Assistant Accountant in Bicester

At Dalcour Maclaren, we're key players in the Utilities and Infrastructure industry, bringing the UK and Ireland closer to Net Zero every day.

Our land, environmental and geospatial experts work together to unlock the consents needed by our clients to deliver key projects.

Our services include land access and assembly, agricultural liaison, planning, environmental impact assessments and geospatial mapping.

Join us, and play your part in helping us to achieve our vision; to be the professional services team of choice, leading the Utilities and Infrastructure industry to a sustainable future.

Due to a maternity leave, we are seeking an experienced and proactive Assistant Accountant to join our Finance team on a 12-month fixed-term contract.

Reporting to the Finance Manager, this role will play an important part in supporting the delivery of accurate financial reporting, month-end close activities, cash management and financial controls across the business.

This is a varied position that combines management accounting responsibilities with hands-on involvement in day-to-day finance operations, making it ideal for an experienced finance professional who enjoys working within a fast-paced and collaborative environment.

The Role

Working closely with the Finance Manager and wider finance team, the Assistant Accountant will support the preparation of monthly management accounts, balance sheet reconciliations and financial reporting, whilst also overseeing key transactional processes including accounts payable, employee expenses and cash management.

As part of a small and growing finance team, the successful candidate will be willing to take ownership of both operational and month-end activities, whilst supporting junior team members and contributing to continuous improvement initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Financial Reporting & Management Accounting
• Support the preparation of monthly management accounts and reporting packs.
• Prepare and maintain monthly balance sheet reconciliations, ensuring reconciling items are investigated and resolved promptly.
• Prepare and post month-end journals including accruals, prepayments and depreciation.
• Maintain the fixed asset register and process monthly depreciation.
• Support month-end close activities to ensure reporting deadlines are achieved.
• Assist with financial analysis and variance reporting.
• Assist with budgeting and forecasting processes as required.
• Support the Finance Manager with ad hoc analysis and reporting requests
• Banking & Cash Management
• Manage monthly bank reconciliations across all UK bank accounts.
• Monitor cash balances and support cashflow forecasting activities.
• Process and reconcile intercompany transactions where required.
• Assist in ensuring robust cash management and financial controls are maintained.
• Accounts Payable & Expenses
• Oversee supplier invoice processing and ensure transactions are accurately recorded and authorised.
• Prepare and process weekly supplier payment runs.
• Manage employee expense claims and ensure compliance with company policies.
• Review and reconcile corporate credit card transactions, ensuring supporting documentation is received and recorded correctly.
• Carry out regular VAT compliance checks on supplier invoices and employee expenses.
• Credit Control & Working Capital
• Support credit control activities, including issuing reminder notices and liaising with operational teams to assist collection of outstanding debts.
• Investigate and resolve customer and supplier account queries.
• Support initiatives to improve working capital performance across the business.
• Compliance & Financial Control
• Ensure compliance with company policies, financial controls and accounting procedures.
• Assist with year-end audit activities and provide supporting schedules and documentation to external auditors.
• Support the preparation of statutory reporting requirements and year-end reconciliations.
• Maintain accurate financial records and documentation.
• Team Support & Continuous Improvement
• Provide support and guidance to junior members of the finance team and apprentices.
• Assist in providing cover across finance functions during periods of absence.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, controls and reporting efficiencies.
• Support system enhancements and finance improvement projects.
• Maintain and develop professional knowledge through ongoing learning and development.
• Participate in company initiatives, events and activities that promote Dalcour Maclaren's values and culture.
• The Successful Candidate Will Have

Essential

• Experience in a finance or accounting role.
• AAT qualified, part-qualified ACCA/CIMA, or qualified by experience (QBE).
• Strong experience supporting month-end accounting processes.
• Excellent reconciliation skills and attention to detail.
• Experience managing accounts payable, expenses and bank reconciliations.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and strong proficiency across the Microsoft Office suite.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to build effective working relationships with both finance and non-finance stakeholders.
• A proactive and hands-on approach, with a willingness to support across all areas of the finance function.

Desirable

• Experience of Workday Financials.
• Experience working within a growing professional services, consultancy or project-based business.
• Understanding of VAT compliance and intercompany accounting.
• Experience supporting budgeting and forecasting processes.

Benefits

• Annual bonus scheme
• 25 days annual leave plus 1 day to celebrate your birthday
• Vitality Health Membership (including Private healthcare, subsidised gym membership and other discounts)
• Flexible working through our ‘Flexible Advantage’ supporting working families & your work/life balance
• Pension Scheme via The Peoples Pension
• Life insurance (4x Base Salary)
• Cycle to work scheme
• 26 Weeks paid Maternity Leave
• 4 Weeks paid Paternity Leave
• BHN Extras – provides discounted gift cards for hundreds of popular retailers
• Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice Scheme (provided by Octopus Electric Vehicles) effective at 1 years’ service
• Sabbatical Policy effective at 3 years’ service
• Professional development – paid study leave
• Military service paid leave (7.5 days per year)
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) plus wider Mental Health & Wellbeing support
• 2 x Company-wide events every year, in addition to multiple office socials throughout the year

Dalcour Maclaren is an equal opportunities employer.