Finance Assistant / Bookkeeper (6-Month Contract - Maternity Cover) Location: North Yorkshire (Office Based) Contract: Initial 6 months, with potential extension Hours: 4 or 5 days per weekSalary: Equivalent to £28,000 per annum (pro-rata) Hays are supporting an established and growing SME business in North Yorkshire who are seeking an experienced Finance Assistant / Bookkeeper to join their team on an initial 6-month maternity cover contract. This role will be based fully on-site and offers the flexibility of working four or five days per week.This is a hands-on position ideal for someone who is confident managing day-to-day finance operations and enjoys playing a key role within a small, friendly team. Key Responsibilities Finance & Bookkeeping Daily bookkeeping using Sage Accounting / Sage 50 Raising customer invoices and managing the sales ledger Processing supplier invoices and maintaining the purchase ledger Aged debt management and conducting proactive credit control Preparing and submitting VAT returns Supporting the business with cashflow forecasting and monitoring Producing regular financial reports for management review Contributing to continuous improvement of finance processes Additional Duties Supporting general office and administrative tasks when needed Assisting with incoming calls and general enquiries Providing ad hoc support to colleagues across the business Key Requirements Previous experience in a similar finance or bookkeeping role Strong working knowledge of Sage / Sage 50 Experience preparing VAT returns and managing cashflow Confident handling both sales and purchase ledger processes Excellent organisation skills and strong attention to detail Personal Attributes Commercially aware with a proactive approach Process-driven with a mindset for continuous improvement Strong communication skills, especially when working with non-finance colleagues Able to work independently and take full ownership of assigned tasks Flexible, adaptable, and comfortable within a growing SME environment Why Join?This role offers the opportunity to contribute meaningfully within a supportive SME environment, where your input is valued and you can quickly make an impact. If you're a capable finance professional who enjoys variety and thrives in a close-knit team, please reach out. What you need to do now If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now. If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career. Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at hays.co.uk