Accounts Assistant

Job Title: Accounts Assistant 

Company: Private Business, Commercial Agriculture 

Location: Swaffham 

Job Type: Full time, Permanent

Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 00 pm 

A long-standing established private business operating in the commercial agriculture sector is seeking a full time Accounts Assistant to join their team as an integral member of the business liaising daily with external clients and key internal stakeholders.

This is a wonderful opportunity to join a very well-respected rural business which really values their employees, recognises and rewards talent, and offers excellent progression and competitive salaries. 

The Accounts Assistant will have a strong background in accounting and financial administration to be accountable for a variety of financial tasks and daily reporting into the leadership team. The Account Assistant will be a key member of the front office team working in Reception alongside a Secretary and Office Manager. The Accounts Assistant will serve as first point of contact for any enquiries regarding the businesses’ commercial farm operations, residential properties, wine enterprise and general business matters. Therefore, excellent communication, presentation and a positive attitude are essential. The successful candidate will be organised, proactive and detailed orientated to ensure the smooth administrative running of a very busy office. 

Key Responsibilities: 

Financial Administration: 

• Bank reconciliation: Daily and monthly reconciliation of multiple bank accounts to ensure accuracy and resolve discrepancies
• VAT & Returns: Preparing and submitting quarterly VAT returns in compliance with HMRC regulations 
• Wine Returns: Calculating and submitting accurate wine duty returns and associated reports
• Invoicing: Processing purchase invoices (coding, matching to delivery notes, and posting to the ledger) and raising sales invoices in a timely manner. 
• Cash Flow & Budgeting: Assisting management with the preparation of annual budgets, monitoring cash flow forecast and producing financial 
• Payments: Preparing supplier payment runs and handing petty cash. 

Estate Fleet Management:

• Vehicle administration: Managing the administration for the Estate’s fleet of vehicles.
• Tax & MOT: Monitoring and renewing vehicle tax and scheduling MOTS to ensure all farm vehicles and company cars always remain roadworthy and legal.

Communication & Reception: 

• Acting as the first point of contact for the Estate, answering telephone calls and emails in a professional manner.
• Fielding enquiries related to 1) Properties: Taking calls from tenants regarding maintenance issues or rental enquiries. 2) Wine: Handling orders of general queries regarding the Estate Vineyard and wine sales. 3) General Estate Managers: Directing calls to the appropriate Farm Manager or Department Head.

General Estate Duties: 

• Record Keeping: Maintaining accurate records for livestock movements. 
• Property Administration: Assisting with the administration of tenancy agreements, rent reviews, and scheduling maintenance contractors.

Health & Safety Compliance:

• Acting as a key administration for the Estate Health & Safety protocols.
• Supporting in records of staff training certifications, risk assessments, and machinery inspections. 
• Ensuring contractors have relevant insurance and H&S documentation before commencing work on the Estate

Requirements:

• Proven experience in a similar bookkeeping, accounting, secretarial role with experience in agriculture or rural estate management being highly advantageous. 
• Strong financial literacy with experience in bank reconciliation and invoicing.
• Software proficiency: Experience using Landmark for the accounts, Gatekeeper for the crop recording is highly desirable, alongside proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel Word, Outlook)
• Excellent communication skills with a professional telephone manner. 
• Ability to work independently, prioritise tasks, and handle confidential information with discretion.
• A Practical, “can-do” attitude suitable for a busy rural estate environment. 

Flexibility to work the occasional Saturday to meet demand during busy seasons is absolutely essential. The ideal candidate will be dedicated and go above and beyond to support the team and wider business. They will take pride in being a part of this business and their individual contribution. 

Salary: 

• A competitive salary will be offered, commensurate with experience. The priority is finding the right person with the right skill set. There is a 5 stage interview process for this position.

 For more information or to apply, please contact Bridie - bridie@larstonerecruitment.com