Accountant - 12 month FTC

Department: Finance

Employment Type: Fixed Term Contract

Location: London, London, London, UK, Hybrid

Key Responsibilities

• Managing and supporting the accounts payable function, ensuring supplier invoices, expenses and corporate card transactions are accurately coded, approved and processed in line with Cifas policies. 
• Checking the monthly payroll information completing reconciliations, ensuring payroll is accurately processed working in collaboration with the People & Culture team to resolve payroll-related queries. 
• Providing support across management reporting, reconciliations, budget holder reporting and wider finance activities, helping to resolve queries and maintain accurate financial information. 
• Leading on the final implementation and embedding of new expenses and accounts payable systems, ensuring effective operation, user adoption and compliance with internal controls. 
• Supporting the rollout and effective use of purchase orders, helping to embed improved expenditure controls and compliance across the organisation. 
• Facilitating the transition from manual finance processes to more automated, system-led controls, improving efficiency while maintaining robust governance. 
• Providing additional support across accounts receivable and other finance processes during peak periods, audits, year-end activities and team absences. 
• Contribute to the continued development and integration of AccountsIQ and Dynamics, including testing, process improvements and reconciliation activities. 
• Maintain finance procedures and guidance, deliver training to managers and budget holders, and identify opportunities to streamline processes and maximise system functionality.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• GCSE English & Maths qualification at A-C grade, or equivalent qualification, essential.
• Fully qualified accountant through a recognised professional accountancy body, such as ACCA, CIMA, ACA or equivalent is essential, 1-2 years PQE.
• Evidence of continuing professional development and strong technical accounting knowledge, desirable.
• Proven hands-on experience across accounts payable, accounts receivable, purchase ledger, purchase orders and wider finance operations. 
• A strong understanding of financial controls, expenditure management, approval processes and policy compliance. 
• Experience using finance systems, including automated accounts payable and expenses platforms. 
• Proven experience supporting systems implementations, process improvements and embedding new ways of working. 
• Experience of payroll processing and checking, either working with an in-house payroll function or a third-party provider, including reconciliations and query resolution. 
• Excellent reconciliation skills with the ability to investigate discrepancies and maintain accurate financial records. 
• Exceptional organisation with excellent attention to detail, with the ability to manage competing priorities while maintaining confidentiality and delivering excellent stakeholder support. 
• A proactive and solutions-focused mindset, with strong Excel skills and a track record of improving processes, increasing automation and maximising the value of finance systems.

• Evidence of continuing professional development and strong technical accounting knowledge, desirable.
• Experience of working with Capture Expenses, Quadient for AP by Beanworks, AIQ, DX or similar finance / CRM systems.
• Experience of developing or improving finance policies, process notes, user guidance or training materials.
• Experience of supporting finance transformation, system integration or automation activity.

Benefits

• Remote working with approximately 2 days a month in the London office, although there will be a requirement to attend conventions, forums and events
• Generous annual leave, plus bank holidays 
• Private healthcare
• Excellent pension package through salary sacrifice
• Personal and professional growth
• Employee wellbeing – Wellbeing breaks, wellbeing hub access including exercise programmes, meditation guides, sleep stories and yoga.