We are seeking a talented individual to join the Peterborough office as an Accounts Assistant within our Accounts and Outsourcing Team. The successful candidate is expected to have at least two years' experience and be AAT qualified or part-qualified. They will be responsible for book-keeping and VAT returns for a dynamic client base as well as supporting on ad-hoc projects such as transition to a cloud accounting platform.
The Role
You'll work in a friendly and progressive environment on accounts preparation assignments, with exposure to clients from different industries. We guarantee an exciting and varied learning experience.
This is a client-facing, fast-paced role which includes advisory elements and often deals with high profile clients. You'll receive extensive coaching and always feel supported.
The work ranges from typical quarterly and year end compliance through to ad-hoc advisory and project work. The client base is a mix of sole traders, partnerships, limited companies, limited liability partnerships, trusts and smaller private charities.
You will:
- work with our expansive and varied client base, including a number of high-profile landed estates and large corporate clients and groups with turnover up to £500m
- prepare quarterly VAT returns and the associated book-keeping for a range of clients
- assist with the preparation of management accounts
- prepare annual Trust and charitable settlement accounts from client monies accounts and investment schedules
- be involved in ad- hoc advisory projects, such as cloud accounting support to clients, reporting for bank covenants and assisting client finance/family office teams
- assist with internal reporting on the accounts and outsourcing team's performance metrics
- build and maintain strong relationships with our clients, being a key client contact
- benefit from investment in coaching and developing you, with one-to-one support from the Manager and Partner team
The role provides the opportunity for someone who has commenced their career in the profession to join an organisation and team with a great work-life balance and a genuine interest and focus in you and your career. You will gain experience on large and complex clients in a fast-growing office, creating genuine opportunities for career progression.
The team and our values
You will be joining a growing team and will have regular check-ins with your Performance and Development Reviewer (Manager) to support you in your role and career. You will join a vibrant team of people who are studying towards their professional qualification or have qualified and are moving into the Assistant Manager role and can expect to work closely with the Managers and Partners.
All interactions and decisions we make as a team are underpinned by our values of collegiality, enthusiasm, integrity and excellence. We are looking to continue to develop a caring team with similar values to build on the excellent client service we strive to deliver within an enjoyable environment.
The working environment
The Peterborough office of Saffery is located easily off the A1, adjacent to Nene Park, offering an on-site gym, café, electric car charging and free parking. Our modern, light, airy offices have been designed to provide a working space which is conducive to team collaboration and agile working.
You
- The successful candidate will be AAT qualified or part-qualified, with prior experience in book-keeping and the use of Xero software.
- You should be motivated, organised, commercially minded and have a clear perception of good client service. In addition, you should possess good interpersonal skills, demonstrate initiative and be able to provide accurate work in a timely and cost-effective manner.
- You should display a flexible, professional approach, and have the confidence and ability to establish credibility with Partners and clients.
- Natural team player is essential, with a positive and enthusiastic attitude.
What we’ll offer you
Because you do the best job you can for our clients and your colleagues, we do everything we can for you. We provide a mixture of core and flexible benefits, all designed to save you money and make your life a little easier.
Core benefits
- Annual leave allowance, which increases in line with length of service,
- Support and study leave for relevant qualifications, including the completion of your AAT qualification,
- A 35-hour working week with flexibility around our core hours of 10am-4pm,
- A contributory pension plan (we’ll contribute 5% of salary on a matched basis with you from the date you join),
- Life assurance cover based on 4 x annual salary,
- Working from home allowance of £25 a month,
- Our Profit-Sharing Plan, enabling you to share in the firm’s profits (usually c.£1,000), and
- Paid overtime or time off in lieu.
Flexible benefits
- Our agile working policy gives you the option to work from home for up to three days per week,
- Access to health assessments and GP support, cancer screenings, and our BUPA health cash plan,
- Critical illness cover, dental, and travel insurance,
- We’ve got a Techscheme, Cyclescheme and a Gymflex scheme,
- A Workplace ISA,
- Paid travel expenses when working at offices other than your contracted office, and
- Generous referral bonuses if you help bring in new clients or colleagues.
We’re also committed to being a fully inclusive employer and have a huge focus on equality, diversity and inclusion (ED&I). When you start with us, you’ll have the opportunity to join a number of people network groups, as well as be a part of our growing ED&I network.
About us
Saffery is a partner-led and people-focused firm of chartered accountants, tax and business advisers. Since 1855, we’ve built long-term relationships with our diverse, high-profile clients, across varied and specialised sectors. As a proud member of Nexia, a worldwide network of trusted member firms, we’ve got access to local insight on a global scale.
We pride ourselves on our informal and inclusive culture, building an environment where people can be themselves and enjoy challenging, interesting, rewarding careers.
When you work with Saffery, the well-respected accountancy firm where heritage meets ambition, you work with people who know your name. Who know you as a human being, not just a job title. Everyone belongs here. Always.
Diversity & Inclusion
Equality, diversity and inclusion is a top priority for us. With our ED&I strategy, Everyone Belongs, we are building on our positive work culture and implementing initiatives to improve diversity and strengthen our equitable culture of inclusion, led from the top.
We hope you will apply to us, whatever your background, ethnicity, gender, age, sexuality, disability or neurodivergence, because individual differences equal collective strength. Built on values of excellence, integrity, enthusiasm and collegiality, Saffery is where Potential meets Personal.