Junior Management Accountant/Assistant Accountant in Harrogate

Role: Junior Management Accountant/Assistant Accountant

Location: Harrogate, HG3

Salary: £30k/£40k

Hours: Full time

Accounts Payable Management

• Process purchase invoices accurately and in a timely manner, including three-way matching (PO, delivery note, invoice).
• Maintain accounts payable email inbox, supplier ledgers, ensuring all accounts are reconciled monthly.
• Investigate and resolve invoice discrepancies, pricing issues, or missing documentation.
• Liaise with suppliers regarding queries, statements and payment schedules.
• Ensure compliance with internal approval processes and financial controls.

Accounts Receivable Management

• Process daily customer receipts ensuring all transactions are recorded accurately in the accounting system.
• Regularly reconcile customer accounts to ensure that all payments are accounted for and discrepancies are resolved.
• Maintain accounts receivable inbox on a daily basis.
• Monitor accounts receivable aging reports, follow up on overdue accounts to minimise outstanding balances.

Payroll

• Process weekly and month payroll accurately and on time, including new starters, leavers and variable pay elements.
• Liaise with HR and line managers to ensure payroll data (hours, overtime, and deductions) is accurate and submitted on time.
• Respond to employee payroll queries in a timely and confidential manner.

Management Accounting

• Assist in the preparation of monthly management accounts, including accruals, prepayments and journal entries.
• Prepare balance sheet reconciliations and maintain supporting schedules.
• Support the budgeting and forecasting processes.
• Conduct variance analysis against budget and forecast, investigating and explaining discrepancies.
• Assist in producing monthly financial reports and KPI packs for internal stakeholders.
• Support cash flow forecasting and monitoring.
• Maintain and update the fixed asset register.
• Support the Finance Director with preparation of year-end statutory accounts, R&D submissions and liaison with external auditors.
• Provide ad hoc financial analysis and reporting is required.

General Finance Support

• Assist with any ad hoc tasks and contribute to ongoing process improvements.
• Update and maintain financial records within the accounting system.
• Contribute to internal audits and process documentation updates.

Person Specification

• AAT qualified (or part-qualfied), or actively studing towards CIMA/ACCA/ACA.
• Qualified by experience will also be considered for candidates with a strong finance/accounts background.

Experience

• Previous experience in an accounts assistant, financial assistant, junior MA or similar finance role.
• Experience assisting with month-end management accounts preparation is an advantage.
• Experience using Xero or similar cloud accounting software is desirable.
• Experience of payroll processing is desirable but not essential.

Skills & Attributes

• Strong Excel skills, including lookups and pivot tables.
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Well organised, with the ability to manage competing deadlines.
• Good communication skills, comfortable liaising with suppliers, customers and internal stakeholders.
• Proactive and eager to learn, with an interest in developing towards a broader management accounting role.
• A team player who is able to work independently and use own initiative.