Finance Officer in Glasgow

Reports To: Directors and the Business/Office Manager

Location: Company Office, Academy Park, Pollokshields, Glasgow

Employment Type: Full-time

Role Overview

As our Financial Officer, you'll take full ownership of the practice's day-to-day financial operations, from cash flow and credit control right through to payroll, VAT and overseeing our fee proposal and invoicing process. Reporting to the Directors and the Business/Office Manager, you'll be the person keeping our numbers accurate, our cash moving, and our books up to date in QuickBooks.

We're looking for someone proactive, organised and commercially aware, who takes pride in tight financial processing and isn't afraid to pick up the phone and chase an overdue invoice through to resolution. This is a role with real scope to grow: we want someone who will look for better ways of doing things, not just maintain what's already there, and who is keen to take on more responsibility as the practice grows.

Key Responsibilities

Cash Management & Credit Control

• Managing day-to-day cash flow and producing regular cash flow reports for the Directors.
• Taking full ownership of credit control, including proactive telephone contact and collection of all outstanding debt, including aged debt
• Handling difficult or overdue accounts, escalating to the Directors and the Business/Office Manager as required
• High level of bookkeeping skill, including ledger entry
• Keeping cases actively tracked through to resolution
• Processing all customer, supplier, banking and payroll entries in QuickBooks.
• Completing monthly journal processing.
• Running monthly payroll and pension processing and keeping it accurate and compliant.
• Preparing quarterly VAT returns for review and sign-off ahead of submission.
• Supporting statutory compliance and audit preparation.

Fee Proposals, Budgeting & Reporting

• Overseeing the fee proposal and invoicing process and managing fee projections and budgets.
• Producing financial KPI reporting to support Director decision-making.
• Maintaining and improving our financial systems and controls as the practice grows.

Driving Improvement

• Proactively identifying opportunities to tighten up our financial processes, controls and reporting, rather than simply maintaining the status quo.
• Bringing ideas to the Directors on how we can strengthen cash collection, forecasting and financial visibility as the business grows.
• Taking on additional responsibility over time as the role and the finance function develop.
• A high level of accuracy in all finance matters is crucial

Key Skills & Experience

• Proven experience in a finance, financial officer or bookkeeping role.
• Hands-on, practical experience with QuickBooks or similar accounting software (Sage is also beneficial).
• Confident, advanced Excel skills.
• A strong track record in credit control, including outbound collections calls.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• The ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
• A proactive, self-starting approach, comfortable suggesting and driving improvements rather than waiting to be asked.
• AAT qualified, or actively studying towards AAT, is preferred; we would also consider candidates who are qualified by experience.
• Experience within a structural engineering, construction, or similar professional services business advantageous
• Experience overseeing fee proposal, invoicing processes, and supporting budgeting.

Personal Attributes

• Highly organised and self-motivated.
• Confident and persistent, particularly in credit control conversations.
• Professional and approachable.
• Commercially aware with strong attention to detail.
• Reliable and dependable.
• Able to work independently and manage competing priorities.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Accurate and timely financial processing and reporting.
• Effective cash flow management and a reduction in overdue debt.
• Timely completion of monthly payroll, journals and quarterly VAT returns.
• Accurate oversight of the fee proposal process and budget tracking.
• Positive feedback from Directors, Business/Office Manager and colleagues.
• Visible progress on process and system improvements year on year.

Authority

As Financial Officer, you'll have the authority to:

• Manage day-to-day financial processing and credit control activity.
• Contact customers directly regarding outstanding payments.
• Recommend improvements to financial systems and processes.

Salary & Benefits

You’ll earn a salary of £35,000 to £38,000 per annum, depending on your experience and aptitude.

We operate a contributory pension scheme in accordance with the Pension Regulatory requirements (NEST). The current contribution is 4% employer / 4% employee, if you opt to participate in the scheme. All participating staff can increase their contribution, with Ramage Young matching the additional contribution up to a maximum of 6%.

We're happy to support continued professional development, including study towards AAT, for the right candidate as the role grows.

This job description outlines the primary responsibilities of the role but is not exhaustive. The postholder may be required to undertake other duties appropriate to the position, in line with the evolving needs of Ramage Young Design Limited.