Finance Assistant

About Tanpopo Japanese Food

Tanpopo Japanese Food is a reputable food manufacturing company situated in Feltham, England. With nearly 30 years of experience, the company produces fresh Japanese cuisine and has grown to be one of the UK's foremost Japanese food manufacturers. They supply premium products nationwide to supermarkets, food service businesses, and retailers. In addition, the group owns Kimiko, a small Japanese takeaway chain.

Job Overview

We are looking for a conscientious and organized Finance Assistant to join our accounts team on a full-time basis. Reporting directly to the Finance Manager and Managing Director, you will play a critical role in supporting accounting operations through various financial tasks. This position provides a valuable opportunity to enhance your accounting skills using SAGE accounting software and other company-specific tools within a growing business environment.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Process supplier invoices following prescribed financial protocols.
• Reconcile supplier statements and prepare monthly payment runs.
• Conduct bank and credit card reconciliations.
• Review, approve, and process staff expense claims in line with company policies.
• Enter invoices into the customer invoicing system.
• Manage parts of the debtor ledger including chasing overdue payments and issuing monthly statements to customers.
• Set up new customer accounts and coordinate with the Sales team to establish payment terms.
• Assist the Finance Manager with basic month-end closing tasks such as posting journal entries and managing accruals and prepayments.
• Investigate and resolve discrepancies communicated via the shared finance mailbox.
• File finance documents and maintain the vendor database.

Qualifications and Experience

• Either part-qualified or fully qualified with AAT Level 4 certification or possess equivalent experience.
• Solid comprehension of fundamental bookkeeping and accounting principles.
• Proficiency in financial software such as Sage, along with Microsoft Office and Outlook.
• Prior experience in Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, or a comparable finance-related role.
• Experience within the Food Industry is advantageous.
• Strong communication ability to engage effectively with various stakeholders.
• Exceptional attention to accuracy and detail.
• Capacity to work autonomously and manage multiple deadlines simultaneously.
• Highly organized with excellent time management capabilities.

Compensation and Working Conditions

The annual salary ranges from £32,000 to £35,000 depending on experience. This is a full-time, permanent role with a standard 40-hour workweek spread over five days, Monday to Friday. Working hours are from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, including a 30-minute unpaid break.