Accounts Assistant
Isle of Man
Permanent
Our client seeks a motivated, proactive, and detail-oriented Accounts Assistant to join their small but dynamic finance team.
Role Profile: This role is integral to delivering high-quality accounting and financial administration services to a diverse portfolio of clients. The successful candidate will be responsible for cashiering functions, payroll processing, reconciliations, financial investigations, and VAT compliance across both UK and Isle of Man (IOM) jurisdictions. You will also act as the primary day-to-day contact for a key client, taking ownership of their financial administration matters and ensuring a consistently high standard of service delivery. To succeed in this role, you must be trustworthy, highly organised, and confident working independently, with strong bookkeeping knowledge and a solid understanding of UK and IOM tax frameworks.
Key Responsibilities
Client Relationship Management
- Acting as the main point of contact for principal clients
- Managing day-to-day financial queries and ensuring timely resolution
- Coordinating with internal accounting staff to deliver accurate and efficient service
- Building and maintaining a professional and trusted client relationship
Cashiering & Banking
- Processing supplier payments, client disbursements, and internal transfers
- Preparing and processing bank payments (including online banking platforms)
- Performing daily, weekly, and monthly bank reconciliations
- Monitoring bank balances and ensuring sufficient funds are maintained
- Investigating and resolving unreconciled items in a timely manner
Reconciliations & Financial Investigations
- Reconciling client accounts, control accounts, and suspense accounts
- Identifying discrepancies and conducting detailed investigations
- Liaising with banks, clients, and internal teams to resolve variances
- Maintaining clear audit trails and supporting documentation
- Assisting with periodic internal reviews and compliance checks
Payroll Administration
- Processing payroll for multiple clients in accordance with UK and IOM regulations
- Ensuring accurate calculation of salaries, deductions, statutory payments, and pension contributions
- Submitting payroll reports to relevant authorities
- Maintaining payroll records in compliance with data protection and statutory requirements
- Responding to payroll-related queries from clients and employees
VAT & Tax Compliance
- Preparing and submitting VAT returns in line with UK and Isle of Man VAT requirements (including standard, reduced, zero-rated and exempt supplies)
- Ensuring compliance with Making Tax Digital (MTD) requirements where applicable
- Reconciling VAT control accounts
- Assisting with corporate and personal tax data preparation
- Keeping up to date with changes in UK and IOM VAT legislation and guidance
General Accounting Support
- Recording and maintaining accurate financial transactions
- Assisting with month-end and year-end processes
- Supporting senior accountants with ad hoc financial reporting
- Responding efficiently to client and internal accounting queries
- Contributing to process improvements within the finance function
Key Skills & Experience
- Minimum of 5 years' experience in an accounting, bookkeeping, or finance administration role
- Practical experience in payroll processing (UK and/or IOM preferred)
- Strong working knowledge of UK and Isle of Man VAT regulations and tax compliance
- Experience preparing and submitting VAT returns
- Sound understanding of double-entry bookkeeping and reconciliation processes
- Experience investigating and resolving accounting discrepancies
- Proficiency in MS Excel
- Experience using accounting software (e.g., QuickBooks or similar platforms)
- Excellent attention to detail and high level of accuracy
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines
- Professional and confidential approach to handling financial data
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to work independently and as part of a small team
- Proactive and solutions-focused mindset
- Confidence in managing a key client relationship
