Finance Assistant: Payables

The British Museum is seeking a Finance Assistant to work as part of the Payables function of the Finance Department in a world-renowned setting and the most popular tourist attraction in the UK. You will ensure that financial data is accurate, that all invoices are recorded in a timely manner, and that the service provided to Museum departments is of a high standard.

Key areas of responsibility:

• Maintain the purchase ledger, ensuring ageing is current and that payments are correctly allocated.
• Liaise with all departments to ensure prompt authorisation of invoices for processing and resolving supplier disputes.
• Prepare high quality payment runs, ensuring the weekly process runs efficiently and to timetable, including resolving queries, right through to the presentation to bank signatories.
• Processing staff credit card returns to ensure adherence to Museum group policy.
• Perform month end account reconciliations as directed.
• Identify errors and inconsistencies in GL data and prepare correcting journals.
• Assist with enquiries to the department and provide information to management as requested.
• Proactively suggest ways to improve processes to line manager and other team members.
• Stock record maintenance and query resolution as and when required.

About you:

• 5 GCSE’s or equivalent.
• Able to work swiftly and accurately with figures, maintaining consistency and accuracy in processing a high volume of transactions.
• IT literate with strong inputting and spreadsheet skills, and excellent attention to detail.
• Able to work well with others and take on other work in the department during times of heavy workload or staff absence.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Able to build strong working relationships within the Museum and with customers.

About the British Museum:

Founded in 1753, the British Museum’s remarkable collection spans over two million years of human history and culture. The Museum is a leading visitor attraction, and its world-famous collection includes the Rosetta Stone, Egyptian mummies, the Sutton-Hoo finds, and the Lewis Chessmen. The Museum also holds an extensive collection of prints and drawings spanning 600 years, including works by the greatest graphic artists such as Dürer, Michelangelo and Rembrandt.

The Museum offers a competitive benefits package including:

• Generous annual leave allowance of 25 days (rising to 30 days after 10 years’ service) plus 2.5 privilege days and plus bank holidays.
• Membership of the civil service defined benefit pension scheme.
• Free entry to a wide range of museums and exhibitions.
• Participation in private and public Museum activities, including talks by leading curators from around the world and behind-the-scenes opportunities to learn how museums care for and manage their extraordinary collections.
• Interest-free travel, bicycle, and rental deposit loans.
• Professional and personal development opportunities.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Discounts on food and gift shop purchases.

The British Museum is committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all staff and job applicants. We aim to create a working environment in which all individuals can make best use of their skills, free from unlawful discrimination or harassment. We value the benefits that a diverse workforce brings to a museum which represents world culture.

The Museum is committed to ensuring that no job applicant suffers unlawful discrimination because of any protected characteristics. Our recruitment procedures aim to ensure that individuals are treated because of their relevant knowledge, skills, and experience. We specifically encourage applications from candidates from ethnic minority groups who are underrepresented within our senior roles.

We offer a flexible way of working scheme that allows our employees to work remotely in a way that suits them and the organisation. We welcome questions and conversations at interview stage about how flexible working could work for you. We would typically see this role as working on site about 2-3 days a week.