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Graduate Accounts Assistant

Job description

About the Company

Our client is a leading manufacturing business based in Bradford, supplying high quality components. As part of their continued growth, they are seeking a motivated Graduate Accounts Assistant to join the finance team. This role is ideal for a recent graduate looking to build a solid foundation in accounting while gaining hands on experience in a fast paced industrial environment.

Role Overview

The Graduate Accounts Assistant will support the Finance Manager and wider accounts team in daily accounting operations, month end processes, and financial reporting. You will gain exposure to cost accounting, stock control, operational finance, and manufacturing performance analysis—key skills for a long term career in the sector.

This position includes full study support towards CIMA or ACCA, including exam fees, study materials, and paid study leave.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Assist with daily transaction processing across purchase ledger, sales ledger, and general ledger.

  • Reconcile supplier statements and support invoice query resolution.

  • Prepare customer invoices and support credit control processes.

  • Support the preparation of month end journals, including accruals and prepayments.

  • Assist with balance sheet reconciliations.

  • Produce basic financial reports and variance analysis.

  • Assist with costings, bill of materials (BOM) reviews, and standard cost calculations.

  • Support stock audits and inventory valuation activities.

  • Work closely with production teams to understand drivers of cost, waste, and efficiency.

  • Help identify and implement improvements to financial processes and controls.

  • Contribute to automation, reporting enhancements, and system updates.

Skills & Experience Required

Essential:

  • Degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business, or similar.

  • Strong numerical and analytical skills.

  • Proficient in Microsoft Excel (PivotTables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, basic formulas).

  • Excellent attention to detail and organisational skills.

  • Strong communication skills and ability to work across departments.

  • Genuine interest in pursuing a career in management accounting or financial operations.

Desirable:

  • Some experience from a placement year, part time role, or internship in finance (not essential).

  • Knowledge of ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, Sage, etc.).

  • Interest in manufacturing or the automotive industry.

Ideal Candidate Profile

You are ambitious, curious, eager to learn, and ready to take on responsibility early in your career. You enjoy solving problems, working with data, and partnering with operational teams to understand how the business runs. You are committed to professional qualification and looking to develop into a future management accountant or finance leader within the manufacturing sector

Sharp Consultancy is a finance and accountancy recruitment specialist assisting accounting and finance divisions of businesses in the Yorkshire and Derbyshire area. With over 30 years' experience we pride ourselves on sourcing excellent finance professionals across all divisions of an accounts function.

Candidates must be eligible to work in the UK full time without restriction. To apply please send your CV to the e-mail address stated, quoting our reference and specifying which website you saw this position advertised on. Due to the high volume of applications, we receive it is not always possible to respond to unsuccessful applicants. Therefore, if we have not responded to your application within seven days, please note that on this occasion your application has not been successful.