Financial Accountant Apprentice (Royal College of Physicians) in Liverpool

The purpose of your role as the accounts assistant is to support the financial accounts team in ensuring the college is compliant with all internal and external financial reporting requirements. You will reconcile the bank payment accounts of the college, ensuring all postings and cash allocations are up to date. You will help the organisation understand our financial position by producing bank reconciliations and information to support the cash flow and cash management process. This role requires a candidate who is confident and happy to work with non-finance colleagues, as it involves a large element of interaction with the business outside of the finance function.

The Royal College of Physicians is a rewarding and friendly place to work with an incredible history, dating back to our foundation in 1518. We are a professional membership body for physicians – doctors who work in hospitals – with over 40,000 members in the UK and around the world working to improve patient care and reduce illness. Our activities focus on educating, improving and influencing for better health and care. We work from two main sites – The Spine, a state-of-the-art building at the heart of the Knowledge Centre in Liverpool, and an iconic Grade I-listed building overlooking beautiful Regent's Park in central London. We are committed to a hybrid working model that means most staff work flexibly, spending a minimum of 6 days a month in the office. We champion an inclusive culture and welcome applications from all sections of society. We value taking care, learning and being collaborative. These values underpin everything we do. Join us to help achieve our vision of a world in which everyone has the best possible health and healthcare.

What you’re responsible for:

• Assist with the preparation and posting of journals, ensuring entries are accurate and supported by appropriate documentation.
• Prepare and complete bank reconciliations in line with agreed timetables, investigating and resolving differences promptly.
• Record and maintain financial transactions in the ledger accurately and on a timely basis.
• Provide day-to-day support to the wider financial accounts team across month-end, year-end and routine finance activities.
• Assist with balance sheet reconciliations and help ensure supporting schedules are complete and up to date.
• Support the preparation of financial information, working papers and analysis for internal and external reporting requirements.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across finance and the wider organisation to help resolve queries and provide accurate financial information.
• Follow established finance procedures and contribute to the continuous improvement of processes and controls.
• Maintain accurate records and carry out duties in line with organisational policies, procedures and deadlines.
• Undertake training and development as required and support other duties appropriate to the level of the role.
• Actively contribute to your own personal development, attend relevant meetings and undertake training as required; observe personal duty of care in relation to equipment and resources used in the course of work.
• Any other duties as may be reasonably expected and which are commensurate with the level of the post.
• Adhere and comply with the provisions of the RCP’s health and safety policy, undertaking all duties and responsibilities in compliance with the rules and regulations encompassing equal opportunities.
• Contribute to the work of the Department and wider RCP activities.

Skills Required:

Essential:

• Awareness of accounting concepts, principles and techniques, and their application.
• Excellent working knowledge of Excel and proven competency in using v-look ups, pivot tables & macros to analyse and manipulate data.
• Production of financial reports for finance and non-finance colleagues.
• Building good working relationships using a variety of communication methods and styles.
• Managing own workload and prioritising and planning your time to deliver a quality service in line with the predetermined timetable and deadlines.
• Working in a busy team, managing conflicting deadlines, delivering excellent customer service with excellent attention to detail under tight deadlines.

Desirable:

• Awareness of FRS102, and the charities SORP.
• An understanding of accounting systems such as Microsoft Dynamics.

Qualifications Required:

Essential:

• Level 3 AAT qualified.
• Actively studying towards level 7 ACCA/CIMA or willing to undertake study.
• Maths and English good GCSE pass or equivalent.

Desirable:

• Level 4 AAT qualified.