Assistant Accountant

The role is to provide all round financial assistance to ensure the smooth operation of accounting procedures. To provide processing and support for the financial accounting activities of the charity. To provide a high-quality service and be responsible for the ledgers they control. The role will be able to interchange with tasks in other areas of Finance. Key deliverables:

• Managing the purchase ledger processes - posting invoices in a timely and efficient manner, matching invoices to POs, ensuring that invoices are scanned, uploading copies of invoices and supporting documents on the system, making sure that invoices are coded correctly by budget holders, adding new suppliers on the system
• Sales ledger processes - setting up new customers and raising sales invoices, ensuring sales invoice requests are filled in accurately by staff and coding is correct.
• Company credit cards - ensure receipts are received in a timely manner, reconciling credit card accounts on a regular basis.
• Expenses - Supporting staff with expense claims, including advise on coding and ensuring expenses are posted and approved within the month they have occurred.
• Sales and Purchase Ledger - Keep both ledgers tidy by regular reviews and reconciliations of customer and supplier accounts. Resolving any problems that arise in a timely manner.
• Credit control - Regular review of the aged debtors, flagging any overdue invoices to the relevant Project Managers to chase.
• Preparation of BACS payments for suppliers and staff expenses
• Bank Reconciliations & Payments - Review and post bank transactions on a daily basis. Prepare monthly bank reconciliation for all accounts including PayPal and Company credit card accounts. Deal with banking queries. Monitor exchange rate differences. Manage Petty Cash.
• Statutory Returns - Assist Finance Manager with the preparation of the quarterly VAT returns, Gift aid claims and the Corporation Tax returns.
• Timesheets - Ensuring all staff have submitted timesheets by the monthly deadline.
• Financial Controls - Working with the Finance Manager to ensure that financial controls and other processes at Earthwatch are clearly documented, periodically updated based on system changes and regularly tested.
• Affiliate Offices - Ensure all intercompany balances are reconciled accurately each month, liaising directly with counterparts in other offices to ensure formal agreement. Invoicing affiliates based on reports received and schedules agreed, chasing up any unbilled invoices as per schedules. Review & redesign of templates and systems as required.
• Month End - Preparing schedules and journals including fixed assets, prepayments, accruals, monthly interest and stock journals. Complete monthly balance sheet reconciliations.
• Audit - Working closely with Finance Manager to ensure smooth running of the audit, preparation of relevant documentation, responding to any ad-hoc queries in a professional, timely fashion.
• Manage the Finance inbox, flagging any emails that need urgent attention, filing emails and keeping the inbox as clear and up to date as possible
• Other - Responding to queries, both in person and by email, from staff in a professional, timely and courteous manner. Covering roles for other members of the team in the case of sickness or holiday.
• Presenting financial information to non-financial managers. Finance Inductions on how to raise PO's and submit Expenses & Timesheets for new starters.
• Sage Intacct (Finance System) & Prophix (Reporting System) Administrator.
The above list of job deliverables is not exclusive or exhaustive and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post

The ideal candidate will have strong interpersonal and teamwork skills, with the ability to work with colleagues at all levels including non-finance members of staff. You will provide all round financial assistance to ensure the smooth operation of accounting procedures. You will also provide processing and support for the financial accounting activities of the charity.,
• SAGE knowledge.
• Structured & methodical approach to organisation, with an eye for detail. A lively and enquiring mind with a logical approach to work, combined with analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills, with the ability to work with colleagues at all levels including non-finance members of staff.
• Good numerical skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Intermediate MS Excel skills.
• Ability to prioritise and work to strict deadlines.
• Ability to work effectively in a small team.
• Effective team player - willing to assist other team members to achieve deadlines and objectives.
• Demonstrable experience in a similar level accounting role.
• Experience in VAT (with experience of partial exemption calculations desirable).
• Confidence to know where your expertise ends and another team members begins.
• Ability to remain impartial.
• Stamina and motivation to balance the demands of work and study.
• Commitment to the mission and values of Earthwatch.
Desirable
• Charity experience would be advantageous.
• Ability to identify process improvements - challenging the status quo.
• Experience of the reporting system Prophix.
Applicants must have the right to work in the UK; Earthwatch is unable to support visa applications.

Earthwatch Europe offers a supportive and friendly working environment, with opportunities to learn and develop, and lots of flexibility to support a healthy work-life balance (including flexible working and remote working). You will be joining a small Finance team that is part of our Operations department, which also includes colleagues from HR, IT and office management. Please note, we encourage early applications and reserve the right to close this role earlier than the stated deadline., Earthwatch is an environmental charity with science at its heart. We drive the change needed to live within our means and in balance with nature. We do this by connecting people with the natural world, monitoring the health of our natural resources, and informing the actions that will have the greatest positive impact. At Earthwatch, we believe in the value of creating meaningful connections as a solution to the environmental and social challenges we face. Every person has something to contribute towards a better future. When people feel a sense of belonging, they are equipped with the power to create change towards a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable world. We are driven by people I We are powered by science I We connect with nature I We fight for our planet


• Salary: £30,000 to £36,000 per annum, gross (depending on skills and experience)
• Hours: Full time, 35 hours per week, Monday - Friday
• Contract: 12 months Maternity Cover (to start in December 2024)
• Department: Finance and Operations
• Reports to: Finance Manager
• Interviews: Week commencing 28th October & week commencing 4th November 2024, via Microsoft Teams