Account payable assistant jobs

Finance Assistant

Ref: LL/26/03

c.£31,230 per annum, plus benefits

St James’s Square, London SW1 (with flexibility in line with hybrid working policy)

35 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 9.30am - 5.30pm

About The London Library

For over 180 years, The London Library has stood as one of the UK's greatest literary institutions, inspiring creativity, and ideas. Our esteemed members, past and present, include literary giants like Charles Dickens, Charles Darwin, Virginia Woolf, and contemporary authors such as Kazuo Ishiguro and Sarah Waters. Our collection boasts around one million volumes, a vast eLibrary, and an invaluable postal loans service, making it a sanctuary for those who cherish the written word.

We are championed by our President, Helena Bonham Carter CBE, and operate as a registered charity. We have over 7500 members and charitable turnover of circa £5m per year.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Finance Assistant to join our not-for-profit Finance Team. The role is responsible for the day-to-day processing and recording of Library transactions including receipts and payments, effectively, efficiently and accurately.

In this pivotal role, you will:

· Create, manage, and maintain accurate and complete purchase ledger and sales ledger data, and ensure supplier payments are made on time

· Manage entries in the Continia document-capture accounts payable system and Microsoft Business Central finance system

· Maintain a logical audit trail for all transactions

· Assist with preparation and processing of payroll

· Support the Library’s staff and budget holders

About you

We are looking for someone who

· Has demonstrable practical experience of effective purchase/general/sales ledger operations and management of financial processes in a not for profit and/or membership organisation

· Is fluent in the use and understanding of accounting software for medium sized entities/charities (Microsoft Business Central preferable)

· Has experience of supporting payroll processing (preferably in Sage)

· Has experience with Microsoft Dynamics or other CRM software for membership and/or charitable donations data 

· Has demonstrable ability to work both effectively as part of a team, and to work independently

· Is able to plan, prioritise and carry out routine work to a consistent standard, with attention to detail and meticulous concern for accuracy

· Has good interpersonal and communication skills; able to convey information clearly and courteously, in person, by phone and in writing

· Will bring excellent IT skills (MS Office especially Excel, email, internet)

Personal attributes include:

· Pleasant, approachable, helpful, and responsive even under pressure

· Flexible, adaptable and with a good-humoured approach

Why Join Us?

The London Library offers a friendly, hardworking, and inclusive workplace where we strive to support the diverse needs of our team. We welcome applications from all sections of the community and are committed to equality and diversity. Specific adjustments and access needs can be discussed to make this role suitable for you.

If you’re passionate about delivering an exceptional Finance experience and want to use your skills to help drive the success of The London Library, we would love to hear from you!

Closing date: 11 May 2026 @ 12:00pm

Interviews: 18 May 2026: First Round - Online via Teams,

20 May 2026: Second Round - In person at The London Library

Please note:

· All applicants will be considered on the basis of their merits and abilities for the post.

· We can only consider candidates with the current right to work in the UK.

· We reserve the right to shorten or extend the closing date of any position where a high or low volume of suitable applications are received. Therefore, if you are interested in this role, an early application would be encouraged.

· Support for studies towards a professional qualification may be available for the right candidate

Role purpose 

The Donation Processor plays a key role in ensuring the accurate recording, reconciliation, and processing of all income received by Southampton Hospitals Charity. This position supports the integrity of financial data, provides timely information to fundraising and finance teams, and ensures compliance with internal controls, charity regulations, and GDPR requirements. 

Donation Processing & Banking 

• Process and record donations via standing orders, BACS, and other channels, ensuring all supporting documentation is filed appropriately and in compliance with internal financial procedures and details are entered into Beacon CRM. 

• Download, reconcile and process reports from online donation platforms and input details into Beacon CRM. 

• Support with the secure storage, logging, and transfer of cash and cheques to the hospital’s cashier’s office in accordance with cash-handling procedures.

• Follow up bank reconciliation of cash and cheques and update Beacon and Xero accordingly. 

• Liaise with fundraising team to identify and allocate income, resolving queries quickly and professionally. 

• Update bank statement spreadsheet daily and share it with the wider fundraising team. 

Database & Records Management 

• Input and code donations into Beacon CRM, ensuring accurate allocation. 

• Maintain electronic records to comply with financial, statutory, and GDPR regulations. 

• Ensure timely transfer of income data from Beacon into Xero, supporting reconciliation and month-end procedures. 

• Support the preparation of Gift Aid declarations and claims in line with HMRC regulations, maximizing eligible income. 

• Work with Finance Manager to ensure that the necessary accounting and reconciliation processes are in place 

Person specification 

Knowledge and experience 

• Experience working with CRM databases (we use Beacon) 

• Some experience working with financial systems (we use Xero)

• Proven experience handling and processing large volumes of data accurately. 

• Excellent attention to detail, organization, and ability to prioritise workload 

• Strong reconciliation and problem-solving skills. 

• Accurate handling of cash and cheques. 

• Good IT skills including Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook. 

• Clear and confident communicator with strong interpersonal skills. 

• Ability to work to strict deadlines within a monthly finance cycle. 

• Good understanding of GDPR and data protection requirements. 

. 

Skills, abilities, and behaviours 

• Ensure all work complies with charity regulations, financial policies, and legal requirements. 

• Participate in training and continuous improvement initiatives. 

• Contribute to a positive, collaborative team culture and provide support to colleagues as needed. 

• Desirable: part-qualified or qualified in accounting (e.g., AAT, ACCA) and familiarity with Xero or similar accounting platforms. 

• Experience working with Gift Aid and knowledge of HMRC rules. 

• Experience working within a charity, NHS, or not-for-profit organization. 

Financial Accountant | 10 - month FTC | £50,000 + Benefits | London | Hybrid

For an international NGO focusing on protecting the marine environment and sustainability, we're recruiting an interim Financial Accountant for a fixed term contract. Reporting to the Finance Director, this role will lead on financial controls, reporting and compliance including payroll, Audit and Year-end reconciliations as well as overseeing a Finance Assistant responsible for AP and AR. The Financial Accountant will also provide key support during the transition to Microsoft Dynamics 365 including data preparation, chart-of-accounts design, testing, and updating processes and procedures.

Main Duties:

• Bank, control account and other reconciliations
• Act as signatory on UK bank accounts, ensuring financial controls are adhered to
• Month-end, and year-end close processes, including preparation of schedules and Audit support
• Year-end reconciliations, supporting schedules, including salary reconciliations
• Ensure accurate financial records are in place for restructured and Donor-funded projects
• Lead UK monthly Payroll processing liaising with HR and external Payroll provider regarding Pensions, loans, advances and other payroll deductions and benefits
• Support the Finance team during the system transformation and migration to Dynamics 365 including data preparation, chart-of-accounts design, testing, and creation and updating of finance processes and procedures
• Oversee the Finance Assistant and ensure accurate and timely Accounts Payable and Sales Ledger transaction processing.

Person Specification:

• ATT qualified, or part-qualified ACCA, ACA, CIMA or equivalent
• Experience of audit, year-end and monthly close processes
• Strong experience with financial accounting and transactional accounting
• Experience in restricted and unrestricted funds within the charity sector is highly desirable
• Strong understanding of purchase ledger, credit control and expense processing
• UK tax compliance including PAYE and VAT
• Experience of managing a small team

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As an employer, we are committed to ensuring the representation of people from all backgrounds regardless of their gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, disability status, or any other aspect which makes them unique. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds to apply and would encourage you to let us know if there are steps, we can take to ensure that your recruitment process enables you to present yourself in a way that makes you comfortable.