At a Glance
- Tasks: Process financial transactions and ensure accuracy in financial records.
- Company: Join a supportive charity focused on community impact.
- Benefits: Gain valuable finance experience and work with a collaborative team.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace welcoming all backgrounds.
- Why this job: Make a real difference while developing your finance skills.
- Qualifications: Attention to detail and experience with financial transactions preferred.
The predicted salary is between 20700 - 25300 £ per year.
We’re looking for a highly accurate, reliable and detail-focused Finance Assistant to join our Finance Team. This is a role for someone who genuinely enjoys working with numbers, checking information and making sure everything balances. You’ll be processing a high volume of financial transactions, scrutinising data, reconciling accounts and investigating discrepancies, so accuracy and attention to detail are absolutely essential.
You’ll need to be comfortable working methodically and consistently, including completing tasks that can be repetitive but are critical to getting our finances right. If you’re the person who spots when a figure doesn’t look right, enjoys getting to the bottom of discrepancies and takes real pride in producing accurate work, we’d love to hear from you.
About the Role
You’ll play an important role in ensuring our financial information is complete, accurate and up to date. This will include processing and reconciling resident income across our finance and housing systems. You’ll need to carefully scrutinise information, identify discrepancies and investigate them until they are resolved.
You’ll work closely with colleagues across Finance, Housing and Support, while taking personal responsibility for the accuracy and quality of your own work. Your responsibilities will include:
- Processing resident rent and service charge payments accurately and on time
- Allocating and reconciling income across our finance and housing systems
- Scrutinising financial information and identifying errors, anomalies and discrepancies
- Investigating differences and following them through to resolution
- Completing regular cash and account reconciliations
- Raising accurate sales invoices for conferencing and other income
- Supporting credit control and monitoring outstanding balances
- Managing invoice workflows and responding to finance queries
- Maintaining complete and accurate financial records
- Checking data before it is processed or reported
- Supporting annual audit preparation and providing accurate supporting information
- Following established financial controls and processes
- Identifying opportunities to strengthen the accuracy and efficiency of our finance processes
About You
More than anything, we’re looking for someone who is accurate, dependable and conscientious. You’ll enjoy working with detailed financial information and won’t be tempted to rush through a task just to get it finished. You’ll check your work, question information that doesn’t look right and take responsibility for resolving issues. You’ll be someone we can rely on to complete important financial processes accurately and consistently.
Ideally, you’ll have:
- Experience processing financial transactions, ideally in a high-volume environment
- Excellent attention to detail and a strong commitment to accuracy
- Experience completing reconciliations and/or cash allocation
- Confidence scrutinising financial data and identifying discrepancies
- Strong numerical skills and the ability to investigate when figures do not reconcile
- Experience using accounting or finance systems
- Good Excel skills
- A methodical and organised approach to work
- The ability to follow financial processes and controls consistently
- The discipline to manage routine and repetitive tasks accurately
- The ability to prioritise your workload and meet deadlines
- A strong sense of personal responsibility and reliability
- Confidence asking questions when information does not look right
It would be an advantage if you also have:
- Experience using Xero
- Experience within housing, charity or social housing finance
- Experience using Inform Housing Management System or a similar system
- An understanding of resident accounts or rent accounting
Why Join Us?
You’ll be joining a supportive organisation where the quality of our Finance function really matters. You’ll have the opportunity to:
- Take ownership of important financial processes
- Develop your finance knowledge and experience
- Work with a supportive and collaborative team
- Help strengthen our financial systems and processes
- Make a genuine contribution to a purpose-driven organisation
Everyone is Welcome Here
At YMCA South Midlands, we believe everyone should feel they belong. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences and communities. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the people we serve and where everyone is treated with dignity, respect and fairness.
As a Christian charity, our faith inspires our values and our commitment to serving others. We welcome people of all faiths and none, and appointments are made on merit.
Reasonable Adjustments
We want every candidate to have the opportunity to perform at their best throughout our recruitment process. If you have a disability, long-term health condition or are neurodivergent and would benefit from any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know when you apply or contact us at any stage. We’ll be happy to discuss how we can support you.
Finance Assistant employer: YMCA South Midlands
YMCA South Midlands is an exceptional employer, dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive work culture that empowers employees to make a meaningful impact in the lives of local teens. With flexible working hours and a focus on personal and professional development, staff have the opportunity to enhance their youth work skills while contributing to a values-driven charity that plays a vital role in the Milton Keynes community.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Finance Assistant
✨Tap into Campus Networks
If you're still in uni, don’t forget to engage with your campus's career services and attend finance-related events. Banks often do presentations and recruitment drives on campus, so put yourself out there and make use of these opportunities to show off your passion for the field.
✨Get Certified
Consider pursuing relevant certifications like the CFA or ACCA while you’re job hunting. They not only beef up your CV but also connect you with professional bodies which can lead to networking opportunities and even job openings in banking and financial services.
✨Connect on Professional Platforms
Join finance-focused groups on platforms like LinkedIn and engage in discussions. This can really help you stand out from the crowd, allowing potential employers to see your knowledge and interest in industry trends. Plus, you might stumble upon job postings shared exclusively within the group.
✨Apply Directly and Be Proactive
Don’t shy away from reaching out directly to firms like YMCA South Midlands. Use their websites and apply through them, but also consider following up with a polite email to express your enthusiasm. Being proactive can make a huge difference in getting noticed in the competitive financial services sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Finance Assistant
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers!:In the banking and financial services world, quantifiable achievements are key. Make sure your CV highlights your grades in relevant subjects, any financial certifications you hold, and specific projects where you've delivered measurable results. Employers love to see how your skills translate into real-world success.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Role:When applying for a full-time position, your cover letter should make a direct connection between your experience and the job description. Don't just state your enthusiasm for finance—dive into how your background in banking or financial analysis sets you apart. Let your passion shine through while being specific about what you can bring to YMCA South Midlands.
Include Relevant Financial Software Experience:If you've worked with financial modelling tools or software like Excel, SAP, or specific analytical tools during your studies or internships, bring that up! Highlighting your proficiency can really make your application pop and show you're ready to hit the ground running in a full-time role.
Research and Reflect:Before hitting that 'apply' button on YMCA South Midlands's website, do a little digging. Look up their recent projects, values, and culture. Reflecting their ethos in your application can make a huge difference and show you’re genuinely interested in being part of the team!
How to prepare for a job interview at YMCA South Midlands
✨Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills
Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with YMCA South Midlands.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to tackle case studies that demonstrate your problem-solving skills in real-world banking scenarios. Familiarise yourself with the types of problems you might face—think risk assessments or investment evaluations—and be ready to articulate your thought process clearly.
✨Show Your Passion for Finance
Since this is a full-time position, employers at YMCA South Midlands will be keen to see your genuine interest in finance. Be prepared to discuss recent industry trends or news articles that excite you, showcasing your enthusiasm and engagement with the field.
✨Network with Industry Professionals
Before your interview, reach out to current or former YMCA South Midlands employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They'll offer unique insights into the company's culture and the interview process, which can give us a delightful edge in showcasing a good fit for the team.
