Finance Associate/Management Accountant (10 month FTC) in Cheltenham

We are seeking an experienced, proactive and detail-oriented Finance Associate to support the Finance team during a period of system change and ongoing operational activity. This role will be responsible for the accurate and timely processing of financial transactions across purchase and sales ledgers, supporting month-end activities, and assisting with basic system testing as part of our finance transformation programme.

Key Responsibilities

• Reconcile supplier and customer accounts to ensure accuracy and resolve discrepancies.
• Support the wider finance team with ad hoc administrative and operational tasks as required.
• Purchase Ledger: Process supplier invoices with accurate coding, approvals, and timely posting into the finance system. Resolve invoice queries and maintain up-to-date supplier accounts.
• Sales Ledger: Raise and process sales invoices, ensuring completeness, accuracy, and prompt issue to customers.
• Month-End Support: Assist with accruals and prepayments to support accurate financial reporting.
• Testing & System Support: Execute basic system testing activities following defined scripts to validate functionality. Log and report any issues identified during testing to relevant SMEs. Support SMEs in preparing the system for sign-off of more complex testing scenarios.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• 2–3 years’ experience in a finance role with hands-on sales and purchase ledger responsibility.
• Experience gained within an industry/commerce environment.
• Strong understanding of basic accounting principles, including accruals and prepayments.
• High attention to detail with excellent accuracy in processing and data entry.
• Confident using finance systems, with system names listed on CV an advantage.
• Strong Excel skills (lookups, pivots, reconciliations).
• Ability to follow structured testing scripts and work methodically.
• Good communication skills and confidence working collaboratively in a team.
• AAT Level 3 qualification (minimum) preferred; candidates qualified by experience will also be considered.
• Experience working within a finance function during a system change or ERP implementation is highly desirable.
• Any exposure to management accounting tasks is advantageous.

Demonstrates behaviours aligned to the PoloWorks PRIDE values: Pioneering – we don’t stand still, Responsible – We do the right thing, Inclusive – we all play a role, Delivery Focused – we provide services we are proud of, Empowering – we equip people to be their best.

Benefits

As well as a competitive salary, discretionary annual bonus, and a minimum 24 days of annual leave (with the option to buy or sell up to 5 days using our Annual Leave Flex Benefit), you will also get an excellent benefits package, including flexible, hybrid working, private health insurance, life assurance, income protection, enhanced pension contributions, and occupational maternity and paternity pay. You will also have access to company volunteering days, an Electric Vehicle (EV) leasing scheme, an employee assistance programme with retail discounts and savings, a generous employee referral scheme, regular sports and social events, and free Cheltenham bus travel.