Assistant Accountant / Bookkeeper (Specializing in UK Accounts)

About the Role

The Assistant Accountant / Bookkeeper will oversee daily accounting tasks, credit management, and VAT return preparation for a UK-based, multi-entity e-commerce business group operating various brands across platforms like Shopify, Amazon, eBay, TikTok Shop, as well as wholesale B2B sales. The position demands a combination of high-volume automated transaction handling together with nuanced judgment-based financial activities such as VAT treatment analysis, reconciliation approvals, and intra-group account coordination. The postholder is expected to perform autonomously, apply professional judgment when treatment questions arise, and proactively highlight inconsistencies.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct bank reconciliations for group entities and process bank statement imports.
• Generate sales and purchase invoices and manage supplier and customer payments.
• Perform credit control duties including following up on outstanding customer balances, allocating incoming payments accurately, resolving account queries, and maintaining current aged debt records.
• Prepare and review VAT returns by reconciling VAT control accounts, making judgment calls on ambiguous VAT classifications, and detecting anomalies before submission.
• Undertake advanced tasks such as reviewing reconciliations for errors, allocating costs and nominal codes appropriately, managing intercompany reconciliations and transactions, and producing ad hoc financial reports.

Candidate Profile

Essential qualifications and experience include:

• At least three years' bookkeeping or accounting experience with a minimum of three years focused on UK company accounts.
• Practical knowledge of Xero and Sage accounting software.
• Deep understanding of charts of accounts, nominal codes, cost centres, and the ability to allocate entries correctly in unclear cases.
• Excellent attention to detail prioritizing accuracy.
• Familiarity with ERP/OMS systems such as OrderWise.
• Experience in invoicing, payment processing, credit control, bank reconciliation, and VAT preparation.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel capabilities including VLOOKUP, XLOOKUP, pivot tables, and SUMIFS.
• Relevant qualifications such as AAT Level 4, ACCA, or ATT, either completed or near completion.
• Competency in managing intercompany accounts among related entities.

Preferred skills include:

• Assisting with monthly financial closing processes.
• Familiarity with management information reporting.
• Academic background in commerce (B.Com or M.Com).

Personal attributes:

• Thorough self-review of work prior to submission.
• Proactive in questioning or flagging discrepancies without making assumptions.
• Proficient in written and spoken business English, capable of engaging with UK colleagues and clients directly.
• Trustworthy with sensitive financial data.
• Able to work independently and manage workload to meet deadlines.

Terms & Conditions

• Compensation: To be confirmed; flexible above entry-level rates for suitable candidates.
• Work hours: Standard working hours (details to be specified by employer).

This job description outlines current role expectations and may be updated as business requirements evolve.