Assistant Financial Accountant (Practice) Location: Watford (Hybrid) Hours: 35 hours per week Working pattern:4 days in-office (TueFri), Mondays from home Leave:28 days holiday bank holidays Type: Full-time, Permanent ePeople is recruiting an Assistant Financial Accountant for a modern, client-focused accountancy practice in Watford. Youll prepare year-end accounts, be hands-on in Xero from day one, and work directly with business owners who value timely, accurate information. The role suits someone progressing through AAT/ACCA/ICAEW (part-qualified welcome) who wants structured learning, real responsibility, and a supportive team culture. What youll do Prepare year-end accounts for limited companies (and some sole traders/contractors), including working papers, trial balance, journals, accruals and prepayments. Own Xero day-to-day : bank reconciliation, account coding, data quality checks, app integrations and tidy ledgers ready for close. Support month-end routines and management reporting packs. Assist with VAT returns, CIS, and light payroll support as needed. Contribute to corporation tax and basic personal tax computations from final accounts. Face clients confidently : onboarding, systems set-ups, answering routine queries and explaining numbers clearly. Help refine internal checklists and processes; capture learnings to improve next month/next year. Requirements Must-haves Professional pathway: AAT, ACCA or ICAEW (qualified or part-qualified ). Xero experience is non-negotiable, your Xero knowledge will be tested at interview. Proven year-end accounts prep experience in practice. Comfortable dealing directly with £1m turnover clients Clear written and verbal communication. Strong Excel and sound grasp of double-entry and fundamental UK GAAP principles. Nice to have Experience with common Xero add-ons and data migrations. Exposure to VAT partial exemption/CIS nuances. Curiosity for automation and cleaner workflows. Benefits Hybrid : 4 days in office (TueFri), Mondays WFH. 35 hours/week with sensible rhythms around client peaks. 28 days holiday bank holidays. Study support and CPD aligned to your qualification route. Modern tools, a collaborative team and exposure to ambitious clients. Working style & culture Youll join a team that values fun, excellence, communication, being a team player, and certainty, doing what we say, when we say, for colleagues and clients. Expect a supportive, development-minded environment with clear expectations and open feedback.