Finance Assistant
RemoteSouth Africa
Job Summary
Maintain accurate Xero records through daily bank reconciliations, process invoices and credit notes, and manage accounts payable while liaising with suppliers on discrepancies. Run weekly payroll for temporary workers, reconcile timesheets against client bookings, calculate staff commissions, and support internal monthly payroll with pension submissions. Own credit control by chasing overdue invoices, maintaining the aged debtors ledger, running credit checks on new clients, and resolving invoice disputes with schools and academies. Produce weekly, monthly, and annual financial reports, submit quarterly VAT returns via Making Tax Digital, and assist with year-end accounts and audit documentation. Act as the first point of contact for finance queries from sales teams across Leeds, Newcastle, and Manchester offices.
Required Qualifications
- Proven experience in a finance assistant, bookkeeper or similar role
- Proficient in Xero (invoicing, reconciliations, reporting, VAT)
- Confident user of Microsoft 365, particularly Excel (lookups, pivot tables) and Outlook
- Experience of credit control and managing an aged debtors ledger
- Strong attention to detail and accuracy under weekly deadlines
- Excellent communication skills — comfortable liaising with clients, suppliers, umbrella companies and internal teams
- Able to work independently and manage own workload across multiple priorities
Desired Qualifications
- Experience in the recruitment or staffing sector, particularly weekly temp payroll and umbrella company arrangements
- Recognised accounting qualification, or working towards one (e.g. SAIPA, SAICA trainee, CIMA, ACCA, or a relevant accounting degree/diploma)
- Experience preparing VAT returns and supporting year-end accounts
- Familiarity with education-sector clients (schools, academies, MATs, local authorities) and their payment processes
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