Bookkeeper

Bookkeeper

Southend based SME

9am - 5pm Monday to Friday

Office based

Salary: Up to £40,000 per annum

Job Type: Full-time, Permanent however will consider reduced hours for the right candidate

Working Arrangement: Office-based

A growing and well-established family run business is looking for an experienced Finance Manager to take ownership of its day-to-day finance function.

The opportunity to work autonomously, Reporting directly to the Managing Director, this is a hands-on role covering the full range of transactional finance, financial reporting, cash flow management, credit control and month-end processes. You will play an important role in ensuring the business maintains strong financial controls, accurate reporting and effective cash management.

This would suit an experienced Accounts Manager, Finance Manager or strong Senior Accounts professional who is comfortable taking ownership of a busy finance function and working closely with senior management.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the day-to-day running of the finance function.
• Manage accounts payable, accounts receivable and general ledger activities.
• Monitor cash flow and provide regular updates to the Managing Director.
• Manage company bank accounts and credit cards, including regular reconciliations.
• Raise and process sales invoices, credits and one-off invoices.
• Monitor aged debtors and proactively manage outstanding payments.
• Issue statements, interest charges and overdue payment notices where appropriate.
• Manage the escalation of outstanding debts, including CCJ processes where required.
• Process and reconcile supplier invoices and subcontractor payments.
• Review supplier invoices, direct debits and other financial transactions for accuracy.
• Manage payroll journals, commission calculations and related finance information.
• Complete nominal ledger and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Prepare monthly Profit & Loss accounts and aged debtor/creditor reports.
• Produce monthly finance reports for the Board and Managing Director.
• Prepare monthly site-level Profit & Loss reporting and investigate variances with management.
• Monitor budgets and support monthly budget meetings with Account Managers.
• Manage VAT reporting and quarterly VAT submissions.
• Liaise with external accountants and HMRC regarding finance and tax queries.
• Support year-end processes, including accruals, depreciation and hire purchase interest.
• Assist with Corporation Tax information and year-end requirements.
• Ensure financial records and documentation are accurate, organised and up to date.
• Provide financial information and analysis to support business decisions.
• Identify opportunities to improve financial processes, controls and efficiencies.
• Provide guidance and support to colleagues where required.

Systems & Processes

The successful candidate will ideally be comfortable working with a range of finance and business systems. Experience with QuickBooks, Dext, HubSpot or similar systems would be advantageous.

You will also be expected to ensure that finance processes are followed consistently, records are maintained accurately and information is available to the wider business when required.

About You

We are looking for someone who is:

• Experienced across a broad range of finance and accounting duties.
• Comfortable taking ownership of a finance function.
• Confident with month-end processes, reconciliations and financial reporting.
• Experienced in credit control and cash flow management.
• Strong with Excel and finance systems.
• Commercially aware and able to understand how financial performance impacts the wider business.
• Highly organised, accurate and able to manage competing deadlines.
• Confident communicating with Directors, clients, suppliers, accountants and colleagues.
• Proactive in identifying issues and finding practical solutions.
• Comfortable working independently within an office-based environment.

A formal accountancy qualification is not essential, but you should have solid practical experience across the full finance function and be confident working at Finance Manager level.

The Opportunity

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced finance professional to take genuine ownership of the finance function within an established business.

You will work closely with the Managing Director and wider management team, providing accurate financial information, maintaining strong financial controls and helping to identify opportunities to improve the way the business operates.

Salary: £35,000 - £40,000 per annum

Full-time or 4 days per week | Permanent | Office-based