Assistant Accountant - 12 month contract

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Assistant Accountant to join our client's team based in Henley, on a 12 month FTC covering maternity leave to start in June.

Reporting to the Head of Finance, the role focuses on month-end preparation, financial understanding and governance, alongside developing broader commercial awareness over time, including the considered use of automation and AI-enabled tools.

Our client offers hybrid working (3 days in the office, 2 from home) and the working hours are 9am - 5pm Mon to Fri. They also offer excellent benefits.

Key Responsibilities

Month-End Preparation & Financial Control

• Prepare month-end journals, schedules and supporting analysis to a review-ready standard
• Support the preparation of monthly management accounts, including variance analysis and commentary
• Assist with balance sheet reconciliations and follow-up actions arising from review
• Maintain visibility over deferred income and revenue recognition, ensuring appropriate treatment and a clear audit trail
• Lead preparation for the annual budgeting process, including P&L cost lines and revenue calculation

Financial Insight & Business Support

• Use financial and operational data to support understanding of business performance and emerging risks
• Provide analysis and insight to inform discussions across sales, delivery and operations
• Help translate financial information into clear, practical insight for non-finance stakeholders

Franchise Finance & Governance

• Act as the finance point of coordination for franchise-related financial activity
• Maintain the franchise tracker and support franchise reconciliations, flagging issues or risks for review
• Support franchise financial governance, due diligence and ongoing financial communications

Process, Systems & Improvement

• Lead the day-to-day maintenance and improvement of financial controls and documented processes, with guidance and oversight from the Head of Finance.
• Support the effective use of finance and reporting systems, helping ensure data is accurate, consistent and fit for purpose.
• Identify opportunities to improve data quality and efficiency, including through appropriate use of automation and AI-enabled approaches over time
• Support other members of the Finance team through day-to-day assistance, shared learning and contributing to the ongoing development of team capability

Skills, Experience & Qualifications

• Experience in an Assistant Accountant or similar finance role
• Exposure to month-end preparation and financial reporting
• Comfortable working with data and drawing out insight
• Ability to explain financial information clearly to non-finance stakeholders
• Strong attention to detail with a developing control mindset
• Confident using finance systems and spreadsheets
• AAT Level 3 / 4 or equivalent experience (desirable)

Please note that we will only contact those candidates that we assess as suitable for the positions we have currently available based on their experience, training, and skills. If we do not have anything suitable, we will not keep your CV for more than 30 days.

As an equal opportunity employer, Bucks and Berks Recruitment is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership. We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply.