accurate VAT records, including domestic reverse charge VAT for construction services.
- Prepare and submit VAT returns in line with Making Tax Digital requirements.
- Assist with statutory reporting and year-end audit/accounts preparation.
Payroll (Outsourced)
- Liaise with the company's external payroll provider, supplying accurate hours, timesheet, and starter/leaver information.
- Review payroll reports for accuracy and post payroll journals.
- Handle day-to-day payroll queries from employees, escalating to the provider where required.
General Bookkeeping & Financial Reporting
- Maintain accurate accounting records using accounting software.
- Reconcile bank, credit card, and control accounts.
- Maintain the general ledger and process journals.
- Prepare monthly management accounts, cash flow forecasts, and budgets.
- Provide ad-hoc financial analysis and reports for the Directors.
Administration
- Maintain electronic and paper filing systems.
- Respond to supplier and customer finance enquiries.
- Assist with insurance renewals, vehicle records, and general office administration.
- Undertake any other reasonable duties required by management.
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Proven experience managing an accounts function, ideally within construction, contracting, or a related trade.
- Strong knowledge of purchase and sales ledger processes.
- Working knowledge of CIS and domestic reverse charge VAT.
- Experience preparing bank reconciliations and management accounts.
- Strong Microsoft Excel skills.
- Excellent numerical accuracy and attention to detail.
- High level of confidentiality.
- Strong organisational and time management skills.
- Ability to work independently and prioritise a varied workload.
Desirable
- AAT Level 3 or Level 4 qualification (or qualified by experience).
- Experience using Sage 50, Xero, or QuickBooks.
- Experience liaising with an outsourced payroll provider.
Personal Attributes
- Honest and trustworthy.
- Reliable and dependable.
- Highly organised with excellent attention to detail.
- Positive, proactive, and good at problem-solving.
- Flexible and willing to support the wider business.
Experience
- Minimum 3 years' bookkeeping, accounts, or finance experience (construction industry experience strongly preferred).
- Experience processing high volumes of invoices.
- Experience reconciling bank accounts and supplier statements.
- Experience working with accounting software.
Systems Experience
Experience with one or more of:
- Sage 50 Accounts
- Xero
- QuickBooks
- Microsoft Excel (Intermediate)
- Microsoft Outlook and Word
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Invoices processed accurately and on time.
- CIS and VAT returns submitted accurately and by deadline.
- Financial records maintained with 100% accuracy.
- Debtor days kept within agreed targets.
- Month-end tasks completed within agreed deadlines.
Benefits: On-site parking,
Work Location: In person, Hednesford, Cannock WS12 2FS
Pay: £35,420.00-£40,589.45 per year
Benefits:
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
