Finance Assistant (Income) - Salford - Temporary - 3months - £17 to £20 per hour
We are seeking a highly organised and detail-focused Finance Assistant to join a busy Income team within a housing organisation on a 3-month temporary basis.
This role will support the effective operation of the finance function, with a particular focus on rent ledger management, income posting, and Housing Benefit processing. You will play a key role in ensuring income is accurately recorded and managed, while also providing cover across core finance functions when required.
Key Responsibilities
Identify and allocate rent ledger receipts from bank statements, separating Housing Benefit, tenant rent, and utility payments
Download and process remittance advices from Housing Benefit portals, ensuring accurate allocation across multiple tenant accounts
Manually post receipts to tenant accounts, investigating unidentified payments and resolving discrepancies
Process rent ledger adjustments, including tenant refunds
Support Income Officers in arrears management by raising invoices for shortfall amounts
Run weekly rent debit routines and upload transaction data into the Financial Management System (FMS)
Monitor and manage the Housing Benefit mailbox, responding to and actioning incoming queries
Provide cover for finance functions, including posting receipts and payments within the FMS
Liaise with internal departments to resolve income-related queries
Support reporting requirements, including budget monitoring, year-end audit, and statutory accounts processes
Maintain accurate filing and record-keeping systems (electronic and paper-based)
Handle incoming telephone enquiries relating to rent and income accounts
Maintain and update process documentation for key tasks
Work to agreed KPIs and performance targets within the income team
Ensure GDPR compliance in all correspondence and handling of customer data
Complete mandatory training and support continuous professional development
Provide ad hoc support to the wider income team as required
About You
Previous experience in a finance or income-focused role, ideally within housing or the public sector would be desirable
Strong understanding of rent accounting, Housing Benefit, and income reconciliation processes
Experience working with rent ledgers and Financial Management Systems (FMS)
Excellent attention to detail and problem-solving skills
Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage a high-volume workload
Confident communicator with the ability to liaise effectively across teams
Good working knowledge of Microsoft Excel