Senior Accounts Assistant

Senior Accounts Assistant - Temp / Temp to Perm

Location: Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire
Salary: £32,000-£38,000 DOE
Contract: Temporary / Temp to Permanent
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:00pm
Working Pattern: Office Based

Macildowie are working with a well-established, family-owned business in Ashby-de-la-Zouch to recruit an experienced Senior Accounts Assistant on a temporary or temp-to-permanent basis.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced finance professional to take ownership of the payroll function while overseeing the day-to-day transactional finance activities across Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable and Credit Control.

Working closely with the Finance Director, you'll act as the senior member of a small finance team, supported by a Finance Assistant who handles day-to-day AP and AR processing. This is a hands-on position offering genuine responsibility and variety, without the requirement for formal people management.

Please note: Previous hands-on Sage Payroll experience is essential for this position.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll - Full Ownership

• Take full responsibility for processing the monthly payroll using Sage Payroll.
• Manage payroll calculations, overtime, adjustments and deductions, ensuring accurate and timely payments.
• Maintain accurate payroll records and handle employee payroll queries.
• Support statutory payroll requirements, year-end processes and P11D preparation.
• Manage confidential payroll information and ensure compliance with relevant legislation.

Transactional Finance - AP, AR & Credit Control

• Oversee the day-to-day Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable functions, supported by a Finance Assistant.
• Support purchase ledger activities, including invoice processing, purchase orders and supplier statement reconciliations.
• Oversee sales ledger activities, including invoicing, payment allocations and customer account reconciliations.
• Take responsibility for credit control activities, monitoring aged debt and chasing overdue payments.
• Investigate and resolve complex supplier and customer account queries.
• Ensure transactions are processed accurately and reconciliations are completed on time.
• Provide hands-on support across AP and AR during busy periods or staff absence.

Wider Finance Responsibilities

• Complete bank, credit card and other balance sheet reconciliations.
• Support CIS administration, subcontractor payments and associated reporting.
• Assist the Finance Director with month-end processes, including reconciliations and financial reporting.
• Support audit requirements and preparation of financial information.
• Act as the senior point of contact for transactional finance queries, providing guidance and support to the Finance Assistant.
• Review existing processes and identify opportunities to improve accuracy and efficiency across the finance function.
• Provide wider finance support and holiday cover as required.

About You

We are looking for an experienced, hands-on finance professional who can hit the ground running and confidently take ownership of payroll and transactional finance.

Essential experience:

• Sage Payroll - previous hands-on experience processing payroll using this system is essential.
• Strong experience in a Senior Accounts Assistant, Accounts Assistant, Finance Officer or similar position.
• Good all-round transactional finance experience covering Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable and Credit Control.
• Experience managing reconciliations and supporting month-end processes.
• Confident Excel skills and excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently, prioritise workloads and take ownership of key finance responsibilities.

Desirable experience:

• Sage 50 accounting software.
• AAT qualified, part-qualified or qualified by experience.
• Knowledge of CIS and subcontractor payments.
• Previous experience acting as a senior or supporting junior finance colleagues.
• Experience working within an SME or small finance team.

Above all, you'll be dependable, organised and proactive, with the confidence to act as a senior member of the finance department while remaining very much hands-on.

What's on Offer?

• Salary of £32,000-£38,000 depending on experience.
• Temporary or temp-to-permanent opportunity.
• Broad responsibility across payroll, AP, AR and Credit Control.
• Senior position supported by an existing Finance Assistant.
• Modern office environment in Ashby-de-la-Zouch.
• Established, family-owned business with a strong reputation for staff retention.
• Opportunity to develop into a long-term position within the finance team.