Finance Accounts Assistant

Job description

A hands-on finance role with a growing specialist care provider

Are you an experiencedAccounts Assistant, Finance Assistant, or Bookkeeperlooking for your next step somewhere you'll own real responsibility from day one, work across the full finance cycle, and have your AAT studies actively supported?

This is abroad, hands-on finance rolesitting at the heart of a fast-growing, CQC-registered care business. You will work directly with our Finance Manager and senior leadership, handling everything from sales and purchase ledgers to payroll, pensions, reconciliations, and supplier management usingXero and Sage.

If you're tired of being one cog in a large finance department doing the same narrow task every day, this role gives you exposure to thefull finance functionof a multi-site, multi-million-pound operating business.

About Unicare

Unicare Complex Care Specialist Ltd is a CQC-registered specialist care provider delivering high-quality supported living and complex care services to adults with autism, learning disabilities, mental health needs, and complex behaviours. Headquartered in Croydon, we operate across Sussex, Surrey, Berkshire, and South London and we are scaling.

Our finance function is the engine room of that growth. We are looking for an ambitious, detail-focused Finance & Accounts Assistant to take ownership of day-to-day finance operations and grow with the business.

What you'll be doing

Sales Ledger & Income

• Raising sales invoices to local authority commissioners and private clients (high volume, high accuracy)
• Managing the sales ledger end-to-end
• Allocating receipts, monitoring debtor accounts, and chasing overdue payments
• Producing aged debtor reports and flagging risk to the Finance Manager

Purchase Ledger & Supplier Management

• Processing purchase invoices and matching against POs and delivery notes
• Reconciling supplier statements monthly and resolving discrepancies directly with suppliers
• Preparing supplier payment runs for approval
• Handling supplier queries professionally and promptly

Bank & Reconciliations

• Daily bank reconciliations across multiple business accounts
• Petty cash management and reconciliation
• Credit card reconciliations and expense processing
• Investigating and clearing unreconciled items

Payroll & Pensions

• Supporting the running ofweekly payroll for support workersandmonthly payroll for office staff
• Processing starters, leavers, and payroll changes accurately and on time
• Calculating SSP, SMP, holiday pay, and overtime
• Submitting auto-enrolment pension contributions to our provider
• Handling HMRC RTI submissions and resolving payroll queries from staff

Month-End & Reporting

• Supporting month-end close: accruals, prepayments, journal entries
• Assisting with management accounts preparation
• Producing weekly and monthly finance reports for the Finance Manager and Directors
• Supporting year-end audit and external accountant queries

Compliance & Systems

• Maintaining accurate records inXero and Sage
• Supporting VAT return preparation
• Ensuring finance processes comply with internal controls and audit requirements
• Identifying process improvements and helping implement them

What we're looking for

Essential

• Minimum 12 years' experiencein an accounts assistant, finance assistant, bookkeeper, or similar finance role
• Practical, working experience ofXero, Sage, QuickBooks, or similar accounting software
• Confident withbank reconciliations, sales ledger, purchase ledger, and supplier statement reconciliations
• StrongExcelskills (VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, SUMIF, pivot tables)
• Excellent attention to detail and numerical accuracy
• Strong written and verbal communication confident handling supplier and customer queries
• Organised, self-managing, and able to hit deadlines without constant chasing
• Comfortable workingon-site in Croydon, Monday to Friday
• Right to work in the UK on a permanent basis without requiring sponsorship

Desirable

• AAT Level 2 completed, currently studying Level 3 or 4 (or equivalent QBE experience)
• Payroll experience running or supporting payroll cycles
• Auto-enrolment pension processingexperience
• Experience incare, healthcare, supported living, or other multi-site service business
• Exposure toVAT returnsandHMRC RTI submissions
• Experience handlinglocal authority invoicingor public sector billing

What you'll get in return

• £26,000 £28,000salary, reviewed annually and on AAT progression milestones
• Genuineexposure to the full finance function(not just one narrow task)
• A clearprogression pathtoward Senior Finance Assistant, Assistant Management Accountant, and Finance Manager
• 28 days annual leaveincluding bank holidays
• Workplace pension scheme
• Direct working relationship with the Finance Manager and senior leadership
• A friendly, professional team based at our modern Croydon head office
• The genuine satisfaction of working for a values-led business making a real difference to vulnerable people's lives

Who this role is NOT for

We are direct because it saves everyone's time:

• This isnot a remote or hybrid role you will be based in our Croydon office five days a week
• This isnotan entry-level or fully trainee role you should already know your way around a sales ledger and a bank reconciliation
• This isnota narrow, single-task role if you only want to process invoices and nothing else, this won't suit you
• We willnotbe sponsoring visas for this role

Who this role IS for

• AnAccounts AssistantorFinance Assistantwith 12+ years of solid experience, ready for broader responsibility
• Abookkeeperlooking to step into a more progressive, AAT-supported career path
• Apart-qualified AATstudier wanting funded study support and full finance exposure
• Someone who lives within a sensible commute of Croydon CR0
• Someone who takes ownership, communicates well, and wants to grow with a business that will invest in them

How to apply

ClickApply Nowand submit your CV along with a short covering note (a paragraph is fine) telling us:

1. Your current AAT progression (or QBE equivalent)
2. The accounting software you've used and at what depth
3. Why Unicare specifically

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to complete a short pre-screening questionnaire, followed by an interview at our Croydon head office, which may include a short practical exercise on Xero or Sage and a reconciliation task.

We review applications on a rolling basis and reserve the right to close the advert early if we receive a strong volume of applicants so please apply promptly.

Unicare Complex Care Specialist Ltd is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are committed to building a diverse, inclusive workforce.

Extra information

Status

Open

Education Level

Secondary School

Location

South Croydon

Type of Contract

Full-time jobs

Salary indication

£28,000 Per Month

Published at

22-05-2026

Profession type

Accountancy

Full UK/EU driving license preferred

No

Car Preferred

No

Must be eligible to work in the EU

No

Cover Letter Required

No

Languages

English