Pay: £30,000.00-£35,000.00 per year

Job Description:

Location: South Manchester (M23)

Salary: £30,000 - £35,000 per year

Job Type: Full-time, Fixed Term Contract (12 Months - Maternity Cover)

Work Location: In person / On-site

About the Role

We are currently recruiting for an experienced Assistant Management Accountant / Accounts Payable Specialist to join an established, successful business based in South Manchester (M23) on a 12-month fixed-term contract to cover a maternity leave.

This is a hands-on, highly varied finance position with an approximate 50/50 split between high-volume Purchase Ledger processing and Assistant Management Accounting support. It is an ideal role for an experienced Finance Assistant or Assistant Accountant who enjoys balancing transactional accuracy with month-end reporting and analytical duties.

Key Responsibilities

Accounts Payable (50%)

• Processing high-volume supplier invoices and credit notes (coding, matching to purchase orders, and checking authorisation).
• Maintaining supplier accounts, performing statement reconciliations, and resolving discrepancies promptly.
• Preparing supplier payment runs and supporting schedules for approval.
• Monitoring aged creditors, assisting with month-end purchase ledger cut-offs, and calculating accruals.

Assistant Management Accounting (50%)

• Assisting with the monthly management accounts preparation to set deadlines.
• Preparing and posting journals, including accruals, prepayments, and month-end adjustments.
• Preparing and maintaining balance sheet reconciliations and investigating variances.
• Assisting with P&L variance analysis, VAT reconciliations, and year-end audit preparation.

Transactional Payroll Support

• Assisting with collating and checking basic payroll inputs (timesheets, overtime, absences) prior to processing.
• Supporting payroll-related reconciliations and routine queries.

What We Are Looking For

Essential:

• Proven experience in a Finance Assistant, Accounts Assistant, or Purchase Ledger role with substantial, hands-on Accounts Payable experience.
• Solid working knowledge of double-entry bookkeeping, journals, accruals, prepayments, and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Prior exposure to assisting with month-end reporting or management accounts preparation.
• Strong Excel skills and experience working with finance/ERP software.
• Excellent attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and the ability to work to tight month-end deadlines.

Desirable:

• AAT qualified or currently studying towards AAT / ACCA / CIMA (relevant practical experience is equally valued).
• Experience using Syspro ERP software is an advantage.
• Basic experience with payroll data collation/administration.