Finance Assistant

Salary – £25,000 – £28,000

Full time position – 37.5 hours per week

Channels & Choices is an award winning, dynamic company specialising in Therapeutic childcare services including residential care, Fostering and Education, based in Southeast Kent. OFSTED judge 100% of our services as ‘Good’ and ‘Outstanding’.

Channels and Choices specialise in working with children who have experienced trauma at an early age.  We create a secure base for all the children in our care and we focus on achieving seamless transitions so that children can achieve their full potential. Our main aim if for children to live successfully as part of a loving and nurturing family.

The post is for a full time permanent Finance Assistant, working 37.5 hours per week and is based at our Head Office at Kearsney Manor Kent. We offer a competitive salary range of £25,000 – £28,000 per annum. Further benefits include 36 days paid annual leave per year and a loyalty scheme which rewards you with extra annual leave following 2 years of service.

Additional Perks, Rewards and Benefits

• Private Optical, Dental and Audiological cover
• Private Medical care
• Loyalty scheme which rewards you with extra annual leave following 2 years of service, up to 5 extra days.
• Long service awards for 5-, 10- and 15-years’ service
• Regular team building days, parties, meals and more!
• Complimentary health and wellbeing support with our employee’s assistance programme
• Full Training Package 

Key responsibilities will include:

• Supporting the Finance Manager with the day-to-day accounting cycle, including maintaining both sales and purchase ledgers
• Performing key reconciliations such as bank reconciliations to include but not limited to petty cash.
• Raising sales invoices and credit control.
• Processing invoices on accounts payable, and paying suppliers
• Organising, Monitoring, and tracking company Purchase Orders.
• Preparing monthly payroll and preparing payroll reports.
• Balance sheet reconciliations
• Dealing with general finance queries
• General data entry using Xero and Sage
• Organising, negotiating and liaising with utility contracts to include but not limited to Gas, Electric and mobile phone contracts.

Key skills and attributes:

• Excellent working knowledge of Xero accounting software (or similar)
• Good understanding of Sage Payroll software.
• Highly organised with the ability to prioritise tasks and work under pressure.
• Advanced Excel skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills
• High attention to detail
• A problem-solving approach to work
• Able to handle sensitive and confidential information with honesty and integrity.
• Knowledge of key accounting principles.

Personal Qualities

• Polite and friendly manner with a can-do attitude
• Enthusiastic, flexible, and hard working
• Ability to work on own initiative.
• Reliable and punctual

Professional experience and qualifications:

• Good general education, GSCE Maths & English desirable
• At least three year’s previous experience in a similar role.
• AAT Level 2 or 3 (or qualified by experience).
• Experience using Sage or a similar payroll software.

Channels and Choices are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the young people in our care. Staff are all required to adhere to the organisation’s Safeguarding Policies and Procedures. This post will be subject to a clear Enhanced DBS Disclosure, an employment background check, satisfactory references & verification of a right to work in the UK. As part of our commitment to Safer Recruitment, CV’s cannot be considered without a completed application form.

Channels & Choices are committed to ensuring that we are always recruiting, retaining, and promoting a diverse mix of colleagues who are representative of the diversity in our local community. We actively celebrate our staff’s different abilities, sexual orientation, ethnicity, faith, and gender. Everyone is welcome to apply for a job with Channels & Choices and our staff are supported in their development at all stages in their journey with us.