_{08th September, 2026}

Accounts Assistant
Location: Durham
Sector: Central Services
Salary: Up to £30,000

We are currently recruiting for an experienced Accounts Assistant to join the Finance function of an established construction and civil engineering contractor based in Durham.

This is a varied position within the Finance Department, supporting the day-to-day accounting and bookkeeping activities across multiple companies and entities within the business.

The successful candidate will be responsible for maintaining accurate financial records, processing transactions, completing reconciliations and supporting month-end reporting, VAT compliance and year-end audit requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date accounting records across multiple companies and entities.
• Prepare and post journals, including accruals, prepayments and intercompany transactions.
• Raise sales invoices and process customer receipts, ensuring payments are correctly allocated.
• Monitor outstanding customer balances and provide support with credit control activities.
• Complete bank reconciliations across multiple companies and investigate and resolve any discrepancies.
• Process receipts, payments and journals, including intercompany transactions at month-end.
• Reconcile balance sheet control accounts and investigate outstanding or unusual reconciling items.
• Assist with the preparation of monthly management information and ensure reporting deadlines are achieved.
• Investigate accounting discrepancies and take appropriate action to maintain the accuracy and integrity of financial records.
• Prepare information required for VAT returns and assist with wider VAT compliance activities.
• Ensure accounting records are maintained in accordance with company procedures, accounting standards and audit requirements.
• Maintain clear and complete audit trails and provide support during year-end audit and statutory reporting processes.

Qualifications

• AAT qualified or currently studying towards ACCA, CIMA or ACA.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Previous experience within a finance or accounting position, including involvement in month-end processes.
• Good knowledge of double-entry bookkeeping and fundamental accounting principles.
• Experience preparing journals, completing balance sheet reconciliations and supporting management accounts.
• Experience with bank reconciliations, VAT and intercompany accounting.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills, including formulas, lookups and pivot tables.
• Excellent attention to detail and a high level of accuracy.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.

Desirable Experience

• Previous experience within the construction, property development or housebuilding sector.
• Experience working with joint ventures or multiple legal entities.
• Experience using ERP or accounting systems such as COINS, Sage, Microsoft Dynamics or similar.
• Knowledge of CIS and construction-related VAT requirements.
• Experience supporting year-end audits and statutory reporting.

Personal Attributes We are looking for someone who is:

• Technically capable with a strong commitment to financial accuracy and high standards.
• Proactive and keen to identify opportunities to improve processes and ways of working.
• Collaborative and able to build positive working relationships across the wider business.

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