Assistant Accountant

Position Overview

Role Title: Assistant Accountant

Department: Finance Department

Annual Salary: £30,000-£35,000 depending on experience

Hours of Work: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday (9 am to 5 pm)

Contract Type: Permanent

Reporting to: Head of Finance    

Location: London, Camden

About us 

The British Academy of Jewellery (BAJ) offers a wide range of higher and further education courses, as well as short and online courses across the UK. With subjects ranging from jewellery manufacturing to business and marketing, BAJ provides practical, career-focused teaching, supported by personalised guidance from our expert tutors.

Purpose of job 

We are seeking an enthusiastic Assistant Accountant to join our dynamic team. This role will provide essential coordination and support to our Finance Department, which also manages accounts for our sister companies – Free2Learn and The Koppel Project. You will assist the Head of Accounts and the external Accountant in maintaining accurate financial records and preparing interim and year-end accounts.

We are looking for a proactive individual eager to make a significant impact and be part of a growing, progressive, and exciting organisation. If you are confident, organised, easily adaptable to change,  and comfortable with a varied and broad range of work this could be the perfect role for you.

Key Areas of Responsibility

• Raise invoices for customers, import invoices from suppliers.
• Ensure that credit terms are met for both debtors and creditors.
• Assist with the preparation of payroll.
• Completing bank/petty cash reconciliations.
• Entering all finance related information into company’s accounting software (QuickBooks).
• Processing business/employees expenses.
• Managing day-to-day transactions.
• Assisting the finance department and senior accounting staff members with various tasks, including preparing budgets cash flow forecasts etc.
• Posting receipts.
• Completing financial reports on a regular basis and providing information to the finance team
• Check internal databases for accuracy
• Assist with preparation of budgeting.
• To ensure that all procedures outlined are completed accurately and within the deadlines set out by the Head of Accounts.
• Participate in quarterly and annual audits

Education and Experience

• Accounting and/or Finance Qualification (Essential)
• Administration or Related Field or Equivalent Work Experience. (Essential)
• QuickBooks or relevant accounting software experience highly essential.
• Experience in preparation of P&L and BS.

Knowledge /Skills

• Data Entry and Good Knowledge of MS Office
• Knowledge of basic bookkeeping procedures
• Highly proficient knowledge of MS Excel (formulas, v-lookups, macros, etc.).
• Familiar with payroll processing.
• Knowledge of Business Math, understanding the basic Accounting Principles.
• Ability to handle sensitive, confidential information
• Detail oriented and organised person.

Company Benefits

In addition to a competitive salary, you will also receive:

• Holidays allowance of 25 days in addition to the 8 UK bank holidays 
• Salary Sacrifice pension scheme

Disclosure and Barring Service Clearance (DBS check) 

Our Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment.  This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare: 

• All unspent convictions and conditional cautions  

• All spent convictions and adult cautions that are not protected (i.e. that are not filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020).  

A criminal record will only be taken into account where the conviction is relevant to the position being applied for, and will not necessarily block candidates from employment. Any decision will depend on the precise nature of the work and the circumstances and background to the offence.  

Equal Opportunities

British Academy of Jewellery is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to diversity and inclusion. We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual's unique contribution, enabling all of our employees to thrive and achieve their full potential. The Academy has a diverse workforce that is representative at all job levels.