Accounts and Payroll Assistant in Watford

Location: Pontyclun – Fully Office-Based

Salary: £32,000–£34,000 per annum plus bonus

About the Company

Our client is a highly successful and innovative business with a turnover of approximately £25 million and ambitious plans for continued growth. They have built a strong reputation for investing in their people, embracing technology and continually improving processes across the organisation.

The Role

Working as part of a collaborative finance team, you will support the day-to-day financial operations of the business, with responsibility for accounts payable, employee expenses, payroll administration and general accounting support. The role offers an excellent opportunity for someone with a solid background in accounts and payroll who enjoys variety, takes pride in maintaining accurate financial records and is confident managing deadlines across multiple areas of responsibility.

Key Responsibilities will include:

• Accounts & Finance
• Support the day-to-day running of the finance function, ensuring financial transactions are processed accurately and efficiently.
• Process supplier invoices, allocate costs correctly and ensure appropriate approvals are obtained.
• Reconcile supplier accounts and statements, investigating and resolving discrepancies.
• Support bi-monthly payment runs and process ad hoc payments as required.
• Manage supplier queries and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external contacts.
• Carry out bank reconciliations and assist with cash management activities.
• Provide support with month-end procedures and general ledger-related tasks.
• Maintain accurate financial records, supporting documentation and appropriate audit trails.
• Assist with general finance administration and provide cover across the wider finance team.
• Payroll & Employee Administration
• Process monthly payroll for approximately 80 UK employees, ensuring salaries are accurate and paid on time.
• Maintain payroll records, pension contributions, employee benefits, deductions and statutory payments.
• Ensure payroll information is accurate and processed in accordance with relevant legislation.
• Act as a point of contact for payroll queries, liaising with employees and managers to resolve issues.
• Support the administration of employee benefits, including pensions and employee vehicle schemes.
• Maintain accurate employee records within Sage HR and Go2Clock.
• Assist with employee onboarding and offboarding administration.
• Expenses Management
• Administer the employee expenses process using SAP Concur.
• Review and process expense claims, checking receipts, coding, VAT treatment and compliance with company policies.
• Resolve queries from employees and approvers to ensure claims are processed promptly.
• Monitor approvals and ensure timely reimbursement of expenses.
• Support expense reporting and reconciliation into SAP Business One.
• Wider Business & Operational Support
• Assist with vehicle lease administration, insurance management and driving licence checks.
• Support carbon reporting and the collection of sustainability data.
• Contribute to the development and improvement of finance processes, systems and reporting.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, streamline workflows and support automation initiatives.
• Provide ad hoc assistance with finance projects and other operational activities as required.

About You

The successful candidate will have:

• Previous experience in a varied accounts and finance role, ideally incorporating payroll responsibilities.
• Practical payroll experience, with the ability to process monthly payroll accurately and independently.
• A good understanding of accounts payable, supplier reconciliations, payment processing and general finance administration.
• Knowledge of payroll legislation, pensions, employee benefits and statutory deductions.
• Experience using Sage Payroll or a similar payroll system.
• Strong IT skills and the ability to work confidently with financial systems and spreadsheets.
• Experience with SAP Business One, SAP Concur or similar systems would be advantageous.
• Excellent attention to detail and a methodical approach to financial administration.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• Good communication skills and confidence dealing with colleagues, suppliers and employees.
• A proactive, practical approach, with an interest in improving processes and supporting the wider finance team.

What's on Offer?

• Salary of £32,000–£34,000 per annum, depending on experience.
• Annual bonus opportunity of up to £4,000.
• 25 days' annual leave plus Bank Holidays.
• NEST pension scheme.
• Free on-site parking.
• 40-hour working week, Monday to Friday, 8:00am–4:30pm, with some flexibility.
• Fully office-based role in Pontyclun.
• Opportunity to join an established, growing business.
• A varied position offering exposure to multiple areas of finance and business operations.
• A supportive and collaborative team environment.
• The opportunity to contribute ideas and make a genuine impact on finance processes and systems.

If you are an experienced accounts and payroll professional looking for a varied role within a growing, forward-thinking business, we would love to hear from you.