Finance Assistant

Overview

We are looking for a permanent Finance Assistant to join our Finance team. The Finance team plays a vital role in supporting the Foundation to make a positive impact and improve health and wellbeing across Lambeth and Southwark.

The Finance Assistant will provide essential transactional finance support, with primary responsibility for maintaining supplier records, processing invoices and expenses, supporting payment runs, completing reconciliations, and maintaining accurate transaction data within the finance system.
 

The role is critical to ensuring that financial transactions are processed accurately, efficiently and in a timely manner, in line with the Foundation’s financial procedures and controls.
 

You will be joining an engaging, collaborative and highly motivated team and will have the opportunity to develop your finance skills and contribute to the continuous improvement of our processes.
 

Reporting to: Finance Manager

Key Responsibilities

Transactional Finance
 

• Maintain accurate supplier records, including validating and updating bank details, contact information and remittance addresses, in line with appropriate controls.
• Monitor the Finance Department mailbox and post in-tray, responding to queries where appropriate and redirecting queries to the relevant colleague when required.
• Process financial transactions, including supplier and customer invoices, staff expenses and credit card expense claims, in accordance with agreed processes, financial controls and deadlines.
• Support the preparation and batching of weekly and ad-hoc payment runs, ensuring that appropriate supporting documentation is attached and transactions are ready for approval.
• Complete bank reconciliations and assist with routine reconciliations of supplier accounts and other control accounts, under the guidance of the Senior Finance Assistant.
• Support the maintenance of fixed asset records, including additions, disposals, depreciation and reconciliations.
• Assist with the preparation and posting of month-end journals, including prepayments, accruals and correcting journals.
• Maintain accurate and well-organised electronic and paper records for all processed financial transactions.
• Ensure that financial records and supporting documentation are maintained in accordance with the Foundation’s policies and procedures.

Reporting, Audit and Team Support
 

• Assist with month-end close processes and provide information and supporting documentation as required.
• Assist with audit and reporting activities by retrieving, preparing and organising relevant financial documentation.
• Provide cover and support across other transactional finance processes during periods of peak activity or colleague absence.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the Finance team and the wider organisation to resolve queries and ensure timely processing of financial transactions.
• Identify opportunities to improve the efficiency, accuracy and effectiveness of finance processes.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Essential

• Good working knowledge of bookkeeping and accounting principles.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Excel.
• Experience of processing financial transactions, such as invoices, expenses and payments.
• Strong understanding of the importance of financial controls, accuracy and confidentiality.
• Good numerical and analytical skills.

Desirable

• At least one year’s experience working in a Finance Assistant or similar transactional finance role.
• Experience of month-end processes and month-end close.
• Experience completing bank and/or balance sheet reconciliations.
• Experience maintaining fixed asset records.
• Experience using finance/accounting software, ideally Access Financials.
• Experience using Salesforce.
• Experience working within a charity or not-for-profit organisation.

Skills and Attributes
 

• High level of attention to detail and a strong commitment to data accuracy.
• Strong planning and organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to respond professionally to finance queries.
• Proactive, adaptable and willing to take ownership of tasks.
• A collaborative team player who is willing to support colleagues and work across different areas of finance.
• Able to handle confidential and sensitive financial information appropriately.
• Willingness to learn, develop and contribute to the continuous improvement of finance processes.
• Comfortable working independently while knowing when to seek guidance or escalate an issue.

Benefits

• Contributory Pension
• Annual health and wellbeing personal allowance
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and parental leave pay accessible without length of service requirements.
• Health and wellbeing programme that offers optional free yearly health check-ups.
• Support for healthy eating via fruit bowls and onsite lunch facilities. 
• Agile working, flexible hours, and supportive IT kit. 
• Shower facilities and bike lock area. 
• Generous annual leave (27 days + bank holidays)
• Subsidies for glasses
• Employee Assistance Programme