Kent Association for the Blind (KAB) are recruiting for a Finance Assistant to join their team.
To apply, please download an application pack from our website at www.kab.org.uk/working-with-us/current-vacancies.html or call 01622 691357 for a postal pack. We will not accept CVs in application for this post without a completed application pack.
Kent Association for the Blind (KAB) is a charity that provides a comprehensive rehabilitation service to sight and hearing impaired people of all ages and abilities across Kent.
Hours of work: 35 hours per week
Based at: 72 College Road, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 6SJ
Salary: £18,707 – £20,671 per annum
The role of the Finance Assistant is to process, with a high degree of accuracy, all the day-to-day financial transactions for KAB onto the Sage system in line with KAB’s Finance Policy; to respond to day-to-day queries both from non-finance colleagues and external agencies; and to support the Head of Finance as required for information to be accurately reported.
The ideal candidate will have excellent IT skills, including the ability to be self-supporting in the use of MS Office, email and spreadsheets; strong interpersonal and communication skills (for dealing with colleagues, KAB service users, suppliers, and claimants); strong analytical skills and the ability to present financial information in a variety of ways appropriate to the intended recipient. At least 2 years’ experience of working in a finance department and with using accounts packages is essential.
Closing date for applications: 9am, Wednesday 7th March, 2018.
Interview date: Wednesday 21st March, 2018.
Job Description
Purpose of Job:
To process, with a high degree of accuracy, all the day-to-day financial transactions for KAB onto the Sage system in line with KAB’s Finance Policy. To respond to queries both from non-finance colleagues and external agencies, and to support the Head of Finance as required for information to be accurately reported.
Purchase Ledger – Key Responsibilities
Invoices, Volunteers expenses & Credit Notes
• Process all purchase invoices ensuring they are matched to relevant purchase orders, delivery notes, coded and authorised by the correct individual (c.35 per week).
• To agree all Purchase Orders to purchase invoices, ensure documentation is present and investigate and resolve discrepancies prior to payment.
• Follow up any discrepancies with invoices with the correct departments.
• Check and process any credit notes; allocate as necessary.
• Process all volunteer expenses (c.10 per week), ensuring that these have been correctly authorised, and arranging BACS details where possible to ensure prompt payment. Contact the claimant or correct department to resolve discrepancies as needed.
Payments
• Prepare one BACS run and one cheque run per week and make other ad-hoc urgent payments as required.
Statements
• Review all supplier statements ensuring KAB’s 30 day payment terms are adhered to (unless agreed otherwise), including requesting duplicate invoices where necessary.
Aged Creditors Lists
• Produce monthly aged creditors’ lists and take appropriate action to clear down outstanding items. Provide a report for the Head of Finance on a monthly basis.
Petty Cash
• Manage petty cash as required ensuring Finance Policy is adhered to.
• Reconcile petty cash at the end of each month for Head Office and local teams.
• Prepare inter account transfers to top up petty cash accounts held by teams.
Sales Ledger – Key Responsibilities:
Sales
• Ensure all sales invoices are correctly raised and posted to the accounting system. (c.10 per week).
• Check and process all batches of invoices generated from KAB’s Guide Communicator database on a monthly basis (about 90 invoices).
• Produce a monthly aged debtor’s lists and chase all debtors over set limits by telephone and by letter and send out statements. Liaise with other departments to recover debts as appropriate.
• Produce month-end aged debtors lists with commentary, for review with the Head of Finance.
• Check and produce credit notes where required.
Banking – Key Responsibilities:
Receipts
• Process all credit card payments on a daily basis (c.2 per day).
• Check and process all receipts including cheques, cash and BACS items to the accounting system on a weekly basis.
• Allocate payments to relevant invoices.
• Process any Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) or charity trust vouchers received.
• Ensure that at least one banking is performed each week of all funds received in Finance.
Reconciliations
• Perform bank reconciliations on a weekly basis, including processing direct debit payments, banking undertaken by fundraising teams and teams in other offices, and income received directly into the bank account.
• Investigate any discrepancies.
General
• Be administratively self-supporting, including processing incoming departmental post, and filing.
• Answer phone queries from other staff and members of the public about finance issues.
• Have a good understanding of the Finance Policy and support and advise staff on all matters relating to income and expenditure and financial procedures as required.
• As requested by the Head of Finance perform monthly control account reconciliations of balance sheet accounts including net wages, staff loans, pensions and prepare monthly accruals and prepayments.
• Process social club transactions for KAB clubs whose funds we hold, and maintain a record of outstanding balances.
• Assist in the preparation of sections of the year-end financial statements and supporting audit file as required. Assist with the on-site audit.
• Liaise with banks, support companies and others where necessary to resolve problems.
• Visit each office on a quarterly basis to undertake internal audit checks on petty cash, receipt books and orders.
• Perform any other duties commensurate with this position or as directed by Head of Finance or CEO.
This job description is not exhaustive, but is provided to assist the post-holder to know what her/his main duties are. It may be amended from time to time without change to the levels of responsibility appropriate to the grade of the post and in discussion with the post-holder.
Person Specification
Essential Criteria
• At least 2 years experience of working in a finance department.
• Excellent IT skills, including the ability to be self-supporting in the use of MS Office, email and spreadsheets.
• Strong analytical skills, and the ability to present financial information in a variety of ways appropriate to the intended recipient.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills (for dealing with colleagues, KAB service users, suppliers, and claimants).
• A proactive attitude to dealing with problems, and being self-motivated to deliver the requirements of the role with limited supervision.
• Excellent accuracy and attention to detail.
• A good pass at O Level/GCSE Mathematics and English Language or equivalent.
• Excellent prioritisation skills and the ability to complete a wide variety of tasks in agreed timescales.
• An ability to understand and follow agreed procedures and the confidence to highlight problems.
• A commitment to own professional development and a willingness to undertake training.
• Willingness to work as part of team.
• Empathy with KAB’s aims and values.
• An understanding of own abilities and responsibilities and when it is appropriate to seek support and advice from colleagues.
Desirable criteria
• Skills in using Sage Accounting system or other finance software package.
• Hold (or be working towards) a recognised book-keeping qualification.
KAB is an equal opportunities employer.

To apply, please download an application pack from our website at www.kab.org.uk/working-with-us/current-vacancies.html or call 01622 691357 for a postal pack. We will not accept CVs in application for this post without a completed application pack.