Finance Assistant

Humber Recruitment are seeking a Finance Assistant for one of our valued clients based in Preston.

Role Purpose

To support the Finance Manager and wider commercial team by ensuring accurate financial administration, cost control, and reporting across all construction projects. The Finance Assistant plays a key role in managing accounts, processing payments, maintaining records, and assisting with project-based financial activities such as valuations, plant hire costs, labour reconciliation, fleet administration, and subcontract payments.

Key Responsibilities

1. Accounts Payable (Purchase Ledger)

• Process supplier invoices, ensuring accurate coding to projects, cost centres, and plant categories.
• Carry out 3-way matching: PO → Delivery Note → Invoice.
• Reconcile supplier statements monthly and resolve invoice or overcharge queries.
• Track plant hire invoices, off-hire dates, and ensure no over-hire or duplicate charges.
• Maintain frameworks for key suppliers and update rates for materials, plant, and fuel.

2. Accounts Receivable (Sales Ledger)

• Raise customer applications for payment, sales invoices, and credit notes.
• Support the Commercial/Contracts team with monthly valuations, tracking cumulative values, variations, and retention.
• Issue statements to customers and follow up on aged debt in line with credit control procedures.
• Assist in preparing supporting evidence for payment notices, reconciliations, and dispute resolution.

3. Payroll & Labour Cost Administration

• Collate weekly timesheets from site teams, supervisors, and powered-access operators.
• Verify hours, travel, holiday entitlement, and compliance with company allowances (e.g., mileage, commuting rules).
• Prepare payroll input sheets for internal or outsourced payroll services.
• Reconcile payroll costs to projects for accurate job costing.

4. Project Cost Control & Reporting

• Maintain live cost trackers for materials, labour, plant, fuel, subcontractors, and overhead allocations.
• Assist in preparing Cost Value Reconciliations (CVRs) and monthly management accounts.
• Track budgets against actual spend and forecast future costs.
• Support the Finance Manager and Commercial Manager with cost analysis and reporting.

5. Fleet, Plant & Asset Administration (Construction/scaffolding/powered access–specific)

• Maintain accurate records of company equipment, vehicles, MEWPs/MCWPs, scaffolding stock, and hired-in plant.
• Assist with depreciation schedules and asset registers.
• Track repairs, inspections, LOLER certificates, and insurance information.
• Support internal teams with cost recovery for damage, loss, or over-hire.

6. Subcontractor Management

• Process subcontractor invoices and applications.
• Verify rates, measure work done, and ensure compliance with contract terms.
• Maintain CIS (Construction Industry Scheme) records and prepare CIS returns.
• Ensure subcontractors have valid insurance and H&S documentation.

7. Bank, Cash & Financial Administration

• Perform daily and weekly bank reconciliations.
• Post payments, receipts, and journal entries accurately.
• Assist with petty cash, fuel card reconciliation, and corporate card logs.
• Support VAT returns and HMRC submissions.

8. Document Control & Compliance

• Maintain well-organised financial files for audit, insurance, and commercial reporting.
• Support compliance with ISO standards, internal policies, and external regulations (CIS, VAT, HMRC rules).
• Assist in preparing documents for auditors, insurers, and management reviews.

9. Systems & Data Administration

• Update accounting systems (Sage/Xero/COINS/RedSky/QuickBooks, etc.) with accurate data.
• Support the rollout of digital systems for timesheets, plant tracking, purchase orders, and payroll.
• Run reports and assist with dashboards for management.

10. General Finance & Office Support

• Provide administrative support to the Finance Manager and Directors as required.
• Support office processes, including filing, scanning, document distribution, and data entry.
• Handle internal and external queries professionally.

Key Skills & Competencies

• Strong numeracy and attention to detail.
• Good understanding of construction project processes (valuations, variations, plant hire, timesheets).
• Proficiency in Excel and finance software.
• Ability to work to deadlines, especially month-end and valuation cycles.
• Strong communication skills for dealing with suppliers, subcontractors, and site teams.
• Proactive problem-solving and willingness to learn.

Experience & Qualifications

Essential:

• Previous experience in a finance or accounts assistant role.
• Strong Excel skills (lookup formulas, pivot tables beneficial).
• Understanding of purchase ledger and sales ledger processes.

Desirable:

• Experience in construction, plant hire, scaffolding, or powered access industries.
• Knowledge of CIS, valuations, and CVR processes.
• Experience with Sage, Exchequer, Bright HR
• AAT Level 2–3 (or working towards).

To apply for the position, click the apply button below or at the top of the page and complete the form. For more information on the role, call our team on 01472 729768 and we will be happy to assist. You can visit our jobs page to see our full list of available vacancies.

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