Accounts Assistant

At the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET), we believe in the power of education to inspire and transform lives. We offer globally recognised qualifications in wines, spirits, sake, and beer, empowering over 140,000 learners every year in 70+ countries.

We're proud to be the world's leading provider of drinks education, supported by a global network of Approved Programme Providers and a team based across the UK, USA, China, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Australia.

We're currently looking for a dedicated and proactive Accounts Assistant to join our Finance Team in the UK. This is a key role supporting the day-to-day financial operations of our business and ensuring the accuracy and integrity of our Purchase Ledger. You'll be part of a collaborative, purpose-driven team at the heart of a dynamic, international organisation.

Principle duties and responsibilities:

• Ensure all purchase orders, invoices and expense claims are approved in line with the purchasing policy, are correctly coded and accurately recorded in finance system (NetSuite).
• Prepare and process payment runs, including electronic payments adhering to payment terms and company policies.
• Ensure claims on our expenses platform (currently Webexpenses) are exported and accounted for in NetSuite.
• Handle supplier queries and disputes in a timely and professional manner, resolving issues to maintain positive vendor relationships.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of supplier accounts, payments, and transactions.
• Assist in month-end and year-end closing procedures, including journal entries, accruals and prepayments related to purchases.
• Ensure compliance with relevant financial regulations and internal controls.
• Full ownership of the 'Accounts Payable' inbox.

Other Duties

• Balance sheet reconciliation for selected accounts
• Purchase Order and Expense platform training for non-finance colleagues
• Assisting with queries and reporting as required by management.
• Collaborate with other departments to streamline processes and improve efficiency in the purchase-to-pay cycle.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of policies and procedures related to purchase ledger activities.
• Assisting AR Team if required.
• Additional duties may be assigned based on the needs of the organisation.

Requirements for role

Essential

• Sound knowledge of accounting principles and practices.
• 3 - 4 years' experience with data input, accounts payable and administration.
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to interact professionally with internal and external stakeholders.
• Impeccable accuracy.
• Proficiency in accounting software and Microsoft Office applications, especially Excel.
• Commitment to maintaining confidentiality and integrity in handling financial information.
• Ability to prioritise a busy workload.
• Ability to build good working relationships.

Desirable:

• Experience in using NetSuite
• Experience of accounting in charity sector
• Experience of working with foreign subsidiaries and/or multi-site business.

UK Benefits

Annual Leave - 27 days pa + public holidays, increases with service; ability to buy/sell 5 days

Pension (Generous options available after three months)

Health insurance (after three months):

Vitality scheme - post probation - Access to virtual GP appointments, Rewards include Caffe Nero drinks, Cinema Tickets, Apple Watch, Cash Back on Waitrose shopping, 75% off at Champneys, 6 month subscription with HeadSpace, Discounted Weight Watchers membership and gyms, Smoking Cessation day worth £300 and half price health screens

Eye voucher scheme

Food and drink in the office

Nespresso coffee makers and a range of other drinks, fruit, cereals, soups

Season ticket & gym membership loan scheme

Group income protection scheme

EAP

24/7 confidential help and support from trained counsellors and advisors

Death in service

4x annual salary paid to nominees with associated bereavement support for family

Enhanced family friendly leave and pay

Celebration vouchers

Cycle2Work scheme

Discretionary bonus

Development - WSET's in-house training and qualifications in Wines, Spirits, Sake and Beer as well as other professional development opportunities

DISCLAIMER: This is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts, requirements or working conditions associated with the job. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned, at any time.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: £31,500.00 per year

Benefits:

• Additional leave
• Bereavement leave
• Canteen
• Childcare
• Company events
• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee discount
• Enhanced maternity leave
• Enhanced paternity leave
• Health & wellbeing programme
• Private medical insurance
• Sabbatical
• Sick pay
• Work from home

Application question(s):

• All offers and employment are subject to the successful completion of thorough background checks by an independent third party. Are you willing to complete a background check?
• What is your notice period?
• Why would you like to work for WSET?
• Trust & Integrity: describe a time when you witnessed a colleague acting inappropriately and how you handled it. What did you learn from this experience?
• Empowerment: how do you foster an environment that encourages others to share their ideas and to take initiative?*
• Inspiration: share an experience when you inspired a team or individual to achieve their full potential. What methods did you use and what was the outcome?*
• Dynamism: give an example of a time when you had to adapt quickly to a changing work environment or unexpected circumstances. How did you handle it?
• Inclusivity: how have you actively promoted diversity and inclusion in your previous workplace or community?
• Do you have experience in using Netsuite or any other accounting system?

Experience:

• data input, accounts payable and administration : 3 years (preferred)

Work authorisation:

• United Kingdom (preferred)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in London SE1 1YW