Accounts Assistant

Herts SU are the Students’ Union for all of the students at the University of Hertfordshire. All departments work together to ensure the students 'Love Life at Herts’. Our Finance team play a core role in ensuring our finances are stable, so we can support all core student related activities.

Join our respected finance team as we seek a meticulous and proactive individual to fill the role of Assistant Accountant. You will work closely with the Finance Manager and Senior Finance and Payroll Assistant. This role plays a crucial part in our financial operations, assisting in the preparation of monthly management accounts, maintaining the fixed asset register and balance sheet controls. If you're detail-oriented, organized, and thrive in a fast-paced environment, we want to hear from you! Join us and contribute to our continued success.

This role is for 15 hours a week, the perfect role for someone looking to work part-time. We envisage you will work two full days (7.5 hours) a week or three days at 5 hours each.

Key role requirements:

• To assist in preparation of management accounts
• Responsible for fixed asset register and balance sheet controls

Main duties and responsibilities:

• Prepare and review monthly management accounts including accruals and prepayments. You will be expected to work more hours during accounts week and can work less hours the week after.
• Process intercompany & interdepartmental transfers, including depreciation/rent of assets raising sales invoice if required.
• Agree intercompany accounts.
• Analyse and calculate deferred income.
• Investigate budget variances.
• Review insurance and keep up to date.
• Review equipment contracts.
• Reconcile balance sheet controls monthly.
• Maintain fixed asset register and calculate depreciation.
• Be responsible for preparing accurate forecasts with department managers and budget for overheads.
• Prepare cost analysis monthly eg. RAG, SU Events, Entertainments & Marketing deferred income, summer ball.
• Prepare year-end audit schedules.
• Review equipment hire.
• Prepare ad hoc reports as required.
• Process takings from The Forum and investigate any discrepancies when required.
• To be trained in other duties in the Finance team ensuring cover across the board. This includes payroll, reconciliations, processing invoices and any other duties required.
• Assist the Finance Team to achieve the Month end deadlines and provide support to the whole team when required.

General:

• Assistance with coordination of the departments fresher’s/refreshers events as needed.
• Supporting the wider Unions activities and events during the fresher’s period including supporting the set-up/down of events and facilitating stalls and promotional stands.
• To develop and maintain contacts with colleagues within other Students’ Unions and relevant organisations, including site visits to other Students’ Unions.
• Being friendly and respectful of others in order to maintain a safe and considerate workplace in line with our values of being Helpful, Empowering, Representative, Transparent and Student-focused.
• To keep abreast of relevant national and local developments, changes in legislation, and good practice and attend conferences, training events and meetings as necessary.
• To have a flexible approach to work and to undertake any other reasonable duties which may be required.
• To aspire to the highest standards of customer care at all times and, in conjunction with other relevant Union staff, to identify and respond to customer needs.
• To respect the democratic structure of the Students’ Union at all times.
• To abide by Hertfordshire Students’ Union Memorandum and Articles of Association, and Union Policies and Procedures at all times.
• To work flexibly and efficiently and to promote a positive image of Hertfordshire Students’ Union at all times.
• To set high standards of integrity, punctuality, accuracy, politeness and professionalism by personal example.
• To be aware of the department’s impact on the environment and to work within the environmental policies of the Union and the University (where applicable).

In return for your time and commitment, we will give you-

• A vibrant place of work on campus. You can work from home one day a week.
• A matched 4% employee pension scheme.
• A starting package of 25 days of annual leave per year, rising to a maximum of 35 days. One additional day after each year of service, plus University closed days (approx. 4.5 days) and Bank Holidays.

A number of additional benefits. Highlights include: a flexible working policy, a significant onsite gym discount, a weekly wellbeing hour, an Employee Assistance Programme (which includes access to free telephone counselling) and a free membership to an employee discount app, which includes restaurant discounts, great price cinema tickets and many more discounts.

Interviews will take place in person at our offices on the 24th of June 2024.

Job Specification

Good general education, to A level or equivalent.

Experience of accountancy package, preferably Xero.

Experience of purchase and sales ledger and credit control.

Excellent Excel, Word and data base skills.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, ability to communicate at all levels.

Ability to deliver to strict deadlines.

Ability to maintain confidentiality at all times.

Qualified or part qualified AAT/ACCA/CIMA

Evidence of continuous commitment to career and personal development.

Commitment to Equal Opportunities and its importance to Students’ Unions.

Ability to deal with conflict or challenging situations with tact and sensitivity.

Ability to work with a wide range of people from different backgrounds and different cultures.

Appreciation of the culture and working arrangements within Students’ Unions.

Experience of using payroll systems, preferably Brightpay.

Good general education to Degree level or equivalent.