The posting
🌟 Position: Finance Assistant
📍 Location: Hybrid – London office and home working
💼 Type: Full-time or part-time
📅 Start Date: Immediate
💰 Salary: £28k to £35k
About Cooper Moss Rutland
Cooper Moss Rutland (CMR) is an independent, award-winning project controls consultancy supporting some of the UK's most complex construction and infrastructure programmes.
We provide specialist expertise across project controls, planning, cost, risk, change, reporting and data, working across rail, highways, aviation, defence, nuclear, energy and water.
We are a growing business with an ambitious outlook. Our culture is collaborative, entrepreneurial and focused on delivering high-quality work for our clients, while creating an environment where our people can develop and make a genuine impact.
The Role
We are looking for a Finance Assistant to take ownership of the day-to-day transactional finance processes across the business. We are open to full-time or part-time arrangements for the right person. The working pattern will be agreed with you, but must include the month-end window and overlap with the days the Finance Manager / Financial Controller is in.
This is a hands-on role focused on keeping the finance function running smoothly and ensuring that transactions are processed accurately, on time and with the appropriate supporting information.
A key part of the role will be working with colleagues across the business to ensure that timesheets, receipts, expenses and other information are submitted accurately and on time.
This is an ideal opportunity for someone with some finance experience, ready to take on real responsibility and work independently, who is organised, detail-focused and enjoys working in a role where getting the detail right really matters.
Key Responsibilities
Purchase Ledger
- Run the day-to-day purchase ledger, processing supplier invoices accurately and checking they are properly authorised and coded.
- Maintain accurate supplier records.
- Apply the correct VAT treatment when coding supplier and sales invoices, and escalate unusual items to the Finance Manager / Financial Controller, who owns VAT compliance and returns.
- Respond to supplier queries and resolve invoice discrepancies.
- Prepare information for supplier payment runs.
Sales Invoicing
- Raise accurate sales invoices in line with each client's billing arrangements, which vary considerably by client and by platform.
- Generate invoices from approved timesheet and project data, making sure timesheets are complete and approved first.
- Work with project and operational teams to resolve missing or incomplete information.
- Monitor uninvoiced work and follow up where necessary.
- Support credit control by chasing overdue client invoices and reporting the debtor position to the Finance Manager / Financial Controller.
Bank Reconciliations
- Complete regular bank and credit card reconciliations, matching transactions and investigating discrepancies.
- Identify and escalate unusual or unexplained transactions.
Expenses & Credit Cards
- Process employee expenses and company credit card transactions.
- Check expenses against company policy, review supporting receipts and ensure appropriate approval.
- Chase missing receipts and incomplete expense claims.
Timesheets & Finance Administration
- Monitor timesheet submissions and follow up with employees where information is missing or incomplete.
- Support the monthly timesheet close.
- Assist with month-end processes by ensuring transactional information is complete and up to date.
- Work under the direction of the Finance Manager / Financial Controller, who reviews your work and owns the month-end close, reporting and control environment.
What We're Looking For
Essential
- Previous experience in a finance, accounts or administration role.
- An understanding of basic accounting principles.
- Strong attention to detail and a high level of accuracy.
- Hands-on experience of at least one of purchase ledger, sales invoicing or bank reconciliations.
- Confident with Excel, and with an accounting system such as Xero.
- Good communication skills and the confidence to follow up with colleagues when information is missing.
- A proactive approach to resolving issues rather than simply highlighting them.
- Able to work independently on day-to-day processes, and to prioritise and batch queries for the Finance Manager / Financial Controller for the days they are in.
Desirable
- Experience processing expenses and company credit cards.
- Experience working with timesheet-based billing.
- AAT qualification or studying towards AAT, or an equivalent finance qualification.
- Experience working within a professional services, consultancy or construction/infrastructure environment.
The Person
We're looking for someone who is reliable, organised and detail-oriented.
You'll be someone who takes pride in keeping things accurate and up to date, and who doesn't mind getting into the detail. You'll also need to be comfortable chasing people when information is missing — whether that's an unsubmitted timesheet, a missing receipt or an incomplete expense claim.
You don't need to know everything on day one. What's important is that you're keen to learn, take ownership and build a strong foundation in finance.
What You'll Get at CMR
- The opportunity to join a growing and ambitious consultancy.
- A broad introduction to the different areas of transactional finance.
- Exposure to the wider commercial and operational side of the business.
- Opportunities to develop your accounting knowledge and professional qualifications.
- A flexible/hybrid working environment.
About You
Come and help build the finance function that supports the next stage of Cooper Moss Rutland's growth.
