Accountant - FTC

Accountant - 12 month FTC

Final date to receive applications: 9 September 2026

Department: Finance

Employment Type: Fixed Term Contract

Location: London, UK

Reporting To: Director of Finance

Compensation: £50,000 - £55,000 / year

We are looking for an experienced finance professional to join Cifas on a 12-month fixed-term contract. The successful candidate will have built their career within a finance or accounts function, gaining practical experience across accounts payable, accounts receivable, purchase ledger and purchase order management. Alongside a strong understanding of end-to-end finance operations, you'll bring experience of systems implementation, process improvement and payroll administration, either within an in-house environment or working with managed payroll providers.

Supporting a period of significant operational change, you'll play a key role in completing and embedding new expenses and accounts payable systems, helping to strengthen financial controls, streamline processes and increase automation across the finance function. You'll also provide additional support across reconciliations, management information, expenditure management and wider finance activities, ensuring the smooth day-to-day operation of the team during a period of transformation.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys combining operational finance expertise with continuous improvement, and who is keen to make a meaningful contribution to the ongoing development of our finance systems, processes and controls.

Working alongside industry specialists, the successful candidate will be responsible for:

• Managing and supporting the accounts payable function, ensuring supplier invoices, expenses and corporate card transactions are accurately coded, approved and processed in line with Cifas policies.
• Checking the monthly payroll information completing reconciliations, ensuring payroll is accurately processed working in collaboration with the People & Culture team to resolve payroll-related queries.
• Providing support across management reporting, reconciliations, budget holder reporting and wider finance activities, helping to resolve queries and maintain accurate financial information.
• Leading on the final implementation and embedding of new expenses and accounts payable systems, ensuring effective operation, user adoption and compliance with internal controls.
• Supporting the rollout and effective use of purchase orders, helping to embed improved expenditure controls and compliance across the organisation.
• Facilitating the transition from manual finance processes to more automated, system-led controls, improving efficiency while maintaining robust governance.
• Providing additional support across accounts receivable and other finance processes during peak periods, audits, year-end activities and team absences.
• Contribute to the continued development and integration of AccountsIQ and Dynamics, including testing, process improvements and reconciliation activities.
• Maintain finance procedures and guidance, deliver training to managers and budget holders, and identify opportunities to streamline processes and maximise system functionality.

To be successful in this role, it is essential for you to have:

• GCSE English & Maths qualification at A-C grade, or equivalent qualification, essential.
• Fully qualified accountant through a recognised professional accountancy body, such as ACCA, CIMA, ACA or equivalent is essential, 1-2 years PQE.
• Evidence of continuing professional development and strong technical accounting knowledge, desirable.
• Proven hands-on experience across accounts payable, accounts receivable, purchase ledger, purchase orders and wider finance operations.
• A strong understanding of financial controls, expenditure management, approval processes and policy compliance.
• Experience using finance systems, including automated accounts payable and expenses platforms.
• Proven experience supporting systems implementations, process improvements and embedding new ways of working.
• Experience of payroll processing and checking, either working with an in-house payroll…