Accounts Assistant

Our client is a Trading Company based in East London and is seeking an experienced Accounts Assistant. The Accounts Assistant will support the Finance department by managing daily financial transactions. The role takes direct ownership of the Sales Ledger, Credit Control, Weekly Payroll Processing, and Multi-Currency Operations. The Key Responsibilities: Sales Ledger & Credit Control • Raise and issue accurate sales invoices and credit notes to customers. • Allocate incoming customer payments against outstanding invoices daily. • Monitor aged debtors and proactively chase overdue balances via phone and email. • Resolve customer invoice queries efficiently to minimize payment delays. • Set up new customer accounts and perform credit checks. Payroll Processing • Collate weekly payroll data, including hours worked, overtime, bonuses, and unpaid leave. • Process end-to-end payroll accurately in compliance with current statutory legislation. • Manage employee benefits, pension contributions, and student loan deductions. • Generate and distribute payslips and submit timely returns to HMRC (e.g., RTI). • Address employee payroll queries in a confidential and professional manner. Foreign Exchange & Banking • Process daily multi-currency bank reconciliations (e.g., GBP, USD, EUR). • Execute foreign exchange hedging transactions with the bank • Execute and track international supplier payments using online banking platforms. • Monitor foreign exchange rate fluctuations to assist with optimal payment timing. • Manage petty cash and process staff expense claims and credit card expenses. • Prepare daily cash flow reports for management. Essential Skills & Qualifications Technical Skills • Experience: Minimum 2-3 years in a similar accounts assistant or ledger clerk role. • Software: Proficiency in accounting software and dedicated payroll systems. • Excel: Intermediate to advanced Microsoft Excel skills (VLOOKUPs, pivot tables, data manipulation). • Qualifications: AAT Level 3 or 4 qualification (or equivalent) is highly desirable but not essential. Soft Skills • Detail-Oriented: Exceptional accuracy when handling high-volume financial transactions. • Communication: Confident, professional communication style for credit control and internal payroll support. • Discretion: Strict adherence to data privacy regulations regarding sensitive payroll information. • Time Management: Ability to prioritize competing deadlines, particularly during payroll weeks and month-end.