Assistant Accountant - Temp

Job Title: Assistant Accountant (Temp - Maternity Cover)
Location: Ledbury (Office-Based)
Hours: Monday to Friday, 37.5 hours per week (flexible to work around MD's direct reports)
Pay: £16.41 per hour

Role Summary

Our client is seeking an experienced and confident Assistant Accountant to join their Finance team on a temporary basis (6 months initial). The role will focus on credit control, accountancy, and process improvements across a high-volume operation, including handling up to 4,500 invoices per month and supporting e-commerce accounting. The successful candidate will support the CEO and Finance team with project management, stakeholder management, and system/process improvements.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage credit control, ensuring timely collections, accurate reporting of remittances, outstanding receivables, and VAT obligations.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with sales order processing teams and customers.
• Proactively collect debts via telephone and email using effective dunning procedures.
• Reconcile sales ledger monthly against customer payments and prepayments; minimise unallocated cash.
• Perform regular credit checks on new and existing customers, recommending credit limit adjustments as necessary.
• Authorise and issue credit notes in line with company policy.
• Manage inter-company invoicing and ensure timely reconciliation of trade sales and monthly recharges.
• Support e-commerce accounting, including allocation and reconciliation of online sales across multiple platforms.
• Identify and implement process improvements, including system enhancements and automation of reconciliations.
• Prepare accurate management reports on receivables, unallocated cash, KPIs, and support monthly cash forecasting.

KPIs to maintain:

• DSO < 55 days
• Receivables overdue >60D < £50,000
• Unallocated customer payments < £50,000
• Unidentified receipts < £1,000

Mandatory Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with all health and safety requirements.
• Perform duties in accordance with relevant quality standards and processes.

Essential Criteria

Qualifications:

• AAT fully qualified or part-qualified CIMA
• Strong MS Office / Excel skills for handling large data sets

Experience:

• Previous ERP system experience
• Implementing system changes and process improvements

Skills & Behaviours:

• Highly organised, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities
• Motivated team-player, able to work with staff at all levels
• Forward-thinking, embraces change, adapts to rapid business growth
• Confident, polite, and engaging telephone manner

Desirable Criteria

Experience:

• Previous experience in credit control
• Finance experience within a manufacturing business

Skills & Behaviours:

• Eager to learn, responsive to feedback, adaptable to changing requirements

This role is ideal for someone available immediately and comfortable with temporary assignments