Assistant Accountant

Job Description

Department: Finance
Reporting to: Chief Accountant
Grade: 7
Salary: £41,359 per annum
Duration: 1 Year Fixed Term Contract
Base: Gravesend
Closing date: 23rd October 2023
Interview date: To be confirmed

Apply for this role here

Who we are:

The Port of London Authority is the statutory harbour authority for the tidal Thames and responsible for 95 miles of the River Thames from the Estuary to Teddington Lock in West London. We work to keep river users safe, protect and enhance the environment and promote the use of the river for trade and travel.

The Finance team of 12 people is responsible for the accounting function of 2 companies (PLA & ESL) and 4 pension funds. The team undertake all accounts payable and accounts receivable functions and produce management and statutory accounts for the 6 organisations.

The role:

To provide accurate and timely financial and management accounting information and services to support the Chief Accountant’s team. The majority of your time will be spent supporting the three qualified accountants. Experience in accounts payable would be desirable but is not necessary as training will be given.

Management & Statutory Accounting

• Examine recorded financial information and liaise with allocated department managers in order to assess and determine departmental prepayments, accruals and provisions.
• Prepare monthly management accounting information, analyse and report on variances between actual and budgeted results to enable the effective and timely monitoring of departmental financial performance.
• Liaise with and assist allocated departmental managers to obtain key statistical and financial information. Interpret, analyse, review and check accuracy and integrity, before input to the computerised accounting systems, for use as a basis for the construction of the annual budget.
• Support the team to produce annual accounts for all entities and liaise with external auditors to ensure unqualified audit opinions are achieved.
• Prepare monthly management accounting information, analyse and report on variances between actual and budgeted results to enable the effective and timely monitoring of departmental financial performance.
• Liaise with and assist allocated departmental managers to obtain key statistical and financial information. Interpret, analyse, review and check accuracy and integrity, before input to the computerised accounting systems, for use as a basis for the construction of the annual budget.
• Support the team to produce annual accounts for all entities and liaise with external auditors to ensure unqualified audit opinions are achieved.
• Prepare monthly PLA requisitions for Pensions schemes.
• Prepare information for use by tax advisors to prepare the tax returns.
• Support the team with VAT issues.
• Record capital expenditure projects and maintain a fixed asset register.
• Record all capital expenditure projects including maintenance of the EA Thames Barrier capital expenditure forward plan and stage payment recoveries.
• Achieve the timely production of any tax and statistical returns to comply with statutory legislation.

Accounts Payable Functions

• Operate effective Accounts Payable procedures to ensure the accuracy, timeliness and completeness of all payments compliant with UK, EU and other foreign VAT legislation, the CIS scheme, the Accounts Code Book, the Delegations of Authority, bank mandates, supplier credit terms and ISO procedures.
• Analyse invoices for all the many varied procurement types (orders, engineering orders, maintenance contracts, externals such as rates, utilities, payment vouchers, petty expense statements, etc) to ensure the correct coding, VAT treatment and compliance with the Delegations of Authority before input to the computerised system matching invoices against orders/GRN’s where appropriate.
• Process payments for all entities via BACS, CHAPS, IAT’s, cheque, credit card, cash and using online facilities in accordance with agreed mandates for both UK and foreign suppliers.
• Maintain and update the computerised supplier accounts to ensure accuracy of records.
• Prepare cash book records, reconcile with bank statements to ensure completeness and accuracy of recorded transactions and produce month end cash reports and interest accruals.
• Check on the daily level of surplus/deficit funds for each entity and take action as necessary. Determine the daily level of surplus funds for the group available for overnight or longer-term investment and liaise with Treasury Agents accordingly.
• Liaise with suppliers to resolve any disputes effectively and diplomatically including enforcement of the CIS scheme, maintaining working relationships and PLA’s reputation as an efficient, professional and credit worthy customer.
• Participation in future system developments with special regard to the payment of suppliers contributing to the provision of a more efficient end-to-end service.
• Monitor and reconcile the recording of financial information in the computerised accounting systems, to ensure accurate book keeping records are maintained.

What we are looking for:

A part qualified charted accountant (ACCA) who has several years’ experience of management and financial accounting. A good standard of numeracy and literacy is required as is the ability to communicate at all levels of management both internally and especially externally with auditors.

Benefits package:

• 28 days annual leave
• Medical Cash Plan (Westfield Health)
• Generous pension
• Onsite parking with electric charging
• Access to Occupational Health, Mindfulness, Counselling and Physiotherapy
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Access to MyGymDiscounts

For further information or if you would like to have an informal discussion about the position, please contact Angela Jeffrey, Chief Accountant on 01474 562229 or angela.jeffrey@pla.co.uk.