Our well-established, prestigious client based in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire are looking for an experienced Accounts Assistant to work within the legal sector.
The successful candidate will be supporting the Finance Manager in ensuring day-to-day compliance with the Solicitors Account Rules. This role will provide an overview of processes to maintain a high level of SAR compliance by the firm. Within this role you will be responsible for ensuring that the day-to-day financial activities carried out by the firm are accurate and timely and are consistent with the statutory requirements of a limited company.
The ideal candidate will have the relevant accounting experience and the willingness to be trained within the legal aspect.
This is a hybrid role – with expectancy to work in the office 2 x days a week.
Contract Type/Assignment duration: FTC (6 months)
Key duties & responsibilities skills:
- Perform weekly and monthly financial reconciliations.
- Perform VAT reconciliations.
- Maintain the company’s financial ledgers and daily financial transactions.
- Review and check documentation to identify discrepancies in the company’s ledgers and accounts (if any), tracking to source and correcting them.
- Monitoring payroll control accounts
- Verify payments and deposits made through the company bank accounts, and co-ordinate transactions with the bank.
- Produce daily/weekly/monthly management reports for the Leadership Team
- Collaborate with the finance team to perform various accounting tasks including SAR/GDPR/Lexcel requirements.
- Lead on review of the finance procedure compliance and ensuring procedures are up to date.
- Assist and support with internal and external audits in relation to the firm’s financial activities.
- Assist in various firm wide projects as a member of the project team or in terms of financial input.
- Assist the Practice Manager (Finance) with budget setting and monitoring.
- Provide support to the Practice Manager (Finance) and other managers within the firm as necessary to ensure the most effective provision of finance information in relation to the business.
- Where required, provide training to colleagues in the finance processes.
- Deputise for the Practice Manager (Finance) or the Finance Manager when required as a main point of contact for the finance team.
- Support the Leadership Team by complying with all Legal Services’ practice management requirements including billing, Lexcel and other accreditation schemes, and compliance with all policies and procedures.
- Support the Leadership team and other colleagues in contributing to the overall management of the team including staff performance, financial and practice management. This includes ensuring the effective use of the ICT systems and working in accordance with the standards set out in the team’s Lexcel manual and policies and procedures.
- Ensure that reasonable care is taken for the health and safety of the team, including compliance with health and safety policy and procedure and to maintain good employment relations within your team.
- Demonstrate awareness and understanding of equal opportunities, other people’s behavior and their physical, social and welfare needs.
- Carry out other duties which fall within the broad spirit, scope and purpose of the job description and which are commensurate with the grade of the post.
- To buddy, train and support colleagues.
Essential skills:
- Experience of working in an accounts team
- An ability to work autonomously and take responsibility for own work
- In depth knowledge of the Solicitors Accounts Rules (SAR)
- Knowledge of the annual financial cycle in a business context
- Training towards a AAT level 4
- GCSE grade C or above or equivalent in Maths and English
This job description reflects the major tasks to be carried out by the postholder and identifies a level of responsibility at which they will be required to work. In the interests of effective working, the major tasks may be reviewed from time to time to reflect changing needs and circumstances. Such reviews and any consequential changes will be carried out in consultation with the postholder.
If you are interested in applying for this role please click the link or call Rebecca Barrable via the main office line for more information.