Finance Assistant in Bristol

Finance Assistant

40 hours per week

Monday – Friday 8.30am – 5pm (some flex may be accommodated on start and finish time)

Hybrid working: Typically, 3 days in office and 2 working from home

£25,000 - £28,000 per annum + Company performance bonus + Benefits

Permanent

Westerleigh Crematorium Head Office (Near Bristol)

Are you an experienced Finance Assistant with Accounts Receivable / Sales Ledger experience?

If so, we would love to hear from you!

We are the largest independent operator of crematoria in the UK, employing more than 450 empathetic and dedicated individuals and we are growing.

Like many of our employees, you might not have considered our industry before, however with ongoing business growth and a management team who will invest in you and your career, when you join us as a Finance Assistant, it’s an opportunity to become a part of something truly meaningful and significant.

The role

Due to a sideways move within the team, we now have an opportunity available within our Transactions Finance team for a Finance Assistant.

Working as a part of a diverse team of 6, you will specifically be responsible for Accounts receivable / Sales Ledger tasks. There is a high volume of receipts to manage day to day as well as working with people across all our different sites to problem solve and help with queries.

We have some newly implemented software within the last year including Oracle Netsuite and some internal systems, and continue our journey to make improvements within the Finance function to become best in class.

If you would like to join us on our journey, we can also offer you the opportunity for study support in a related field (e.g. AAT) should you be interested in developing your professional skills further.

Key responsibilities include:

• Allocation of all receipts received into our bank accounts via BACS, Faster Payments, cheques or cash, liaising with site staff and referring to remittance advices as appropriate.
• Assist with/provide cover for the allocation of receipts received via credit card payments.
• Liaise with site staff to resolve queries relating to receipts.
• Liaise with Site Managers to investigate and resolve invoice discrepancies.
• Contact Funeral Directors for remittance information if not provided.
• Review the existing processes and provide input into potential improvements.
• Ad hoc projects/analysis as and when required.

About you

• Previous experience working as a Finance Assistant / Sales Ledger / Financial Transactions Assistant / Accounts Receivable or in an Accounts Assistant role.
• Good IT skills with excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office. You will also be using Oracle Netsuite and some bespoke internal systems.
• Confident to deal with high volumes of receipts.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with a proactive approach to problem solving.
• Demonstrate a high level of attention to detail and accuracy.
• Must be able to maintain good working relationships with all parties, taking a sensitive approach when chasing outstanding monies.
• Able to work on own initiative and as part of a team.
• Good time management skills and the ability to be able to prioritise and work to set deadlines.

About Westerleigh

Westerleigh Group has been building and managing Crematoria for over 30 years and we care for over 60,000 cremations and burials every year. Our first site opened in 1992 in a village called Westerleigh, near to Bristol. We currently have 40 sites across England, Wales and Scotland with plans to continue growing responsibly.

We have established a reputation for creating beautifully landscaped, high quality and peaceful facilities where families can remember and celebrate the life of their loved ones. Our core objective is to deliver the highest possible standards of care in a way that is uniquely personal.

We play an active part in the local communities that we serve and in 2023 our sites have raised over £400,000 to support local charitable causes and projects.

Our letters to heaven post boxes continue to capture hearts and minds. An inspirational idea from the daughter of one of our colleagues.

What We Offer

If you would like to join the Westerleigh team, you can be sure of a warm welcome, ongoing training and development and a sense of pride by truly make a difference every day to the families we serve. No two days are the same and many of our Managers have progressed upwards within the business.

The values we champion are Safety First, Exceptional Care, Uniquely Personal and One Team.

In addition to salary, you will also be eligible for the following benefits:

• Company performance bonus
• 24 days holiday + 8 days bank holiday
• Access to a wide range of retail discounts and wellbeing support
• Life Assurance
• Ongoing learning & development
• Pension scheme
• Employee Assistance / Occupational health support Program
• Headspace: Mindfulness App
• Mental Health First Aiders
• Free Cremation benefit: Immediate family
• Bereavement Leave
• Enhanced maternity & paternity pay
• Recognition scheme
• Free Flu jab
• Employee discount at onsite café
• Snack boxes / fruit boxes on site
• Free parking

What next? Start a career with significance by applying today.

We reserve the right to close the application window sooner if a significant number of applications are received.

If you’re not contacted, please assume you have been unsuccessful. Unfortunately, feedback is not always possible due to the volume of applications we receive.