Accounts Assistant

We’re the UK's largest ports operator with a network of 21 ports around Britain. We handle around one quarter of the UK's seaborne trade and contribute £7.5 billion to our economy every year.

It’s a story we’re proud of but it doesn’t end there. We’re transforming our business and embracing the future.

We offer a vast range of roles spanning the UK, all rooted in a culture that welcomes diversity, fosters talent, encourages internal movement and progression, and places safety as our number one priority.

The Role:  Accounts Assistant – Port Business Services (PBS)

Purpose:

Reporting to the Finance Manager, working alongside part-qualified and qualified accountants, the purpose of the role is to process, with support, accounting transactions within ABP’s Finance Shared Services (FSS) team in Port Business Services (PBS).

Scope: 

Support and assist in accounting and banking activities across the PBS Management Accounting team within Port Business Services (PBS).

Accountabilities:

1. Delivery of Services

• Involvement in the timeliness and accuracy of revenue accounting (including verification) to agreed standards within targeted timelines
• Contributing to the production of timely, relevant and accurate management and statutory accounts
• Ensure all documents are retained for control verification and to support internal and external audit reviews 

·      The Accounts Assistant will work within a bigger team, including some part-qualified and qualified Accountants and will be involved in the following activities to support the delivery of accounting services for ABP as required:

Ø  Process journals, including prepayments, accruals and intercompany transactions

Ø  Assisting with and involved with the month end close process, including revenue recognition, correct cost allocation, capex and maintenance spend, FX revaluation etc working with the team to deliver a quality and fully understood result within agreed month end deadlines

Ø  Prepare cash forecasts / monitor the inflow and outflow of cash, working with Head Office Treasury team to ensure the bank accounts are kept in funds

Ø  Process manual payments through online banking system and ensure they are recorded on the ledger in a timely manner

Ø  Understand how to perform and get involved in variance analysis

Ø  Understand how to perform balance sheet reconciliations, purpose of balance sheet recs and related follow up actions, retaining clear audit trail including bank, Havenstar, credit card, debtors, creditors etc

Ø  Involvement in Statutory Accounting and preparing tax/other required reporting

Ø  Maintain accurate accounting records and supporting documentation to reconciliations and financial transactions

Ø  Routine analysis, reporting and GL maintenance

Ø  Other Ad hoc tasks as required

  2.      Management and ongoing monitoring of service delivery

·       Contribute to preparation of Key Performance Indicator’s for the Management Accounting Team to monitor performance and service delivery levels, in order to improve PBS and individual performance

·       Review revenue, costs and capital related expenditure in line with expected volumes, most recent budget/plan to ensure that management accounting is accurate and in line with expectations or understanding when variances

3.      Continuous Improvement

·       Build relationships with key points of contact across Port Business Services and the regional Finance teams in order to maintain an understanding of the process context and identify/raise ideas or suggestions with regards to process improvement opportunities

·       Proactively suggest improvement ideas to drive continuous improvement, efficiency and internal controls in processes and practices

About you:

You will be a real team player, who is keen to get stuck into this exciting and fast-paced industry.  By nature, you will have a willingness to learn, the ability to self-manage workload and be pro-active, with support and guidance be able to work independently, focussing on accuracy and ability to identify and operate in a continuous improvement environment.

Experience/Qualifications

·       Starting/looking to study or studying AAT and/or first role in Management Accounting

·       Degree level qualification or equivalent

·       GCSE Maths and English Grades A*-C (or equivalent).

·      Good knowledge of Microsoft Office applications

·      Ability to forge strong working relationships with a diverse set of colleagues

·       Analytical and problem-solving skills

Competencies

·      Excellent numerical and written communication skills and attention to detail

·      Integrity and receptive to challenge, where appropriate

·      A professional approach to work

·      Great team player

Ideal

·      Experience of working in a shared service centre

·      Some understanding of respective end to end finance processes

·      SAP experience

·      Experience of the Ports Industry

Additional Information:

When joining ABP you will find an environment that is both welcoming and challenging. We reward our employees well and offer a generous remuneration package, employer pension, private health insurance and a range of other benefits.

Please note that ABP undertake random screening for substance abuse and operate a zero-tolerance policy. A medical will be required before starting this position also.

We are an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their background, which helps us to provide a diverse and inclusive working environment.

As part of our recruitment process, all successful candidates will be subject to pre-employment screening to Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). Please note your consent will be required and further information on this check can be found using the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels