Finance & Payroll Assistant in York

We are looking for a confident and proactive Finance & Payroll Assistant to join our collaborative finance team. This is a varied and responsible position within a supportive smaller organisation, offering valuable exposure across financial reporting, planning, payroll, and core finance operations.

Working closely with the Finance Manager, you will support reporting for two FCA-regulated legal entities, contribute to financial planning activities, and help ensure the efficient and accurate delivery of key finance processes. This opportunity is well suited to someone dependable and highly organised who takes pride in meeting deadlines, enjoys ownership of their work, and is motivated to continue developing as a well-rounded finance professional. You will play an important role within the team — not simply processing transactions, but acting as a trusted contributor to the finance function.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the Finance Manager to support financial reporting across two FCA-regulated entities, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
• Assist with month-end, quarterly, and year-end processes while maintaining strong financial controls.
• Support financial planning by preparing data, contributing to analysis, and helping monitor business performance.
• Maintain accurate financial records through journal postings and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Reconcile income streams and work-in-progress schedules, investigating and resolving discrepancies promptly.
• Collaborate with HR and our outsourced provider to ensure payroll is processed accurately and on schedule.
• Take ownership of core payroll processes, including the preparation and submission of payroll change data and journals, maintenance of holiday accruals, and completion of monthly reconciliations to Sage 200.
• Provide reliable support across transactional finance processes and wider reconciliations.
• Act as a professional and approachable contact for employee payroll queries, handling matters with discretion.
• Liaise with auditors and support compliance requirements.
• Offer day-to-day guidance and support to a finance apprentice.
• Proactively identify opportunities to streamline processes and enhance the effectiveness of the finance function.

About You

We are seeking someone who combines strong attention to detail with a proactive mindset — a professional who can be relied upon to deliver accurate work and consistently meet deadlines.

Desired Skills & Experience

• Payroll and accounting experience (AAT Level 4, or working towards it, preferred).
• Strong Excel capability, including Pivot Tables, SUMIF, and VLOOKUP.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to prioritise effectively.
• A high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Integrity and professionalism when handling confidential information.
• Confidence to take ownership of responsibilities.
• Clear communication skills and a collaborative approach.
• A dependable nature with a strong sense of accountability.

The Type of Person Who Thrives Here

• Naturally reliable and follows through on commitments.
• Comfortable being trusted with responsibility.
• Takes initiative and approaches tasks with a solutions-focused mindset.
• Enjoys broad exposure to finance rather than a narrow remit.
• Values working within a supportive, professional environment.

What You Can Expect

In a smaller team, every contribution has real impact. You will gain visibility, responsibility, and the opportunity to further develop your technical skills and grow while working alongside experienced professionals. If you are looking for a role where you can build expertise, earn trust, and make a meaningful contribution, we would love to hear from you.

Location: York Office
Start date: asap