Payroll Assistant

• A CIPD qualification is welcomed but is not essential for the right candidate.

Accounts & Payroll Assistant

Department: Finance
Reports to: Accounts Manager
Location: Rayleigh, Essex
Hours: Part Time – 25 hours per week

We envisage this role being worked over 5 hours per day, Monday to Friday, although we are open to discussing alternative working patterns for the right candidate.

About Kinect Services

Kinect Services is an award-winning provider of specialist transport and care services across the East of England. We support local authorities, schools, healthcare providers and private clients by delivering safe, reliable and person‑centred services.

As our business continues to grow, we are looking for a highly organised and proactive Accounts & Payroll Assistant to join our Finance team. This is a varied role that combines payroll, accounts administration and purchasing support, providing an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys working with numbers, delivering excellent service and making a real contribution to a growing organisation.

Job Purpose

Working closely with the Accounts Manager, the Accounts & Payroll Assistant will provide efficient and accurate support across the accounts, payroll and purchasing functions.

We’re looking for someone who is highly organised, process-driven and has exceptional attention to detail. The successful candidate will enjoy working with numbers, following established processes and taking pride in delivering accurate, high-quality work. They will play an important role in ensuring payroll, financial administration and purchasing activities are completed accurately, efficiently and on time, while supporting the smooth day‑to‑day running of the Finance team.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll

• Prepare and process the Company’s monthly payroll accurately and within agreed deadlines.
• Calculate pay for full-time, part-time, term-time and casual employees.
• Process starters, leavers and contractual changes.
• Administer statutory payments including SSP, SMP, SPP and other statutory entitlements.
• Process PAYE, National Insurance and workplace pension deductions.
• Prepare and submit payroll information to HMRC through Real Time Information (RTI).
• Produce payroll reports and supporting documentation.
• Maintain accurate payroll records and employee payroll files.
• Investigate and resolve payroll discrepancies.
• Respond to payroll queries from employees in a professional and timely manner.
• Prepare payroll journals and assist with payroll reconciliations.
• Support year‑end payroll activities including P60s and other statutory reporting.
• Ensure payroll activities comply with current legislation and Company procedures.

Accounts

• Process purchase invoices accurately and promptly.
• Raise sales invoices where required.
• Reconcile supplier statements and resolve invoice queries.
• Assist with payment runs.
• Support bank reconciliations.
• Assist with credit control activities where required.
• Maintain accurate financial records within the accounting system (ideally Xero).
• Assist with month‑end finance processes.
• Produce reports and management information as requested.
• Provide day‑to‑day administrative support to the Accounts Manager.

Purchasing

• Raise purchase orders in accordance with Company procedures.
• Coordinate purchasing requests from across the business.
• Liaise with suppliers regarding orders, pricing and deliveries.
• Monitor outstanding purchase orders and deliveries.
• Resolve purchase order and invoice queries.
• Maintain supplier records and documentation.
• Assist with ordering office supplies, uniforms, PPE and operational resources.
• Support supplier administration and onboarding where required.
• Identify opportunities to improve purchasing processes and achieve value for money.

General Administration

• Maintain accurate records and electronic filing systems.
• Respond to finance and payroll enquiries professionally and confidentially.
• Assist with audit requests and financial documentation.
• Produce reports, spreadsheets and documentation as required.
• Support continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to improve finance and payroll processes.
• Provide administrative support to the wider business when required.
• Undertake…