Payroll, Accounts and Bookkeeping Executive

Payroll, Accounts and Bookkeping Executive About Us

We are an established Chartered Accountancy practice-based Basildon. Our firm delivers high-quality financial, accounting, and advisory services to a diverse portfolio of local and regional clients, ranging from sole traders to large, limited companies. We pride ourselves on our client-focused approach, professional standards, and supportive team environment.

Job Purpose

We are seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Payroll, Accounts & Bookkeeping Executive to join our team. In this multi-faceted role, you will be responsible for managing end-to-end payroll processing, maintaining accurate financial records, and preparing accounts for a dedicated portfolio of clients. The ideal candidate will be highly organized, adept at multitasking, and possess excellent communication skills to build strong client relationships.

Key Responsibilities: Payroll Administration

• Process weekly, fortnightly, and monthly payrolls for clients.
• Calculate SSP, SMP, SPP, overtime, bonuses, and student loans.
• Manage workplace pension schemes and auto-enrolment compliance.
• Submit RTI returns and process P45s, P60s, and P11Ds.
• Resolve client and employee payroll queries efficiently.

Bookkeeping & VAT

• Maintain accurate digital records using Xero, QuickBooks, or Sage.
• Reconcile bank accounts, credit cards, and supplier statements.
• Process sales invoices, purchase invoices, and expense claims.
• Prepare and submit quarterly VAT returns under Making Tax Digital (MTD).
• Identify and correct bookkeeping anomalies.

Accounts Preparation

• Prepare financial accounts up to trial balance for review.
• Assist in preparing year-end accounts for sole traders and partnerships.
• Draft monthly or quarterly management accounts for specific clients.
• Collaborate with senior accountants to ensure compliance and accuracy.

Requirements and Qualifications

• Proven experience in a similar role within a UK public practice environment.
• Strong working knowledge of UK payroll legislation and HMRC regulations.
• Professional qualification (AAT Level 3/4, ICB, IAB) or qualified by experience.
• Proficiency in cloud accounting software (Xero, QuickBooks, Sage).
• Intermediate Excel skills (VLOOKUPs, pivot tables, data formatting).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary with annual performance reviews.
• Company pension scheme.
• Generous holiday allowance.
• Continued professional development and training support.
• Friendly, collaborative, and local working environment.

The Portfolio Group are acting on behalf of our client in recruiting for this position.