Assistant Payroll & Central Costs Accountant in Birmingham
Assistant Payroll & Central Costs Accountant

Assistant Payroll & Central Costs Accountant in Birmingham

Birmingham Full-Time 36000 - 60000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Manage payroll and central costs, ensuring accuracy and timely reporting.
  • Company: Join a leading financial team at Compass UK&I with a collaborative spirit.
  • Benefits: Enjoy exclusive discounts, wellness classes, and a contributory pension scheme.
  • Why this job: Kickstart your finance career while making a real impact in a dynamic environment.
  • Qualifications: Part-qualified Accountant with finance experience and strong Excel skills.
  • Other info: Great opportunities for growth and professional development await you!

The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.

Responsible to Finance Manager (Payroll, Tax and Intercompany)

Location: Parklands Court, Rubery

Sector/Business area: Financial Accounts team, Central Finance

Overall purpose of the role

Reporting to the Finance Manager (Payroll, Tax & Intercompany), the Assistant Payroll & Central Costs Accountant will take responsibility for ensuring all central costs are correctly budgeted, forecasted and recorded, with variances reviewed and explained and corrective action taken as necessary. They will play a key part in ensuring proper control of CGUK&I balance sheets and that payroll payovers are correct and on time.

Financial Accounts team - Purpose and Context

The Financial Accounts team performs a pivotal role within Compass UK&I, overseeing fixed assets, leases/IFRS16 accounting, property related transactions, intercompany, balance sheet reconciliations, Group reporting, audit and financial statements, below the line transactions, accounting for M&A and providing advice and guidance on accounting matters as required. We also support the Tax team on sales and employment taxes as well as other Central Finance teams.

Key Accountabilities

  • PURPOSE
  • Ensure central costs are correctly recorded in SAP
  • Budgeting and forecasting of central costs
  • Balance sheets/control accounts
  • PEOPLE
    • Working effectively as part of a team
    • Building relationships with key stakeholders
    • Liaising with colleagues from other teams for resolution of queries
  • PERFORMANCE
    • Prepare and post month end journals relating to payroll and central costs (e.g. audit, insurance etc), maintaining clear, professional working papers to back up all journals
    • Assist with budgeting and forecasting of central costs
    • Liaise with Intercompany finance assistant to ensure recharges are raised and posted in a timely manner
    • Reconcile and post credit card charges on a monthly basis, including resolution of queries
    • Review and post month end journals relating to working capital and cash
    • Reconcile various balance sheets on a monthly basis, highlighting any risks and opportunities and providing a clear plan to resolve any items which have not cleared as expected
    • Prepare payment files for payroll related 3rd party payments ("payovers") including reconciling from payroll reports and resolving any variances with the payroll team
    • Maintain process notes for all business-as-usual work to enable cross training, cover and support within the team
    • Cross train other team members

    Candidate Requirements: Key Skills, Knowledge & Experience

    • Essential
    • Part-qualified Accountant (CIMA/ACCA/ACA) [approx. 1 year completed] and minimum of one year in a finance role.
    • Must be willing to commit to actively studying and qualifying in a reasonable time frame
    • Intermediate Excel skills (common formulae, pivot tables etc)
    • Good organisational and presentational skills
    • Flexible and adaptable in this busy, evolving environment
    • Continuous improvement mindset to question current processes
  • Desirable
    • Experience of balance sheet reconciliations
    • Experience of month end (accruals, prepayments, variance analysis etc)
    • Use of financial software (particularly SAP)

    Benefits

    We ensure you're rewarded for all your hard work, which is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes but is not limited to:

    • Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, Booking.com and many more
    • Save money on your food shop with discounts on Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and more
    • Up to 44% off cinema tickets to enjoy your favourite blockbuster
    • Regular emails filled with the best discounts and savings available
    • Receive Wow Points every time you spend and use them on a wide range of brands
    • Un-wind with us with free wellness, mindfulness and exercise classes
    • You can share all discounts and offers with your friends and families
    • Contributory pension scheme
    • Study support
    • Grow your career with our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes

    Assistant Payroll & Central Costs Accountant in Birmingham employer: Compass Group UK & Ireland

    At Compass UK&I, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment at our Parklands Court location in Rubery. Our Financial Accounts team fosters a collaborative culture where employees are encouraged to grow through comprehensive study support and career development programmes, while enjoying a generous benefits package that includes exclusive discounts and wellness initiatives. Join us to be part of a forward-thinking team that values your contributions and supports your professional journey.
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    Contact Detail:

    Compass Group UK & Ireland Recruiting Team

    StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

    We think this is how you could land Assistant Payroll & Central Costs Accountant in Birmingham

    ✨Tip Number 1

    Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees at Compass UK&I on LinkedIn or through mutual connections. A friendly chat can give you insider info and might just get your foot in the door.

    ✨Tip Number 2

    Prepare for the interview by brushing up on your knowledge of SAP and financial accounting principles. We want to see that you're not just a number cruncher but someone who can engage in meaningful discussions about budgeting and forecasting.

    ✨Tip Number 3

    Show off your Excel skills! Be ready to demonstrate how you use pivot tables and formulas to analyse data. We love seeing candidates who can turn numbers into insights, so bring examples if you can.

    ✨Tip Number 4

    Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows us you’re genuinely interested in being part of our team.

    We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Payroll & Central Costs Accountant in Birmingham

    Budgeting
    Forecasting
    SAP
    Balance Sheet Reconciliation
    Month End Accounting
    Accruals
    Prepayments
    Variance Analysis
    Intermediate Excel Skills
    Organisational Skills
    Presentational Skills
    Continuous Improvement Mindset
    Team Collaboration
    Stakeholder Management
    Problem-Solving Skills

    Some tips for your application 🫡

    Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experience mentioned in the job description. Highlight your part-qualified accountant status and any relevant finance roles you've had. We want to see how you fit into our Financial Accounts team!

    Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about the role and how your background aligns with our needs. Don’t forget to mention your continuous improvement mindset – we love that!

    Show Off Your Excel Skills: Since intermediate Excel skills are essential, consider mentioning specific functions or projects where you've used Excel effectively. We’re keen to know how you can contribute to budgeting and forecasting central costs!

    Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any updates from us!

    How to prepare for a job interview at Compass Group UK & Ireland

    ✨Know Your Numbers

    Brush up on your financial knowledge, especially around budgeting, forecasting, and balance sheet reconciliations. Be ready to discuss how you've handled these tasks in previous roles or during your studies.

    ✨Excel Skills Are Key

    Since intermediate Excel skills are essential for this role, make sure you can confidently talk about your experience with common formulae and pivot tables. Maybe even prepare a quick example of how you've used Excel to solve a problem.

    ✨Show Your Team Spirit

    This role requires effective teamwork and relationship building. Think of examples where you've successfully collaborated with others, resolved queries, or supported colleagues. Highlighting your interpersonal skills will go a long way!

    ✨Prepare Questions

    Have a few thoughtful questions ready to ask the interviewer about the Financial Accounts team and their processes. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you understand how you can contribute effectively.

    Assistant Payroll & Central Costs Accountant in Birmingham
    Compass Group UK & Ireland
    Location: Birmingham
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