Job Title: Part-Time Finance & Operations Assistant
Location: Great Notley, Skyline Business Park
Reports to: Account Manager
Salary: £28,000 per annum (Full-Time Equivalent / Pro-Rata equivalent based on hours)
Hours: 22.5 hours per week | Monday – Friday, 10:00 – 14:30 (includes a 30-minute unpaid lunch break)
Benefits: 20 days annual leave + bank holidays (pro rata), rising to 25 days after 1 year of service
Role Overview
We are an independently owned, close-knit family business undergoing an exciting period of growth following a recent acquisition. We are seeking a highly organised, versatile Part-Time Finance & Operations Assistant who thrives in a small-team environment and genuinely enjoys making a direct impact on daily business success.
This hybrid position bridges core financial administration with daily operational support. You will take full ownership of routine credit control, matching bank payments, and maintaining Sage records, while providing vital front-line cover for our Operations & Logistics team—handling customer telephone inquiries and assisting with the physical packing and dispatch of specialty lenses.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Administration & Credit Control
- Credit Control Management: Perform ongoing credit control tasks, issue customer account statements, follow up on overdue balances, and resolve purchase order (PO) queries.
- Bank Reconciliation & Invoicing: Match incoming bank payments against sales invoices in Sage and ensure accurate ledger entries.
Operations & Customer Support (Cover & Assistance)
- Customer Service & Telephones: Act as a back-up point of contact for incoming telephone inquiries when the main phoneline is engaged, taking orders, providing order updates and escalating complex technical queries to the Account Manager.
- Packing & Dispatch: When required, assisting with packing finished lenses, preparing courier documentation, and meeting daily dispatch deadlines.
- Order Administration: Track orders using internal systems (WIP sheets) and log/process customer returns.
Experience & Qualifications
- Credit Control Experience: Proven track record (minimum 2 years) in credit control and debt recovery, including aged debtors management, proactive debt collection via phone and email, issuing statements, and resolving purchase order/invoice discrepancies.
- Sage Experience: At least 2–3 years of hands-on experience using Sage (Sage 50 or Sage Business Cloud) specifically for credit control, ledger entry, and bank reconciliations.
- Dual Financial & Admin Background: Experience in a blended role, such as Accounts Assistant, Credit Controller, or Operations Administrator—ideally within a manufacturing, distribution, optical, or healthcare environment.
- Customer-Facing Skillset: Strong telephone manner with proven experience handling client inquiries and resolving account/order disputes calmly and professionally.
- Detail Orientation: High level of accuracy in numerical data entry and physical order verification (matching product references/prescriptions).
- Education: Minimum 5 GCSEs (grade C/4 or above, including Maths and English) or equivalent. Bookkeeping qualifications (AAT Level 2/3) are desirable but not mandatory if practical experience is strong.
How to Apply:
Please apply with your CV and a covering letter detailing your experience with Sage and credit control, as well as why you enjoy a varied, hands-on role that combines financial admin with team operations in a small business environment.
Pay: £28,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company pension
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
