Finance Assistant

Job Title: Finance Assistant
Reporting to: HQ Finance Manager
Salary: £24,000 - £26,000
Hours: 37.5 per week
Principal Location: London, hybrid with a minimum of 3 days and moving to 4 days in the office per week.

Introduction to Street Child:

Street Child is one of the world's fastest-growing children's charities. In less than 15 years we have made a material impact on the lives of nearly a million children - but the desire, potential and need to go so much further, and to reach millions more children in need of safety and a quality education, is what motivates us every day. Strong finance functions underpin everything that we want to achieve as an organisation and this role is a vital part of this.

Part 1: Role Purpose:

This role is a great introduction to the world of charity finance as a key member of the busy HQ finance function. The role is primarily focused on HQ finances and will also work with colleagues across our global finance team. The role focuses on accounts payable and as the finance assistant develops in the role will offer the chance to work across a number of finance functions, including: treasury, accounts receivable, month end close, management accounting, supporting year end audit. This role provides a great opportunity to experience the full breadth of finance work in a charity across all functions in a varied and interesting role, learning quickly and making a real difference from day one.

Part 2: Key Responsibilities:

1) (60%) Accounts Payable

• Recording all approved supplier invoices, requisitions, staff expenses and other expenditure in the accounting system ensuring that they are all appropriately coded including the correct cost centre, GL code, projects and donor codes.
• Ensure that all supporting documentation for all transactions are uploaded into the finance system.
• Ensuring that all invoices for payment are appropriately approved by budget holder.
• Running short term cash flow forecasting and recommending bank account transfers including moving cash held in reserve into current access accounts. Looking for value for money in Foreign Currency transfers by choosing the best means of payment from available payment platforms.
• Ensure timely payment of all invoices by managing at least two payment runs a week and additional runs as required; setting up payments on online banking platforms and sending out requests for payment approvals to payment authorisers and verifying that all payments are fully approved by the deadline set.
• Once the payment is made, allocating the payment against the invoices in the Finance system and reviewing to ensure that all payments are allocated correctly.
• Reviewing staff expense claims to ensure that all supporting documentation is provided before payment.
• Supporting monthly staff credit card reconciliations to run the monthly statements.
• Monthly creditor account reconciliations to ensure correct allocation of payments to supplier accounts and validating any open account balances.
• Any other responsibilities relating to Accounts Payable.

2) (20%) Month end support and general support

• Complete bank reconciliations each month for all group bank accounts.
• Uploading monthly exchange rates to the Finance System
• Ensuring supporting information for transactions is correctly stored in electronic format on Teams such as bank statements, remittance advices, credit statements.
• Assist in preparation of internal reports.
• Assisting with compilation of information for Gift Aid returns.
• General support and assistance to the team including administrative duties and managing the office post.
• Other ad hoc support to the wider operations team as may be required.

3) (20%) Accounts Receivable

• Supporting with work on accounts receivable including accessing, downloading and saving in a systematic manner reports from donor portals, bank account and other sources.
• Analysing and coding income reports in Excel and uploading it to the Finance system on a timely basis, at least weekly.
• Maintaining details of cheques received and paying into the bank account.
• Issuing donor receipts.
• Raising donor invoices and requests for payments.
• Income and customer account reconciliations.
• Any other responsibilities relating to Accounts Receivable.

Part 3: Person Specification

Attributes / Essential / Desirable

Education / Qualifications

• 5 GCSE at Grade C or above including English and Maths
• Post-GCSE qualification such as A-Level or T-level or equivalent
• Good book-keeping knowledge
• Part qualified AAT
• Degree
• Experience and Knowledge
• Attributes / Essential / Desirable
• IT Literate with strong Excel skills
• Familiar with using Teams
• Experience of working in a similar role
• Experience of using a CRM would be an advantage
• Charity or third sector experience is not essential but ideal

Skills and Abilities

Attributes / Essential / Desirable

• Attention to detail
• Highly organised and self-motivated
• Flexible and able to manage multiple tasks at one time.
• Good written, verbal and presentation skills
• Shows initiative in identifying problems and posing solutions
• Persistence and tenacity

Other

Attributes / Essential / Desirable

• Pro-active communication style including keeping team-members informed and updated as necessary.
• Not afraid to ask for help!
• Work co-operatively and collaboratively with other departments and other external contacts
• Good Interpersonal skills