Accounts Assistant - Purchase Ledger & Payroll

Accounts Assistant - Purchase Ledger & Payroll

Chard, Somerset Office-based Manufacturing SME

My client is a well‑established, growing manufacturing business based in Chard, Somerset, supplying customers across the UK and internationally. With around 60 employees, they offer a friendly, supportive working environment and are looking for an Accounts Assistant to join their small finance team.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone with accounts experience who is keen to develop their skills in a busy SME environment, with a particular focus on payroll.

• Process purchase orders on Progress Plus
• Match purchase invoices to purchase orders on Progress Plus
• Transfer data to the accounts package (currently Sage Line 50)
• Maintain the purchase ledger and supplier records
• Build and maintain good relationships with suppliers
• Deal with supplier queries promptly and professionally

• Process weekly payroll for c.50 employees (shared responsibility within the team)
• Ensure accurate input of hours, pay rates and deductions
• Apply UK payroll rules including SSP and statutory leave entitlements (e.g. paternity pay)
• Maintain payroll records and support with payroll‑related queries

• Some accounts experience at assistant level (purchase ledger or similar)
• Payroll experience essential—ideally weekly payroll and exposure to statutory payments
• Experience in an SME environment desirable
• Experience with Sage Line 50 and/or Sage Payroll is an advantage, but not essential
• Comfortable learning new accounts/payroll software
• Pro‑active, adaptable and willing to learn
• Strong team player (office finance team of three)
• Flexible about sharing payroll responsibilities and coordinating holidays to ensure cover

• Hours:
  
  39 per week
  • Monday‑Thursday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
  • Friday: 8:00am - 1:00pm
• Office‑based in Chard, Somerset
• The company operates periodic manufacturing shutdowns during the year

• 25 days' holiday plus bank holidays
• Pension
• Free on‑site parking
• Social events
• Salary competitive and dependent on experience

The client is particularly keen on a candidate with solid payroll experience (the most technical aspect of the role); purchase ledger is viewed as more easily trainable for the right person.