We’re 1st Central, a market-leading insurance company utilising smart data and technology at pace. Rapid growth has been based on giving our 1.4 million customers exactly what they want: great value insurance with an excellent service. And that’s the same for our colleagues too; we won Insurance Employer of the Year at the British Insurance Awards 2024 and our Glassdoor score is pretty mega too!
We’ve got an exciting opportunity to join our Finance team on a fixed-term contract until the end of 2025. As our Purchase Ledger Accounts Assistant, you’ll be helping us stay on top of payments, processing, and all things bookkeeping for our group’s payable ledgers and subsidiaries. You’ll be making sure everything lines up across our finance systems - keeping records accurate, up to date, and in line with internal policies. From managing the daily purchase ledger to handling key reconciliations, you’ll play an important part in keeping things running smoothly.
If you're someone who’s great with numbers, detail-obsessed, and enjoys making systems tick - this could be right up your street.
What you’ll bring to the role
* Great communication skills - you're confident chatting with managers, colleagues, and suppliers
Ledger and reconciliation experience - you’ve handled complex data before and know how to present it in a clear, simple way
Analytical mindset - you enjoy spotting patterns and using data to improve how things work
Strong time management - you know how to prioritise, stay focused under pressure, and stay calm when things get busy
We’re big fans of flexible working. You’ll need to be based near our Haywards Heath office in West Sussex, but you’ll mostly be working from home - with a trip into the office about once a week to catch up and collaborate with the team. Want to be in more often? That’s fine too - we’ll support whatever works best for you.
What's involved:
* Maintain the accounts payable in a timely fashion. Ensuring accurate recording and processing of transactions
* Ensure the prompt processing and payment of supplier invoices across the business
* Maintain the credit card programme and ensure prompt submission of credit card expenses monthly
* Facilities processing of colleagues’ expense, ensuring these align to the group’s policies and procedures
* Support a monthly reporting process for key accounts on the payable ledgers
* Handle supplier queries and disputes with appropriate business engagement in a timely and professional manner
* Assist the business with purchase order queries and ensure these are raised timely and accurately
* Support the reconciliation team with processing supplier payments and resolve unreconciled items promptly
* Attend meetings across the organisation to ensure operational functions are aware of purchase ledger issues and promote timing resolution and safeguarding against future issues
* Ensure proportionate reporting and oversight is supported for accounts payable activities that are operated both within and outside of finance
* Provide analysis of outstanding items showing monthly ageing and supporting business ownership for resolution, ensure SLAs are met
* Identify and recommend process and system changes for first line control failures leading to outstanding items being created
* Support in preparation of the Group’s audit by providing backups as requested, supporting the year-end audit process runs smoothly
* Adherence to the Group accounting policies and procedures
* Support activities in other finance teams as required
* Ensure compliance with company and other relevant standards / regulations at all times. Maintain department risk registers (as applicable), providing evidence and commentary for controls, updates for Mitigation Actions and maintaining control matrices and attestations.
Experience, knowledge and skills:
AAT qualified or equivalent, or significant relevant experience
Experience in purchase or sales ledger, ideally within a shared services function and a high-growth, fast-changing environment
Strong communication skills – able to work effectively with managers, colleagues, and external suppliers, both verbally and in writing
Skilled in reconciling complex data, with the ability to analyse, summarise, and clearly present key findings to stakeholders
Proficient in Microsoft applications and confident using data to drive process improvements
Able to manage pressure and think clearly and logically in challenging situations
Preferably, knowledge of the UK financial services or regulated industry, with an awareness of internal and external fraud risks in finance
Behaviours
Results-driven with strong attention to detail, while adapting communication to suit the audience
Collaborative and engaging, able to get the best out of a wide range of stakeholders
Proactive and resilient - driven to deliver change and overcome obstacles quickly
Agile and adaptable - able to pivot in response to shifting priorities and seize new opportunities
Sound like a good fit? If you’re ready to bring your finance skills to a collaborative and fast-moving team, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now and take the next step in your career with us!
What can we do for you?
People first. Always. We’re passionate about our colleagues and know the best people deserve an extraordinary working environment. We owe it to them so that’s what we offer. Our workplaces are energetic, inspirational, supportive. To get a taste of the advantages you’ll enjoy, take a look at all our perks in full here .
Intrigued? Our Talent team can tell you everything you need to know about what we want and what we’re offering, so feel free to get in touch.
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Your Time in Need: five days’ leave so you can deal with life stuff. We’ll support you
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