Waterstones
Accounts Payable Specialist

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About the job
Accounts Assistant
6-month Fixed Term Contract
Based in our Solihull office with hybrid working (3 days in the office / 2 days at home)
We are looking for an Accounts Assistant to join our Property Accounts Payable team on a six-month fixed term contract here in our HO Finance team. The main purpose of the role will be to ensure the accurate and timely processing of property invoices and processing of staff expense claims. You will work with property stakeholders to manage invoice approvals and find resolutions to invoice queries. You will be the first point of contact for property suppliers whilst managing the property inbox and dealing with queries.
What you will be doing
- Logging, coding and inputting of property invoices for rent, service charge, insurance, rates and BID.
- Managing the insurance and service charge approval process with our third party and estates team.
- Managing of turnover rent approval process with financial accounting team.
- Processing of staff expenses claims ensuring approvals are in line with company policy and ensuring discrepancies are queried.
- Posting of direct debit payments from the cashbook.
- Chasing of VAT invoices for application of payment invoices and the processing of VAT journals.
- Setting up direct debits for rates.
- Monitoring of property and staff expenses inbox and prompt response to suppliers in relation to queries and escalating urgent queries to property manager.
- Allocation of payments to invoices paid.
- Assisting with allocations of the property rates ledger.
- Supporting property manager and property accountant with ad hoc duties.
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
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Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
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Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
What we need from you
- Working knowledge of an accounts payable environment, such as coding and inputting invoices would be ideal.
- Strong excel skills.
- Good telephone skills for both internal and external contacts.
Person Profile
- Systematic and methodical approach.
- Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy.
- Organised and able to manage workload.
- A proactive player, willing to use initiative.
- Ability to work as part of a busy team with a positive outlook.
- Good communicator and team player.
Why work for Waterstones
Waterstones is the cornerstone of bookselling across the UK and Ireland. Joining Waterstones means being an active part in a success story that began in 1982, and books are as popular now as the day we started.
Trading across the UK, Ireland and Europe, we are present in over 350 shopping locations, where Waterstones continues to thrive, each year actively pursuing a programme of new bookshop openings. Online at Waterstones.com, we meanwhile mirror the essence of our bookshops, further showcasing the unique enthusiasm and knowledge of our booksellers.


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If you have the relevant essential experience and you are interested, we would love to hear from you.
Waterstones is committed to encouraging equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and is dedicated toward eliminating unlawful discrimination. Our aim is to be truly representative of all sections of society and our customers, and for each employee to feel fully respected and to be able to give their best.
Diversity Statement
At Waterstones, we are committed to creating a workplace that is fair and inclusive to people from all backgrounds, perspectives and experiences, and we strive to promote an inclusive work culture. We are working hard to ensure our recruitment processes are free from bias, and our aim is to be truly representative of all sections of society and our customers, and for each employee to feel fully respected and able to give their best.
Reasonable Adjustments
We understand that some disabled applicants may, due to the nature of their disability, find some parts of the recruitment process challenging. If you need any reasonable adjustments during any part of the interview process, please make these known either to your interviewer or the person you liaise with when setting up your interview.
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