About the Company Our client is a leading independent sub-contract metal finishing specialist based in Harlow, serving the aerospace and precision engineering sectors. They pride themselves on technical excellence and high standards of performance. The Opportunity This is a fantastic opportunity for an aspiring finance professional to gain hands-on experience while earning a BSc (Hons) in Business and Accounting through a fully funded 3-year Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship. Reporting to the Financial Controller, you will take ownership of core transactional accounting and weekly payroll, playing a key role in keeping the financial engine of the business running smoothly. Key Responsibilities 1. Ledger Management (Sales & Purchase) • Manage the full Accounts Payable process, acting as the main contact for suppliers, processing invoices (manual and electronic), matching to purchase orders, and resolving discrepancies. • Raise and issue accurate customer invoices and proactively manage aged debt to maintain strong cash flow. • Perform regular supplier statement reconciliations and internal checks to ensure ledger accuracy. 2. General Ledger & Month-End Support • Complete daily bank postings and reconciliations across multiple accounts in Sage 50. • Assist with nominal ledger entries, accruals, and prepayments. • Support month-end close by preparing schedules and investigating transactional queries. 3. Weekly Payroll (Critical Function) • Coordinate end-to-end weekly payroll as the main liaison with the external payroll provider. • Extract and validate attendance data from the internal clocking system (hours, overtime, sickness, holidays). • Reconcile payroll data to ensure right-first-time accuracy before submission. • Review payroll reports, resolve discrepancies, authorise payslips, and prepare BACS payments. • Manually upload and schedule authorised payments via NatWest Autopay. Strict Weekly Deadlines: • Monday 08:30 – Submit validated payroll data to provider. • Monday 12:00 – Review and approve payroll outputs. • Monday 15:00 – Complete BACS upload (funds cleared by Wednesday). 4. Record Keeping & Compliance • Maintain accurate, secure records in line with UK GDPR and Data Protection legislation. • Ensure secure handling of payroll data, login credentials, and sensitive financial records. • Exercise discretion and professionalism when handling confidential information. 5. Systems & AI Integration • Operate across Sage 50, Excel, and manufacturing software to maintain data integrity. • Collaborate on AI pilot projects to streamline processes such as invoice data extraction and purchase-to-pay cycles. • Actively contribute ideas to modernise workflows and improve efficiency using technology. Key Skills & Attributes • Essential: Experience with Sage 50 Accounts. • Strong Microsoft Office skills and digital confidence across multiple systems. • Desirable: Basic understanding of UK payroll. • Analytical mindset with strong attention to detail. • Proactive, adaptable, and open to learning new systems and AI-driven processes. • High integrity and absolute confidentiality in handling sensitive information. • Commitment to balancing full-time work with degree-level study. Educational Opportunity • BSc (Hons) in Business and Accounting (Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship). • Fully funded through the Apprenticeship Levy – no student debt