Assistant Financial Accountant

Assistant Financial Accountant
£38,382 pa plus excellent benefits
London WC1 and home-based - hybrid with expectation to work at London office 60% of the time
35 hours per week, full-time
Permanent contract

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) is seeking a proactive and detail-oriented Assistant Financial Accountant to join our Finance team. This is an exciting opportunity to support the financial operations of an organisation dedicated to improving child health across the UK and globally.

Reporting to the Financial Controller, you will play a key role in supporting financial accounting, payroll, treasury, taxation and compliance activities across the College and its subsidiary entities. You will help ensure the integrity and accuracy of financial data, support statutory reporting and audits, and contribute to continuous improvement across finance systems and processes.

This role would suit a part-qualified accountant looking to further develop their experience within a not-for-profit or public sector environment.

Key responsibilities include:

• Supporting key accounting processes and ensuring timely reconciliation of financial ledgers
• Assisting with balance sheet reconciliations including fixed assets, accruals, prepayments, deferred income and investments
• Supporting Finance Officers with bank, accounts payable and accounts receivable reconciliations
• Assisting with internal and external audit processes and preparation of statutory accounts
• Supporting accounting processes for subsidiary entities
• Processing monthly payroll and pension submissions accurately and on time
• Supporting VAT returns, corporation tax submissions and regulatory reporting requirements
• Managing company credit cards and cash card reconciliations
• Supporting treasury and banking activities, including cash management and liquidity planning
• Administering finance systems and supporting finance improvement projects
• Building effective relationships with colleagues across the College and contributing to process improvements

Essential skills and experience include:

• Part-qualified ACCA, CIMA, ACA or equivalent professional accountancy qualification
• Minimum 2–3 years’ experience in financial accounting or finance operations roles
• Experience supporting statutory accounting, payroll, pensions, treasury and VAT processes
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret and communicate financial information clearly
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and experience using financial systems
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work collaboratively across teams
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail

Desirable:

• Knowledge of charity accounting and SORP requirements
• Experience using Business Central or equivalent ERP/financial systems
• Familiarity with healthcare or public health organisations

Our values — Include, Influence, Innovate and Inspire — shape how we work together. We are committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and welcome applications from candidates with protected characteristics. We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are under-represented at this level of the organisation.

The College operates a flexible hybrid working policy, with colleagues spending approximately 40% of their working time in the office over a four-week cycle and the remainder working from home.

The RCPCH is committed to safeguarding the children, young people and adults it has contact with. All staff are expected to share this commitment. Employment is subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks.

Closing date: 31 May 2026

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.