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⚡ Source: ReedRef: 56790874

Assistant Accountant

VPA Chartered Accountants·Cardiff·Posted 2 weeks ago
🟢 Permanent💰 28-32k GBP/year
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Job description

Original text imported from Reed

Based: Cardiff

Salary: Range from £28k to £32k depending on experience

Term: Permanent/Full time

VPA Chartered Accountants are a modern accountancy firm that supports small and medium sized businesses to achieve their business goals. A new position has arisen for an Assistant Accountant at their Cardiff office.

We are looking for an individual with experience of working in an accountancy practice and is fully proficient in Xero accountancy software. This role would suit an individual that is AAT qualified or is competent in bookkeeping. Experience of VAT return preparation is essential and knowledge of payroll processes and Company Secretary duties is an advantage.

If you are a confident, self-motivated individual that is keen to develop a career in a growing, forward thinking business we would love to hear from you.

JOB PURPOSE:

The postholder will support the senior accountant in providing a consistent level of support to Clients. They will assist with bookkeeping and preparation of VAT returns along with managing financial records, ensuring compliance.

This job description outlines the key performance indicators of, and output required from the postholder on completion of training. It is not a definitive list, and the role may well change and evolve over time.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Management account preparation using Xero accounting platform.
  • VAT preparation for MTD ready and non MTD ready clients.
  • Liaising with clients via email, face to face and over the telephone regarding their accounting queries.
  • Reconcile bank statements and accounts.
  • Assist with basic company secretarial duties.
  • Occasionally visit Clients.
  • Assist with payroll processing services as and when required.
  • Ensure compliance with financial regulations, GDPR guidelines and confidentiality.
  • Keep up-to-date with learning and development, ensuring current legislation, codes of practice and guidance are followed.
  • Take part in staff meetings as and when required;
  • Work flexibly in line with the needs of the business to ensure the safe delivery of our service;
  • Be responsible for their own health and safety and the health and safety of others;
  • Ensure they follow the company’s policies and processes with regard to equal opportunities and discrimination;
  • Undertake any other reasonable duties deemed appropriate by your manager.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

ESSENTIAL COMPETENCIES

  • Excellent communication skills
  • Minimum 2 years experience of working in an accountancy practice within the UK
  • Computer literate, including Excel and general typing skills
  • Excellent numerical skills
  • Proficiency in using Xero software
  • AAT qualified or similar, or competent in bookkeeping
  • VAT experience
  • Organisational and time management skills
  • Attention to detail and accuracy is essential.
  • Confident and outgoing personality
  • Strong communication and teamwork abilities

DESIRABLE COMPETENCIES

  • Minimum of 3 years experience of working in an accountancy practice within the UK
  • Payroll experience, or willingness to learn
  • Company Secretary experience
  • Ability to drive, with access to a car

VACANCY DETAILS

  • Salary – between £28k and £32k depending on experience
  • Permanent Position
  • Annual Leave – 23 days plus bank holidays per annum
  • Location – Cardiff
  • Working Hours –Full time, 9:00am – 4:30pm Monday to Friday
  • Start Date – as soon as possible
  • Opportunity to be part of a developing and growing Company

APPLICATION PROCESS

Initial interview via telephone or Teams. You will be asked to provide proof of the Right to Work in the UK. There is no closing date for this role and applications will be shortlisted on receipt of completed application form

SpeedCV AI

Key skills

AI-extracted from the job advert

Must-have skills
AAT qualificationXero accounting softwareVAT return preparation2 years UK accountancy practice experienceExcel proficiencyBookkeeping competency
Nice-to-have
3 years UK accountancy practice experiencePayroll processing experienceCompany secretarial duties knowledge
Soft skills
CommunicationAttention to detailTime managementTeamworkSelf-motivationOrganisational skillsConfidence
SpeedCV AI

Application advice

5 AI-generated recommendations to maximise your chances.

1

⭐ Highlight your Xero proficiency prominently as this is explicitly mentioned as essential for the role

2

📊 Quantify your VAT experience: "Prepared 45+ VAT returns monthly for MTD and non-MTD clients"

3

🎯 Emphasise your AAT qualification or bookkeeping competency in your professional summary

4

🤝 Showcase client-facing experience as the role involves liaising via email, phone and face-to-face

5

📋 Mention specific accountancy practice experience duration as they require minimum 2 years UK practice experience

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Suggested CV bullets

3 bullets our AI drafted for this specific advert, mirroring its ATS keywords.

How to tailor your CV

Add these 3 bullets under your most recent experience:

  • Prepared 60+ VAT returns monthly using Xero for MTD and non-MTD clients, maintaining 100% submission accuracy
  • Managed bank reconciliations for 25 SME clients, resolving discrepancies within 48-hour SLA
  • Liaised with clients via phone and email to resolve accounting queries, achieving 95% first-contact resolution rate

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Letter preview — tailored to VPA Chartered Accountants

Dear Hiring Manager,

VPA Chartered Accountants' focus on supporting SME growth aligns perfectly with my career aspirations, which is why I am applying for the Assistant Accountant position in Cardiff. My proficiency in Xero accounting software and experience with VAT return preparation make me well-suited to support your client portfolio.

My background in accountancy practice work has equipped me with the technical skills and client-facing experience essential for this role. I am particularly drawn to the opportunity to develop within a forward-thinking firm that values professional growth.

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SpeedCV AI

Interview questions

10 questions generated from this advert.

Technical

  • How would you handle VAT return preparation for both MTD and non-MTD clients?
  • Walk me through your process for bank reconciliation in Xero
  • What company secretarial duties have you assisted with previously?
  • How do you ensure GDPR compliance when handling client financial data?
  • Describe your experience with management account preparation

Behavioural

  • Tell me about a time you had to explain complex accounting information to a client
  • Describe a situation where attention to detail was critical in your work
  • How do you prioritise multiple client deadlines during busy periods?
  • Give an example of when you had to work flexibly to meet business needs
  • Tell me about a time you identified and resolved a discrepancy in financial records
SpeedCV AINEW

STAR answer examples

Model answers using the Situation-Task-Action-Result framework. Adapt to your own experience.

1Question

Tell me about a time you had to explain complex accounting information to a client

A manufacturing client was confused about their VAT liability after introducing new product lines. I scheduled a face-to-face meeting to walk through their VAT return, using simple examples to explain how different product categories affected their liability. I created a one-page summary showing how their £12,000 monthly VAT bill broke down by product line. The client appreciated the clarity and now contacts me proactively when introducing new products, preventing compliance issues.
2Question

Describe a situation where attention to detail was critical in your work

While preparing month-end management accounts for a retail client, I noticed their gross profit margin had dropped from 42% to 38% without explanation. Rather than processing the accounts, I investigated and discovered £8,400 in purchase invoices had been coded to the wrong nominal account. I corrected the entries and implemented a monthly coding review process. This prevented the client from making poor business decisions based on inaccurate margin analysis.

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