Finance Assistant - Operations

We are seeking a highly motivated and organised Finance Assistant to join our dynamic team at our Lancaster Mill. This exciting opportunity is ideal for someone passionate about delivering accurate and timely transactional finance data & activities for our Operations function. The successful individual will enjoy serving and supporting the Rural and Agricultural feed industry, ensuring the highest level of customer satisfaction and standards are achieved. This position is a full‑time position, however part‑time hours would be considered.

About Us

Every day we provide rural and agricultural communities with the support they need to succeed. Whether they are after a healthier herd or flock, increased yields, faster growth rates, a decent return on their land or even just a helping hand. We have the people, products, and services to help our customers get from where they are now to where they want to be. This is why every role at Carr's Billington is hugely important to our shared success and why we welcome talent from across all different backgrounds to work across our retail, feed, machinery, fuel and central support divisions.

The Job

• Oversee the daily/weekly sales invoice and purchase invoice processes for feed invoices and raw material purchases to ensure all transactions are posted accurately and queries are processed for accurate reporting.
• Maintain and analyse fleet‑related data, producing reports that support operational performance tracking and informed decision‑making.
• Prepare and deliver data analysis for weekly stock analysis, providing clear visibility of stock movements and balances.
• Review and process third‑party haulier invoices, validating costs against agreed rates and resolving all discrepancies.
• Carry out weekly haulage cost checks, ensuring accuracy of charges and highlighting inconsistencies.
• Manage the reconciliation and reporting of raw material haulage into sites, ensuring costs are accurately captured and recorded.
• Oversee the validation and processing of internal transfers between mills, ensuring correct allocation and inter‑mill reporting.
• Act as a key partner between finance and non‑finance teams, assisting the Finance Business Partner in translating financial data into actionable insights.
• Provide ad‑hoc analysis to support business cases when required.
• Adhere to Company and Group policies and procedures, including those relating to Safety, Health & Environment.
• Ensure all relevant legislation and approved codes of practice are adhered to, including UFAS, FIAS & NOPS assurance schemes.

Skills, Experience and Qualities Required

• Previous experience within a finance function.
• Proficiency in Excel and other Microsoft Office products.
• Experience of using accounting software.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with ability to clearly explain complex financial information to non‑finance stakeholders at all levels.
• Flexible approach with ability to multitask and effectively prioritise workload.
• A positive attitude towards improvement and change.
• Ability to work under pressure whilst maintaining attention to detail.

Benefits

• An attractive salary package.
• Annual salary reviews in September each year.
• A minimum of 25 days annual leave.
• Opportunity to work for a well‑established family‑owned business with ambitions for growth and innovation.

Your Health

• Health Assured: Access to an Employee Assistance Programme which offers counselling and health and wellbeing advice.
• Sick pay: Generous company sick pay entitlement.
• Health Cash Plan: A health cash plan allowing colleagues to claim back money spent on everyday health care such as optical, dental, physiotherapy.

Your Lifestyle

• Staff Discount: Colleagues are eligible for a generous staff discount on selected products at our Country Stores.
• Cycle to Work scheme: A salary sacrifice scheme saving you tax on the purchase of a new bicycle and associated equipment.
• Flexible life assurance and critical illness cover: Choose to increase the level of life assurance cover already provided to you by the company or add critical illness cover, all at preferential rates.
• My Savings Hub: Access to an exclusive member’s discount website with over 3,500 brands where you can save money and earn cashback on spends from grocery shopping to holidays.
• Salary finance benefits: Savings schemes, preferential rate loans and wage advances all through payroll as well as tools for financial education.

Your Future

• Pension: Enrolment into the Company pension scheme after 3 months of employment.
• Training & Development: Role specific training and ongoing training and development opportunities identified through our annual appraisal process.