Finance Associate (12 month FTC)

Polo; Cheltenham; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A financial services firm in Cheltenham is seeking a detail-oriented Finance Associate on a fixed-term contract to support their finance team during system changes. This role involves managing month-end financial activities, handling purchase and sales ledgers, and ensuring accurate financial data entry. Candidates should have 3-5 years of finance experience, a firm grasp of accounting principles, and strong Excel skills. The position offers competitive compensation and an extensive benefits package, including flexible hybrid working options.

Benefits

Discretionary annual bonus

Minimum 24 days annual leave

Private health insurance

Life assurance

Occupational maternity and paternity pay

Qualifications

• 3-5 years' experience in a finance role with hands-on management accounts preparation.
• Experience in industry or commerce environment.
• Strong understanding of basic accounting principles.

Responsibilities

• Assist with accruals, prepayments, and reconciliations.
• Process supplier invoices and maintain up-to-date supplier accounts.
• Raise and process sales invoices ensuring completeness and accuracy.

Skills

Management accounts preparation

Purchase Ledger processing

Sales Ledger processing

Strong Excel skills

Education

AAT Level 3 qualification

Job description

Finance Associate (12 month FTC)

Department: Corporate Finance

Employment Type: Fixed Term Contract

Location: Cheltenham

Reporting To: Head of Corporate Finance

Compensation: £30,000 - £40,000 / year

Description

We are seeking an experienced, proactive and detail-oriented Finance Associate to support the Finance team during a period of system change and ongoing operational activity. This role will be responsible for supporting month‑end management accounts activities, the accurate and timely processing of financial transactions across purchase and sales ledgers and assisting with basic system testing as part of our finance transformation programme.

Key Responsibilities

• Accounts preparation: Assist with accruals, prepayments and reconciliations to support accurate period end financial reporting.
• Purchase Ledger: Process supplier invoices with accurate coding, approvals, and timely posting into the finance system. Resolve invoice queries and maintain up-to-date supplier accounts.
• Sales Ledger: Raise and process sales invoices, ensuring completeness, accuracy, and prompt issue to customers.
• Ad Hoc: Support the wider finance team with ad‑hoc administrative and operational tasks as required.
• Testing & System Support: Execute basic system testing activities following defined scripts to validate functionality. Log and report any issues identified during testing to relevant SMEs. Support SMEs in preparing the system for sign‑off of more complex testing scenarios.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• 3-5 years’ experience in a finance role with hands‑on management accounts preparation, sales and purchase ledger responsibility.
• Experience gained within an industry/commerce environment.
• Strong understanding of basic accounting principles, including accruals and prepayments.
• High attention to detail with excellent accuracy in processing and data entry.
• Confident using finance systems, with system names listed on CV an advantage.
• Strong Excel skills (lookups, pivots, reconciliations).
• Ability to follow structured testing scripts and work methodically.
• Good communication skills and confidence working collaboratively in a team.
• Demonstrates behaviours aligned to the PoloWorks PRIDE values:
• Pioneering – we don’t stand still
• Responsible – We do the right thing
• Inclusive – we all play a role
• Delivery Focused – we provide services we are proud of
• Empowering – we equip people to be their best

Knowledge & Qualifications

AAT Level 3 qualification (minimum) preferred; candidates qualified by experience will also be considered.

Experience working within a finance function during a system change or ERP implementation is highly desirable.

Exposure to management accounting tasks is advantageous.

Benefits

As well as a competitive salary, discretionary annual bonus, and a minimum 24 days of annual leave (with the option to buy or sell up to 5 days using our Annual Leave Flex Benefit), you will also get an excellent benefits package, including flexible, hybrid working, private health insurance, life assurance, income protection, enhanced pension contributions, and occupational maternity and paternity pay.

You will also have access to company volunteering days, an Electric Vehicle (EV) leasing scheme, an employee assistance programme with retail discounts and savings, a generous employee referral scheme, regular sports and social events, and free Cheltenham bus travel. Benefits band 1