Finance Assistant

Based at the magnificent Hampton Court Palace, the Royal School of Needlework is a registered charity and the international centre of excellence for the art of hand embroidery. Our renowned Embroidery Studio creates stunning bespoke embroidery for fashion, art and royalty, as well as expertly restoring and conserving valuable and historical embroidered pieces. We also offer an online and onsite shop that stocks a full range of embroidery kits and merchandise.

We are recruiting for an experienced Finance Assistant, qualified to a minimum AAT Level 2 with experience in the charity sector, who will have responsibility for the RSN s accounting records. The Finance Assistant will perform day to day processing tasks for the sales and purchase ledgers, balance sheet reconciliations. Experience of Sage accounting package essential.

Primary purpose

To perform day-to-day processing tasks for the sales and purchase ledgers, and certain balance sheet reconciliations

Job responsibilities

• Receive, log and record all purchase invoices and post onto Sage.
• Maintain customer and supplier records in the sales and purchase. ledgers, including verifying details of new suppliers and changes of supplier bank details for existing suppliers.
• Set up fortnightly payment runs and generate and send remittances to suppliers.
• Create occasional sales invoices for various departments.
• Post all entries into banks and reconcile banks.
• Prepare monthly PayPal audit trail for website transactions. Code these and import to Sage.
• Create monthly PayPal import spreadsheet from data provided by the IT department. Adjust and correct as necessary and import to Sage.
• Create monthly Square import spreadsheet from data provided by the IT department. Adjust and correct as necessary and import to Sage.
• Code and post all Bookeo transactions into Sage.
• Check and post all credit card transactions onto Sage and ensure all relevant approvals done.
• Maintain the prepayments and accruals schedules and prepare nominal journals for prepayments and accruals as part of the monthly management accounts process.
• Prepare certain balance sheet reconciliations monthly for review by the Finance Manager
• Review and analysis of Sage VAT posting reports for incorporation into the quarterly VAT return
• Use of the GoCardless system to collect direct debit payments
• Provide holiday and absence cover for the Finance Officer for RSN Enterprises Ltd
• Participation in project work as required
• Any other activities as required such as assistance with year end audit.

Qualifications and experience required

• Minimum AAT level 2 qualification
• Experience of working in the charity sector and the relevant accounting and tax regulations applying to charities, including VAT.
• Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Excel
• Systems experience ideally Sage 50 but also experience of other systems interfacing with the main accounting system.

Personal Skills

• High level of numeracy and literacy
• Good analytical skills
• Ability to work on own initiative
• Good communication skills
• High level of attention to detail
• Efficient and fast paced worker

This is a full-time role for 35 hours per week, to be worked Monday to Friday based at Hampton Court Palace, with at least three days per week in the office. This is non-negotiable. Salary is £30,000-£32,000 depending on experience.

All applicants must have the right to work in the UK