Finance Administrator

Finance Administrator — Chestnut Group

Chestnut is a hospitality group operating a portfolio of pubs and inns across East Anglia, alongside wine distribution and food subsidiaries. Behind every site is a high volume of invoices, payments, takings and supplier relationships — and this role keeps that engine running cleanly.

Reporting to the Financial Controller, you'll own the day-to-day transactional finance work that everything else depends on: purchase ledger, supplier payments, sales ledger, banking and reconciliations across the group's trading entities. Accuracy, reliability and a tidy ledger are the whole game.

It's also a role with room to grow. For someone with an appetite for finance, there's scope to take on more over time — with AAT study support available for the right candidate — progressing toward an assistant-accountant path.

Purchase Ledger & Payments

• Process high volumes of purchase invoices across multiple trading entities and sites, coding accurately to the correct nominal and entity in Xero
• Match invoices to orders and delivery notes, resolving discrepancies with suppliers and site managers
• Prepare supplier payment runs to agreed terms, keeping the ledger reconciled to supplier statements
• Set up and maintain supplier accounts

Sales Ledger & Credit Control

• Raise sales and intercompany invoices (including the wine and events businesses) and allocate receipts accurately
• Support credit control — chase overdue accounts, maintain aged debt, and elevate where needed

Banking & Reconciliations

• Post and reconcile bank transactions across entity accounts, including site takings and card settlements
• Reconcile petty cash, expenses and company credit cards

Finance Administration & Support

• Maintain accurate, well-organised digital financial records and filing
• Support month-end with reconciliations, basic accruals and prepayments prep, and ad hoc analysis
• Respond to internal, site and supplier queries promptly and professionally
• Help identify and adopt improvements — including automation and AI tools — that make routine processing faster and cleaner

Essential

• Experience in a finance or accounts administration, purchase-ledger or transactional finance role — or strong administrative experience with a genuine appetite for finance
• Accurate, methodical and well-organised, with strong attention to detail and reliable high-volume data entry
• Confident with Excel and comfortable learning cloud accounting systems
• A clear, professional communicator, comfortable dealing with suppliers, site managers and colleagues
• Reliable, proactive and willing to take ownership of your area
• Discreet and trustworthy with sensitive financial information

Desirable

• AAT qualified or working towards (study support available)
• Hands-on experience of Xero
• Experience of a multi-entity, multi-site, hospitality or high-volume transactional environment
• Familiarity with invoice-processing or automation tools, and an interest in using AI to work more efficiently

At Chestnut, we believe in rewarding our team, supporting personal growth, and creating a work environment that feels like home:

• Team & Individual Incentives — rewards for your hard work, including staff days out and even trips abroad
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) — free, confidential support for wellbeing, finances, and more
• Team Parties & Social Events — regular events to connect, relax, and celebrate together
• Work Anniversary Rewards — your commitment celebrated every year
• Refer a Friend Scheme — earn a cash bonus when a friend you recommend joins us
• Peter Graham Wine Discounts — exclusive pricing on carefully selected wines
• Family & Friends Discounts — share special perks with those you care about
• Team Discounts — up to 50% off your food bill at our venues
• Overnight Stays from £75 — take a break at any Chestnut property at a reduced rate
• High Street Discounts — savings on retail, dining, and travel
• Free Meal on Duty — a freshly prepared meal every shift
• Tips + Wagestream Access — track your earnings in real time and access pay as you earn
• Flexible Hours — support for a healthy work-life balance
• Learning & Development — accredited training (including AAT study support) and continuous development opportunities