Shoosmiths
Accounts Assistant (12 Month FTC)
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The Role
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Accounts Assistant to join our Finance team on a 12-month fixed term contract.
Working as part of the Transactional team, you will provide efficient and accurate support across accounts payable, client matter disbursements, and supplier management processes. You will be responsible for ensuring invoices, expenses, supplier records, and disbursement transactions are processed accurately and in line with firm policies, while delivering excellent service to colleagues, legal advisers, and external suppliers.
This is an excellent opportunity for someone with previous finance or accounting experience to broaden their knowledge and develop new skills within a professional services environment. You will have excellent attention to detail, strong organisational skills, and the ability to manage a varied workload within demanding deadlines.
The Team
Our Finance team is dedicated to delivering an efficient, accurate, and professional service to both internal and external stakeholders. We support the firm's financial operations through the timely processing of transactions, strong financial controls, and a commitment to continuous improvement. Working collaboratively across the business, we play a key role in ensuring compliance, operational excellence, and exceptional service delivery.
Main Responsibilities
- To understand and ensure compliance with all firm policies, financial controls, and regulatory requirements relevant to the role.
- To maintain accurate financial records using SAP and ensure data integrity across all systems.
- To provide a professional and responsive service to internal and external stakeholders.
- To be approachable, flexible, and willing to learn new processes and responsibilities.
- To identify opportunities for process improvement and support the implementation of more efficient ways of working.
Key Areas
Accounts Payable
- Process supplier invoices accurately and in a timely manner.
- Review invoices to ensure appropriate approval, coding, and supporting documentation is in place.
- Resolve invoice, purchase order, and supplier payment queries.
- Assist with payment run preparation and associated controls.
- Monitor shared mailboxes and respond to supplier and colleague enquiries.
- Support month-end activities relating to accounts payable transactions.
- Reconcile supplier statements and investigate outstanding items.
Client Matter Disbursements
- Process client matter-related disbursements accurately and in accordance with firm procedures.
- Review and validate disbursement requests and supporting documentation.
- Ensure costs are correctly allocated to client matters and appropriate accounting records maintained.
- Investigate and resolve disbursement-related queries from legal advisers and support functions.
- Support the timely recovery of client-related costs through effective processing and control.
Supplier Management
- Maintain accurate supplier records within finance systems.
- Assist with reviewing and updating supplier information when required.
- Liaise with suppliers regarding account queries, payment status, and general administration.
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Financial Operations
- Assist with expense claim processing and associated financial controls.
- Maintenance of client exception rates.
- Support the wider General Accounts team during periods of high demand.
- Assist with reconciliations and routine financial control activities.
- Contribute to the maintenance of accurate accounting records and documentation.
- Support finance projects, process improvements, and system developments where required.
General Duties
- Work collaboratively with colleagues across the Finance teams to ensure service levels are maintained.
- Provide cover for other team members during periods of absence or annual leave.
- Assist other Finance teams when required.
- Ensure issues, risks, or process concerns are communicated promptly to management.
- Additional hours may occasionally be required during peak periods, including month-end and year-end activities.
- This list is not exhaustive, and duties may be varied from time to time in accordance with business requirements.
Skills And Qualifications
- Previous experience within an Accounts Payable, Finance Assistant, Accounts Assistant, or similar finance role.
- Experience working within a professional services environment would be advantageous.
- Excellent attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise competing workloads.
- Good level of IT literacy, including Microsoft Excel, Outlook, and finance systems.
- SAP knowledge is desirable.
- Strong numerical and analytical skills.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
- Positive attitude with a willingness to learn and develop.
- Reliable, flexible, and adaptable approach to work.
- Ability to work independently whilst also contributing positively to a wider team environment.
- Understanding of financial controls and compliance requirements would be advantageous.
The Firm
Shoosmiths is the law firm clients choose for excellent service, incisive thinking, and above all for our ability to focus on what matters. From offices across the UK and Brussels, we support some of the world’s most exciting and ambitious businesses; amazing clients making an impact. We empower our people to be their authentic selves and deliver together in supportive teams committed to excellence and innovation. The first top 50 law firm to achieve ‘Platinum Standard’ Investors in People, our values and culture are not just words on our website but are the heartbeat of the firm.
We have an outstanding benefits package to complement our competitive remuneration system. In addition to the competitive salaries, great working environment, and high-quality work, we believe that all staff should be rewarded for their commitment to the continued success of the firm through a comprehensive and flexible range of benefits.
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To discover more about our benefits, please visit: Benefits Package
Shoosmiths is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. Disability Confident is a government scheme designed to encourage employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long-term conditions. The Disability Confident scheme replaced the Two Ticks Positive about Disabled People scheme. We had been accredited as a two tick employer for many years - Disability Confident broadens and develops that original commitment, and demonstrates we have adopted a proactive approach to employing disabled people and developing their abilities.
As part of our accreditation, we commit to interviewing any applicants with a disability who meet the essential criteria for each vacancy. In some circumstances, we may only be able to interview those that best meet the essential criteria due to the volume of applications received.
Further information on the Disability Confident scheme is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/disability-confident-campaign
We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to and usable by everyone. If you have a disability or long-term condition and would like to receive information in a different way, or need us to make any adjustments, changes, or do anything differently during the recruitment process, please get in touch with the Talent Acquisition team on Experienced.Hire@shoosmiths.com. We can consider your needs and requirements, and how we can assist you to apply for our roles. For example, we can provide a copy of our application via email so that you can complete it using your own accessibility software.
Background Checks
Due to the nature of the work undertaken, confirmation of employment will be subject to a variety of checks which will be carried out once an offer of employment is accepted. These checks will include employment references covering the last 5 years, proof of ID, and proof of address covering the last 5 years. A personal vetting credit search will also be undertaken, which will only highlight insolvency or County Court Judgements. Should any adverse data show on the personal vetting search, any offer of employment made may be withdrawn. A terrorism check against data supplied by the Bank of England and a basic DBS check, previously known as a Criminal Records check, will also be carried out.
Equal Opportunities
Our approach to our people is underpinned by our approach to diversity, inclusion, and well-being. Our ambition is to build a diverse and ambitious workforce that reflects all backgrounds and talents, and a workplace that is supportive and inclusive, recognises and nurtures talent, and has a strong sense of community between colleagues.
This means that everyone who either applies to or works for the firm is treated equally, whatever their gender, age, ethnic origin, nationality, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, or religious beliefs.
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