Finance Assistant

Are you a detail-focused finance professional who wants your work to have real social impact? At Bookmark we want every child to read. We exist to change children’s life stories and outcomes through the joy of reading. As Finance Assistant at Bookmark, you will play a key role in keeping our financial operations accurate, efficient and well-organised, helping to ensure we can deliver our mission with confidence and care.

Reporting to the Finance Manager and working closely with the Chief Finance and Operations Officer, you will be a valued part of a small, supportive team where your contribution really matters and where you will be responsible for supporting the day-to-day financial operations of the charity.

Job Description

• Bookkeeping and transaction processing
• Report to the Finance Manager, and work with the Senior Leadership Team and wider team, on all finance data and information
• Maintain accurate records for all transactions and bank reconciliations in our financial system, Xero
• Purchase ledger control – process accounts payable invoices and prepare required payments on our bank account
• Sales ledger control – co-ordinate with the fundraising and operations team to ensure accurate invoicing to schools, donors and corporate partners
• Manage the PO system, ensuring that POs are set up correctly and within budget
• Support the Finance Manager and fundraising team to track restricted funding
• Month and year end processes
• Support the Finance Manager at month end close and monthly financial reporting, including preparing monthly management accounts and balance sheet reconciliations
• Support the Finance Manager and team to prepare the annual business plan, budget, audit and forecasts
• Payroll
• Support the Finance Manager in preparing and reviewing monthly payroll files
• Carry out the payroll process (including pension processing), liaising with HR, line managers and our payroll provider
• Inbox Management
• In collaboration with the Finance Manager, review and organise the Finance inbox
• Able to deal with everyday queries and notify/forward to the Finance Manager or Chief Finance and Operations Officer as appropriate

Person Specification

• Proficient in Microsoft Office suite (particularly Word, PowerPoint and Excel), with advanced Excel skills
• Experience working in an accounting or finance role or with transferable skills, or someone who has, or is currently studying for a bookkeeping qualification
• Good communication skills, both verbal and written
• Friendly, inquisitive and helpful mindset
• Structured problem-solving approach with excellent attention to detail
• Time-management and strong organisation skills
• Confidentiality and integrity are of utmost importance, due to the sensitive nature of the information that is managed by this role
• Ability to work independently and contribute as part of a team
• Enthusiastic, professional and positive, with a strong desire to learn
• Flexible mindset to working in a busy organisation
• Salesforce and/or SharePoint experience
• Confidence using digital tools and a willingness to adopt new technologies, including AI, to improve efficiency

Contract type: 1 year FTC with the potential to extend to a permanent contract.
Salary: £15,000 - £16,000 per annum (£30,000 - £32,000 FTE) depending on training level, qualifications and relevant experience.
Location: Bookmark Reading Charity, Charles House, 5-11 Regent Street, Saint James's, London SW1Y 4LR. Minimum one day per week based at the Bookmark office, which must include Wednesday.
Hours: 18.75 hours per week (0.5 FTE) – Full day on a Wednesday in the office and ideally 3 other half days to be agreed with the successful candidate.
Reporting to: Finance Manager
Shortlisting: From 9th June
Second Interview (online): w/c 22nd June
Start date: To be agreed with the successful candidate.
Equality and Diversity: Bookmark is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community. We aim to create a working environment in which all individuals are able to make the best use of their skills, free from discrimination or harassment, and in which all decisions are based on merit. Bookmark, and the charity sector more generally, supports a diverse range of communities, people and causes. However, this diversity is not reflected in our personnel, particularly at the senior leadership and board level. We aim at all times to recruit the person who is most suited to the job and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds – men and women, people of all ages, sexual orientations, nationalities, religions and beliefs. We recognise that talented people from diverse backgrounds sometimes hesitate to apply if they don’t meet every requirement. If you’re passionate about making a difference and believe you have the skills to succeed, we encourage you to apply. We welcome any candidate who can contribute greater diversity in its widest sense to the organisation, including diversity of background, life experience, career path and thought.

Safeguarding: Bookmark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the well-being and welfare of children and requires everyone associated with the charity, including all trustees, employees, and volunteers to share this commitment. Successful applicants will need to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the role, including references from past employers and Disclosure and Barring Service checks.