Assistant Accountant

PLEASE NOTE: This role is NOT eligible for sponsorship. If you are on a time limited visa e.g. student, graduate or skilled worker, we cannot sponsor you for this role.

You will be part of the Technical Accounting Team within a financial shared services agency providing a professional and quality based financial accounting service to client organisations.

The role of Assistant Accountant involves having responsibility for the monthly reconciliation of balance sheet (control) accounts, including VAT control accounts with supervision, daily cash allocation and bank reconciliations, maintaining written financial procedure notes and provision of client reports in-line with contractual requirements.

You will have excellent keyboard skills where speed and accuracy are essential and have to undertake significant data input duties. A high proportion of the day is spent using computer applications, extracting, analysing, manipulating and interpreting information, creating and developing spreadsheets for use within the department.

You will be expected to manage, plan and organise his / her own workload, performance will be reviewed by line managers at agreed intervals, not on a daily basis. You will be expected to use his / her initiative to resolve any complex problems arising and communicate solutions effectively, escalating issues to his / her line manager as appropriate.

Main duties of the job

Complete the reconciliation of nominated balance sheet accounts by identifying, interpreting, investigating and resolving complex financial queries, thereby ensuring accurate financial records and reporting is maintained in accordance with Service Level Agreements timetables and agreed procedures

Completion of daily cash allocation and bank reconciliation for nominated clients ensuring that all payments received are analysed and correctly allocated to the customer invoices or general ledger codes, bank reconciliations are balanced and any queries cleared in a timely manner

Input of financial ledger corrections and transactions (journals) to the computerised General Ledger systems in accordance with SLA timetables and procedures

Responsible for receiving, reviewing, interpreting and responding professionally to queries received from Finance and Non-Finance staff, utilising expertise and knowledge of interpreting financial accounting routines, Statutory Regulations, procedures, policies and working practice

Reconcile VAT control accounts and input VAT returns under supervision by the Senior Assistant Accountant. Review consultants reports and assist with VAT queries from clients. Provide VAT Club reports for Band 3 staff and review their findings, correcting where necessary and advising

Assist with the completion of client organisations Annual Statutory Accounts in line with the Department of Health requirements and liaise with Auditors providing additional info when requested

You will be a part of Technical Accounts team which currently has 18 members and is responsible for providing financial accounting services (balance sheet reconciliations, VAT, capital, charitable funds) to the client organisations. The team provides a fantastic opportunity to gain valuable experience for future qualified accountants and you will receive support if you study towards a professional accountancy qualification. You will be working at a fast pace and to strict deadlines and therefore good organisational and multitasking skills as well as strong work ethics are essential. Our friendly team colleagues will make you feel welcomed and provide plenty of on the job training to ensure you are confident in the assigned tasks.

We offer a hybrid working model - a mixture of office and home working with a minimum of 2 days a week in the office subject to annual review. The initial training period (minimum 3 months) is office based.

ELFS Business Services was established on the 1st April 2002 and is now in its 22nd year of operation providing business shared services to NHS client organisations. We have a highly motivated workforce dedicated to providing high standard shared services excellence. We also have a reputation for developing excellent client relationships based on service satisfaction and high quality delivery.