Accounts assistant (12 months fixed term - maternity cover) in Coventry

The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) is the professional body inspiring, equipping and supporting housing professionals to create a future in which everyone has a place to call home.

We are seeking a proactive, organised, and detail-focused accounts assistant to join our finance team. This is an excellent opportunity for someone looking to build on their accounting experience while contributing to the delivery of efficient and accurate financial processes across the organisation. You will play a key role in supporting both accounts receivable and accounts payable activities, ensuring payments are processed accurately and queries are resolved promptly.

Key responsibilities:

• Prepare and process end-to-end payment runs on a fortnightly basis, ensuring accuracy and compliance with internal procedures.
• Complete payment allocations and maintain accurate financial records, including the administration of company credit card transactions and monthly cardholder returns.
• Serve as the first point of contact for accounts payable queries, providing professional and timely resolutions to suppliers and colleagues.
• Support the wider finance function by monitoring shared finance inboxes, responding to enquiries, and assisting with day-to-day financial administration.
• Provide cover for key finance activities during periods of annual leave and absence, helping to ensure continuity of service.

To be successful in this role, you will have previous experience in a similar finance position supporting accounts payable or accounts receivable. You will be organised, accurate, and confident in managing financial queries, with strong communication skills and a collaborative approach to working with colleagues across the organisation. Good IT skills and experience using finance systems and Microsoft Office applications are also essential.

This role offers the opportunity to develop your finance career within a supportive team environment while making a valuable contribution to the organisation's financial operations.

How to apply

For an informal chat about this role, please contact Kerry Hector, head of finance, on email Kerry.hector@CIH.org.

CIH is committed to equal opportunities at all stages of recruitment and selection and strives to have a workforce that promotes inclusivity. We welcome applicants from all sectors of the community and would be happy to discuss reasonable adjustments we can make to achieve and celebrate diversity.

Closing date for applications: 26 June 2026

A good work/life balance:

• 25 days holiday, plus eight bank holidays as standard (pro-rated for part-time colleagues) plus, gifted days off over Christmas and New Year.
• Flexible working to accommodate your work and personal commitments – we value outcomes and recognise that everyone has a unique working style.
• Access to our employee assistance programme for life’s challenges.
• Policies to support you with big life changes or difficult times, such as the menopause and caring responsibilities.
• Enhanced maternity and paternity packages.
• Private health care with the option to purchase for family members.
• Generous sick pay allowance.
• Financial support for eye tests and help with the cost of glasses.
• Cycle to work scheme.

Financially supporting you and your family:

• Access to CIH Plus, our employee discount portal to help your salary go further.
• Income protection scheme in case of an extended period of illness.
• Death in service benefit equivalent to three times your salary.
• Helping you save for the future by contributing to a defined contribution pension scheme.

Full CIH membership – access all our member-exclusive content to build your housing knowledge.

A commitment to your professional development.

A flexible office space encouraging collaborative working.