Reconciliations Accounts Assistant

We’re First Central Insurance & Technology Group (First Central for short), an innovative, market-leading insurance company. We protect the things customers love so they can get on with what matters to them in life. 

Data drives us. It fuels our outstanding distribution, finance, technology and legal services. Our underwriting skills are built on data expertise; it creates the insights we need to give the right cover to the right customers at the right price. But, it’s the people inside and outside our business that power us. They make us stand out, help us succeed. We’re ambitious. We’re growing. We’ve won awards.  

We’re looking for a Reconciliation Accounts Assistant to join our team for a 12-month Fixed Term Contract. If you’re detail-oriented and enjoy keeping financial records in check, this could be the perfect role for you!

You'll perform key transactional reconciliation activities across our business and finance systems, ensuring that timely and accurate information is maintained in the financial ledgers. You’ll be responsible for upholding daily bookkeeping practices in line with our internal policies and procedures, guaranteeing that our financial information accurately reflects First Central's performance.

Living a commutable distance to our office in Haywards Heath, West Sussex is a must! But we do hybrid working, so you'll spend most of your time working from home, with a day or 2 a week in the office. But of course, it’s your choice - if you prefer to be in the office more - that's good with us too.  

We’d love to have you on the team if:

• you've got previous reconciliation experience in your toolkit and a whizz on excel spreadsheets!

• you've strong communication and analytical skills for process improvement

• you've got the AAT qualification or equivalent experience

What's involved:

• Perform key reconciliations daily/weekly across the bank accounts and finance/operating systems in the business

• Attend meetings across the organisation to ensure operational functions are aware of reconciliation issues and promote timing resolution and safeguarding against future issues

• Provide analysis of reconciling items showing monthly ageing and supporting business ownership for resolution

• Issue Monthly Sales Ledger invoices and ensure the Aged Debtors is monitored. Escalate any aging items

• Ensure proportionate reporting and oversight is supported for accounts receivable activities that are operated both within and outside of finance

• Identify and recommend process and system changes for first line control failures leading to unreconciling items being created

• Support in preparation of the Group’s audit by providing backups as requested, supporting the year-end audit process runs smoothly

• Adherence to the Group accounting policies and procedures

• Support activities in other finance teams as required

• Ensure second line financial reconciliation activities are both efficient and effective with FCG

• Ensure compliance with company and other relevant standards / regulations at all times. 

Experience, skills and knowledge

• AAT qualified or equivalent, or significant relevant equivalent experience

• Experience in running purchase or sales ledger within a shared services function

• Significant experience in bank and system reconciliations

• Significant experience in an accounting department including but not limited to double entry

• Proficient in Microsoft applications

• Experience in organisations of high growth and change

• A good level of oral and written communication skills, communicating effectively with managers, colleagues and external supplier

• Strong ability and preference in reconciliations of complex data and ability to summaries and present key findings

• Strong analytical skills and ability to drive process improvement, based upon analysis of data

• Work effectively under pressure and think clearly and logically in challenging situations

• Preferable industry knowledge of the financial services / regulated industry in the UK

• Awareness of internal and external fraud that is prevalent in finance departments and the financial services sector

Behaviours

• Results driven with a constant eye on the detail but understand the audience.

• Empathetic approach to leadership with an ability to get the best out of a wide range of stakeholders.

• A driven attitude to deliver controlled change and rapidly overcome obstacles.

• An agile approach to project management and able to rapidly react to changes in business priorities to take advantage of emerging business and customer opportunities.

If you're ready to make an impact in finance, we want to hear from you! Join our team and help us keep our financial operations running smoothly. Apply now and be part of something great!

What can we do for you?

People first. Always. We’re passionate about our colleagues and know the best people deserve an extraordinary working environment. We owe it to them so that’s what we offer. Our workplaces are energetic, inspirational, supportive. To get a taste of the advantages you’ll enjoy, take a look at all our perks in full here. 

Intrigued? Our Talent team can tell you everything you need to know about what we want and what we’re offering, so feel free to get in touch.