ACCOUNTS ASSISTANT

Based near Thame, Oxfordshire (office-based, with some flexibility).

£30,000 – £35,000 per annum, depending on experience and study support.

Are you an Accounts Assistant who enjoys getting into the detail, keeping everything reconciled, and being the go-to person for suppliers and subcontractors?

This growing business near Thame is looking for an Accounts Assistant to join its friendly in-house team. Working closely with the Company Secretary and senior finance colleagues, you will play a key role in keeping day-to-day finances running smoothly and ensuring the business remains fully compliant with CIS and VAT requirements.

The role

You will take ownership of a broad range of finance activities as follows:

• Managing end-to-end processing of supplier and subcontractor invoices, ensuring correct coding, approvals and CIS / reverse charge VAT treatment.
• Preparing weekly and monthly payment runs, checking supplier records and bank details and resolving any queries before payment.
• Maintaining accurate supplier accounts, reconciling statements and managing the aged creditors report.
• Performing monthly bank reconciliations and clearing unmatched items promptly.
• Setting up and maintaining supplier and subcontractor records in the finance systems (Sage / QuickBooks).
• Preparing and submitting monthly CIS returns and maintaining robust subcontractor verification records.
• Overseeing sales invoicing, including retentions and CIS suffered, and reconciling weekly sales to project forecasts.
• Leading credit control activity, following up overdue debt and keeping aged debtors within agreed targets.
• Owning key monthly reconciliations (for example vehicles, tools, driver reports and intercompany charges).
• Preparing quarterly VAT returns and maintaining strong financial controls, documentation and audit-ready records.
• You will also contribute to continuous improvement across the finance function, helping to refine processes, documentation and controls as the business grows.

About you

This role would suit an experienced Finance Administrator or Accounts Assistant who enjoys variety and ownership and is confident working in a busy SME environment.

You will bring:

• AAT / ACCA / CIMA is welcomed and can be supported.
• 2–5 years’ experience in a finance or accounts role, ideally with exposure to both purchase and sales ledger.
• Strong understanding of accounts payable, accounts receivable, reconciliations and general ledger processes.
• Good working knowledge of Sage and/or QuickBooks and confident general systems skills.
• Excellent numeracy, accuracy and attention to detail, with a methodical, process-driven approach.
• Confident communication skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with suppliers, subcontractors and colleagues at all levels.
• The ability to manage your own workload, prioritise effectively and meet deadlines, especially around payment and month-end cycles.
• High levels of professionalism, discretion and integrity.

Why apply?

• Join a growing, people-focused business with a strong reputation for the quality of its work.
• Work in a close-knit finance team where your ideas for improving processes and controls will be listened to and implemented.
• Take on a broad, hands-on role that gives you end-to-end exposure across payables, receivables, CIS, VAT, reconciliations and credit control.
• Enjoy an office-based role near Thame in a rural setting, with standard business hours, plus occasional flexibility and overtime in peak periods such as pay week.