Assistant financial controller jobs in belfast

Prospectus are delighted to be working with a long-standing client to recruit a Finance Assistant. This is a remote role, with the option for hybrid working 1–2 days per week from their Edinburgh office, based just a short walk from Waverley train station.

The role is offered on a permanent, full-time basis (37.5 hours per week, though 35 hours will be considered), with a salary of £27,000 pro rata per annum.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone with bookkeeping experience, a keen eye for detail, and the ability to manage finance operations in a cloud-based environment.

Role Overview
The Finance Assistant will report to the Finance Manager and play a key role in delivering day-to-day accounting functions, ensuring smooth financial operations across purchase and sales ledgers, bank reconciliations, credit control, and payment processing.

The postholder will use Sage 50 Accounts, Excel, and online banking systems, while also interacting with Beacon CRM to track and reconcile donation and grant income. You’ll support month-end and year-end processes and assist in preparation for the annual audit.

Key Responsibilities

• Process purchase ledger invoices, obtain approvals, post to Sage, and set up BACS payments
• Administer staff and freelancer expense payments
• Generate sales invoices and monitor credit control
• Perform daily/weekly bank postings using bank feeds and reconcile bank accounts regularly
• Handle credit card postings and voucher collection
• Monitor shared finance inbox and respond to staff and supplier queries
• Post donations and subscription income and notify relevant teams of grant receipts
• Support reconciliation between Sage and Beacon CRM
• Assist with Gift Aid monitoring and continuous improvement of finance processes​​​​​​​

​​​​​​​Candidate Profile

Essential:

• Proven experience in a similar finance assistant/bookkeeping role
• Proficiency with accounting software (ideally Sage 50), including general ledger, supplier and bank modules
• Strong MS Excel, Word, and Outlook skills
• Experience in purchase and sales ledger management
• Understanding of BACS payment processes
• Comfortable working independently and to deadlines in a remote setting

Desirable:

• Experience working in the charity or not-for-profit sector
• Knowledge of fund accounting and Gift Aid
• Part-qualified or fully qualified (e.g. AAT) or qualified by experience
• Familiarity with CRM systems such as Beacon
• Intermediate Excel skills (lookups, pivot tables, filtering)

Personal Attributes:

• Reliable, consistent, and detail-oriented
• Able to work independently with minimal supervision
• Positive, enthusiastic, and willing to adapt to new ways of working
• Strong communicator with the ability to collaborate effectively across departments

Job Summary

Location : Requirement to attend our sites in Basildon, Harlow and Thurrock if required and to team meetings quarterly.

Type: Remote

Salary: £48,000.00 per annum

Hours :  37.5 hours per week

Term: Permanent

Main Responsibilities:

Leadership

1. As a member of the Operational Leadership Team and wider Senior Leadership Team, work collaboratively and take collective responsibility for the strategic management and leadership of the organisation.

2. Work closely with the CEO, Treasurer and Board of Trustees to facilitate good governance and risk management.

3. Manage, maintain and develop all financial systems and control; increasing their impact and quality, and implementing best practices in financial management.

4. To supervise finance assistants and ensure that they are adhering to financial code of practices.

Financial Management

1. Lead and manage all aspects of the financial cycle, including budgeting, forecasting, fixed asset management, reserves & designated fund management and financial reporting.

2. Work with HR & Payroll Officer to manage and retain oversight of the day to day financial operations, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, banking and general ledger maintenance, including the reconciliation of petty cash, credit cards and all bank accounts on a monthly basis reviewing and approving payment runs and payroll.

3. Work with the CEO and Senior Leadership Team to prepare the annual budgets and forecasts.

4. Lead and manage the provision of regular budget monitoring and reports to budget holders.

5. Assist with the budget preparation for funding bids. Manage, monitor and keep track of any grants, funding or commissioned income, working with relevant managers to provide relevant financial information for inclusion in monitoring reports.

6. Lead and manage the provision of quarterly financial reports to the Board and advise them on financial issues as appropriate

7. Provide insightful financial analysis and reporting to inform and support organisational management, development and decision[1]making, and funding applications across the organisation.

8. Work with the CEO to prepare medium term financial forecasts for the organisation to support strategic decision-making and delivery of strategic priorities.

9. Lead on the audit process and the preparation of year end accounts to trial balance including preparation of the audit file and the closing down of the accounts on our accounting management system to ensure that the organisation is compliant with legal requirements and good practice.

10. To work closely with the CEO, Senior Leadership Team and designated Trustees to advise, review and cost the annual pay award.

11. To provide back-up and holiday cover for the processing of monthly payroll.

12. To work with and support the HR & Payroll Officer in providing payroll information and reconciling payroll monthly.

Governance and compliance

1. Ensure compliance with all relevant financial regulations and reporting requirements (e.g. Companies House, HMRC and the Charity Commission).

2. Attend Trustee Board meetings to report on financial matters, including the identification and management of financial risk, and provide any relevant reports.

3. To support the Trustees, SLT and line managers in managing our finances carefully and within our financial means, through provision of advice, guidance, support and training.

4. To be the main point of contact with external auditors.

5. To ensure that robust financial controls are in place, underpinned by appropriate financial policies and procedures and to ensure that they are adhered to and that the organisation is protected from fraud and error.

Closing date for applications : 21st July 2025