Accounts Assistant - 3 month FTC

About Us We are one of the top three automotive retailers in the UK, proudly representing 32 manufacturer brands, selling a huge range of new and used vehicles from over 150 dealerships across the UK and Ireland. We believe our people are our greatest asset, and we’re committed to recognising the valuable contribution each person makes. That’s why we continue to invest in a leading rewards and benefits package designed to support your career, wellbeing, and life outside of work. Salary Up to £26,250 per annum depending on experience. Working Hours Monday to Friday 09:00 to 17:30 (37.5 hours) with an hour lunch. Contract Type Fixed Term Contract – 3 months FTC. Assistant Accountant Opportunity Great opportunity for experience as an Assistant Accountant. You can be based either at Colchester or Scotland. You will report to the Market Area Accountant. The MA Accountant will guide you with their knowledge and experience to allow you to develop your skills and establish a long successful career within the automotive industry. As part of your role, you will also have access to in‑house training. Responsibilities The role will require you to work to set procedures on daily, weekly and monthly cycles, working closely with the rest of the Accounts and Admin team and Line Managers as appropriate, carrying out weekly and monthly reconciliations to produce relevant management reports in line with group and brand standards. * Cashiering responsibilities and daily bank statement postings & reconciliations. * Processing PL invoices. * Review and reconcile debtors. * Assist with various monthly balance sheet reconciliations. * Assist the management teams by resolving any accounting queries. * Report discrepancies to the relevant departmental manager. * Liaise with managers on a regular basis, building strong relationships. Qualifications & Experience Ideally you will have had some exposure within a finance‑orientated role previously, coupled with strong Microsoft Excel skills & the ability to reconcile data efficiently. You should love attention to detail and bring this to life in maintaining accurate records and everything else in the world of your role. Skills Being organised will be second nature to you, and you will thrive working well under pressure, prioritising workload and showing initiative by improving any procedures where appropriate. You must be able to handle multiple demands of your time. Communication is key; you will showcase this through varying methods in this role while being discreet with sensitive information, protecting confidential material as a must. Core Benefits * Competitive salaries with structured pay scales and progression as you grow within the business. * Generous annual leave that increases with your length of service. * Enhanced family leave, including 6 months’ full pay for maternity and adoption leave, and 2 weeks’ full pay for paternity leave. * Access to Techscheme for discounted technology purchases with flexible payments. Health & Wellbeing * Eyecare vouchers to help cover vision care needs. * Smart Health – 24/7 access to GP services to support your mental and physical wellbeing. * Dental insurance for everyday dental care and unexpected treatments. * Optional critical illness cover for peace of mind during life’s most challenging moments. Financial Wellbeing * MyView PayNow – access a portion of your pay as you earn, with features to stream, save, and track your money through a user‑friendly app. * Free will‑writing services to help plan for the future. * Flexible life assurance options and partner life assurance for added protection. Leisure & Lifestyle * Discounted gym memberships to support an active lifestyle. * Travel insurance to help you explore with confidence. * Access to home and technology vouchers. * Beyond card and a wide range of exclusive retail and lifestyle discounts. Equal Opportunities Lookers and Charles Hurst are an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to a working environment that is free from discrimination, inclusive, and empowers our people to bring their whole self to work and reach their full potential. Additional Information If your application is successful, we will conduct relevant employment checks prior to you commencing employment with us. These will include verifying your recent employment, address, credit history and a standard criminal record check. For roles that require you to drive, a driving licence check will also be carried out. Please note, all offers of employment are made subject to a 6‑month probation period commencing from your start date. Privacy Notice We take our data protection responsibilities very seriously and are committed to upholding and respecting your privacy rights. Information about how we will process your data – including the types of data we collect, the purposes for which we use it, who we may share it with and how long we keep it – is set out in our privacy notice. It also includes information about your individual privacy rights. Please read our Privacy Notice so that you understand how we may collect and use your data. J-18808-Ljbffr