Finance Assistant

Overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Finance Assistant to join a thriving and growing team. This is a varied role which takes responsibility of the administration, processing and accounting for supplier management. This role also provides support to the Finance team in performing balance sheet reconciliations including Fixed Assets and prepayments as well as processing expenses, payroll administration and support for projects.

Introduction

We are looking for someone with extensive purchase ledger and reconciliations experience, familiarity with relevant accounting standards and exposure to accounting for investments. You should have the ability to work successfully as part of a small busy team and the communication skills to liaise well with all Cathedral colleagues including senior budget holders, and suppliers.   You should also be reliable and organised with the ability to prioritise work and meet strict deadlines whilst maintaining accuracy and confidentiality.

Main Responsibilities

• Process Cathedral purchase invoices, matching to appropriate purchase order and other documentation and distributing for authorisation.
• Receive authorised invoices and check and confirm appropriate coding / signatures and signatory limits before releasing authorised invoices on the system.
• Prepare the BACS payment run, ensuring suppliers are paid within credit terms and also with regard to the Cathedral’s cash position.
• Prepare Purchase Ledger Cheque payments, draw cheques, arrange signatures and distribution together with filing.
• Administer the authorised signatory register.
• Carry out month-end routines for ensuring the Aged Creditor balances are credible and complete and reconcile back to the control account.
• Maintain the Fixed Asset register ensuring that the capitalisation costs and depreciation rates are correct. Update and prepare journals as required.
• Take responsibility for updating the investment schedules from investment reports.
• Maintain and update prepayment schedule to conform to good practice and reconciles back to control account.
• Provide support to the Head of Financial Accounting towards year end work including setting up journals and schedules.
• Processing expenses and supporting with payroll administration and project work.
• Any other duties as may reasonably be required and that fall within the job.

The Ideal Candidate

We are looking for someone to:

• Have extensive purchase ledger experience in a busy finance team / accounting function;
• Have experience of reconciliations and familiarity with the relevant accounting standards;  
• Have some exposure to investments,  including accounting for transactions for an investment portfolio;
• Have the ability to work successfully as part of a small team;
• Be reliable, organised and methodical in their approach;
• Possess the ability to prioritise work and meet strict deadlines while maintaining accuracy;
• Have proven experience of working effectively with non-finance staff and contributing to wider organisational aims outside of the traditional finance remit;
• Possess good communication and inter-personal skills to liaise with colleagues across the Cathedral, including senior budget holders, and suppliers;
• Have experience of working in the charity sector;
• Have empathy with the aims and ethos of the Cathedral;
• Have the ability to keep information confidential, complying with departmental and Cathedral GDPR policies and procedures.

About us

St Paul’s draws together a very diverse set of activities, projections and aspirations.  It is the Cathedral of the Diocese of London and the seat of its Bishop, a national church and an international spiritual focus, a space for worship and holiness, a place of debate and challenge, an icon of resilience in the face of adversity, an architectural heritage centre, a partner in the City of London, and a commercial enterprise.  In addition to holding four services every day (five on Sundays), St Paul’s is open for sight-seeing six days a week, and in 2018 welcomed over 850,000 paying visitors. 

Our Mission Statement

St Paul’s Cathedral seeks to enable people in all their diversity to encounter the transforming presence of God in Jesus Christ.

Our Vision

• St Paul’s is seen primarily as a living Christian Church.
• We will be a centre for welcome, worship and learning, and though our care and imagination, will inspire successive generations to engage with the richness of the Christian faith and its heritage.
• Working with the Bishop and Diocese of London and the wider Church, we will be a spiritual focus for people across London, the nation and a broader international audience.
• Our work will promote dignity and justice for everyone.

Our Values

Welcoming – we all offer a warm inclusive welcome to everyone: our colleagues, volunteers and each one of our visitors.

Responsible –We are people of integrity, each responsible for part of the whole of the Cathedral’s work, looking after the Cathedral for the next generation.

Engaging – we seek to engage everyone in our mission, at the Cathedral, within London and across the World.   

Nourishing – As a community we work together in a learning environment, aiming for the highest possible standards in everything we do whilst acknowledging that we cannot do everything.