Assistant Financial Accountant

• Bristol Hybrid Fixed working – at least two days a week in the office with some working from home

Change lives in a life-changing career

When a child or young person is diagnosed with cancer, their whole world can feel like it’s falling apart. Independence is taken and confidence is stolen. Stability no longer exists. The future suddenly feels uncertain.

The impact of cancer on young lives is more than medical. And that impact can be felt by entire family. That’s why we exist. Our specialist social workers help children and young people with cancer and their families navigate the emotional and practical impact of cancer.

We remove barriers, solve problems and prioritise wellbeing. And we stop at nothing to make their voices heard and their unique needs understood, so they can get the right care and support at the right time

About the role

We're looking for an Assistant Financial Accountant to join the Finance team.

Last October, the Finance team successfully implemented a new Finance system (Microsoft Business Central). As part of this, we have been developing business improvement processes and links to other systems which this role will support.

This role will work closely with the Financial Accountant in delivering high-quality financial accounting, treasury management, financial controls and statutory compliance activities across the organisation.The post holder will take ownership of month end processes, including posting of routine journals and reconciliations of bank accounts and balance sheet accounts, working with other teams to investigate discrepancies.

The post holder will support cashflow and bank account management, preparation of complex VAT returns and year-end processes, including annual statutory accounts and audit requirements. They will also help maintain and develop finance systems and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives across the Finance function.

The role provides an excellent opportunity for someone looking to broaden their technical accounting experience while supporting the organisation's financial governance and control environment.

This role is subject to a criminal record check. In the event of a successful application a basic criminal record check will be completed.

What will I be doing?

No two days are the same at Young Lives vs Cancer. So, summarising your ‘day to day’ isn’t easy. Here are some of the main things you’ll be doing, but you’ll find more details in the job description.

• Support the month-end and year-end close process, ensuring financial information is accurate and timely.
• Prepare and reconcile balance sheet accounts, bank accounts and financial journals.
• Assist with cash management, treasury activities and cash flow forecasting.
• Support financial reporting, VAT compliance, statutory accounts preparation and external audits.
• Maintain accurate financial records and contribute to a strong financial control environment.
• Help improve finance systems, processes and ways of working across the team.
• Provide financial support and advice to colleagues, working collaboratively with stakeholders across the organisation.

What do I need?

Diverse perspectives and unique skillsets are at the heart of Young Lives vs Cancer. If you're passionate about making a positive impact and eager to learn, we encourage you to apply, even if you don't meet the criteria and person specification fully. Your potential is what matters most to us, and we’re committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment to help you develop.

The key skills we’re looking for in this role are:

• AAT qualified or part-qualified (ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent), or able to demonstrate relevant finance and accounting experience.
• Experience working in a finance environment, including month-end processes, journals, accruals, prepayments and account reconciliations.
• Good understanding of accounting principles, financial controls and governance, with the ability to identify and resolve discrepancies.
• Strong Excel skills and confidence using finance systems, with the ability to learn new systems quickly.
• Excellent attention to detail, organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills, with the confidence to work effectively with both finance and non-finance colleagues.
• A proactive, collaborative and customer-focused approach, with a willingness to learn, develop and contribute to continuous improvement.

What will I gain?

For people to reach their full potential, they need the right environment. As a member of Team Young Lives, you’ll be made to feel supported, valued and appreciated. Here’s how we do it:

• Flexible working: we’re open to working hours outside of 9 - 5 and we can talk through your flexibility requirements at interview stage
• Wellbeing, Thinking & Growth Days: four days a year to to step back from the day-to-day and focus on your own learning and development
• 27 days of annual leave plus Bank Holidays
• Generous paid and unpaid leave allowance

Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

At Young Lives vs Cancer, we recognise that opportunities for too many people remain a condition of their sex, ethnicity, class, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation – or a combination. This has never been acceptable to us as an organisation. We don’t just accept difference, we value it, celebrate it, nurture it and we thrive because of it.

We’re on a journey to be reflective of the diverse children, young people and families we support. We know we aren’t there yet, and we’re passionately committed to taking actions and making changes to be a truly diverse, inclusive and equitable organisation. This includes taking anti-oppressive action and removing barriers in our recruitment practices. We particularly welcome applications from members of minoritised communities. Our Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging strategy will tell you more.

To ensure fairness and consistency to select the best candidate for this role, all our applications are anonymised up until an interview has been confirmed. We recognise the benefits of AI, but if you're considering using it to submit your application, we encourage you to reflect on the value AI adds. AI tools often lack the personal touch and authenticity that set candidates apart. We want to hear your unique perspective, experiences, and skills, so we encourage you to tell us about your skills and experiences in your own voice.

Accessibility

We’re committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we’ll always aim to be as accommodating as possible. Please let us know in your application form of any adjustments or access requirements we could make to help you with the application process and interview.

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