Account Assistant (General Accounting)

Exciting new opportunity in travel retail, supporting a fast-paced retail and food service business, where every day brings new opportunities to grow and make an impact!

Job purpose: We are looking for an Accounts Assistant to join our team on a fast-paced retail and food service business, supporting the smooth and efficient running of our UK & Ireland finance operations. You will play a key role in maintaining accurate financial records, processing payments, and ensuring suppliers are paid on time. This role suits someone with great attention to detail, a can-do attitude, and a passion for keeping things running seamlessly behind the scenes.

Contract: 37.5 hours per week

Benefits: Simplyhealth cash plan, Retail Trust, life insurance, and up to 25% in-store discounts

Key Responsibilities

• Accounts Payable: Process supplier invoices: coding, VAT treatment, and approvals routing. Maintain the AP inbox and respond to supplier queries professionally. Prepare fortnightly payment runs: collate approved invoices, check supplier details, and support final reviews. Set up and maintain supplier records (bank details verification, documentation, compliance checks). Check supplier statements.
• Accounts Receivable: Raise customer invoices/credit notes based on approved data. Allocate customer receipts and chase overdue balances as needed. Support query resolution with internal teams and customers.
• Bank & Cash: Perform daily/weekly bank postings and bank reconciliations; investigate and resolve unreconciled items promptly. Support expense reconciliations.
• General Finance Admin: Keep finance files and registers up to date (suppliers, customers, fixed assets, AP/AR ledgers). Help with audit requests (samples, copies, explanations). Support continuous improvement with small process/documentation updates.

Qualifications

• Experience using SAP desirable
• 2 years relevant experience
• Experience of dealing with large volume of complex invoices
• Experience of dealing with multi-currency

Key Skills

• Good understanding of double-entry, invoicing, and reconciliations.
• Solid Excel skills (filters, lookups, pivots desirable).
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy under time pressure.
• Clear, professional communication with both internal teams and external suppliers/customers.

Our values: Can you feel the HEAT? Whatever role you deliver for Lagardère Travel Retail, part of your responsibility is to represent and uphold our company values every day:

• HONESTY: Working ethically | Fostering a culture of openness | Treating each other fairly | Being considerate
• EXCELLENCE: Delivering first class customer service | Upholding high store standards | Showcasing prestigious brands
• AGILITY: Working in a fast-paced environment | Adapting well to change | Always striving to improve
• TEAM SPIRIT: Working together as one team | Supporting each other | Being active partners in our wider communities

Our company: One of the two divisions of the Lagardère group, Lagardère Travel Retail is a pioneering global leader in the travel retail industry and the only operator to have established a comprehensive and world-recognised leadership across multiple business activities. Cumulating more than 170 years of experience in travel retail since the opening of the first bookstore in 1852 at Paris Gare de Lyon, we deliver new experiences for travelers every day. Operating over 5,000 stores across Travel Essentials, Duty Free & Fashion and Foodservice in airports, railway stations and other concessions in 42 countries worldwide, we generated €5.2bn sales in 2022. At Lagardère Travel Retail we believe an inclusive and diverse culture can help businesses and people thrive. We are committed to create a work environment where our people can fulfil their potential and be themselves and to support each and every one of them in achieving their ambitions. We welcome and consider all applicants regardless of their background and can ensure all candidates will receive a fair and equal treatment.