Finance Assistant
Closing Date: Fri 29 May, 17:00 BST
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Applications
Please apply online, or alternatively, download the application form in Word and email it to hr@watershed.co.uk.
Do get in touch if you would like any of this information, or wish to apply, in another format.
Please do not include your CV as it will not be considered. Please put all relevant information on your application form.
Job description
- Position
- Finance Assistant
- Grade
- Supervisor
- Salary
- £28,288 per annum pro rata (£14,144 per annum for 2.5 days a week)
- Hours
- Part time.
- Contract type
- Permanent
- Location
- In the building. This post is not suitable for remote working.
Purpose of job
The Finance Assistant is a key member of the Watershed Finance Team, supporting the accurate and timely processing of payments, reconciliations and income across the organisation. The role involves maintaining purchase and sales ledgers, processing payments to suppliers, staff and grantees, completing bank reconciliations, and supporting with basic journals and financial reconciliations.
The role offers opportunities to build on existing finance experience, develop accounting knowledge, and contribute to improving systems and processes within a values‑led organisation.
Main responsibilities
- Maintain the purchase ledger, ensuring supplier records are accurate and kept up to date.
- Process purchase invoices and expenses accurately and in a timely manner.
- Reconcile supplier statements and investigate and resolve discrepancies where required.
- Prepare weekly and monthly supplier payment runs, including downloading reports and uploading BACS payments for authorisation.
- Upload payroll BACS data to HSBC for authorisation.
- Maintain the sales ledger, including raising sales invoices and supporting credit control activity where required.
- Process daily income from the Box Office and, when required, café/bar income, ensuring accurate preparation, checking and posting of journals for daily returns.
- Complete weekly reconciliations of Watershed bank accounts.
- Carry out monthly reconciliations of company credit cards and employee expenses.
- Support basic journal processing and balance sheet reconciliations.
- Assist with audit queries across the Watershed group of companies as required.
- Monitor and manage Finance inboxes on a daily basis, responding to internal and external queries in a helpful and professional manner and escalating issues where appropriate.
- Work collaboratively with finance colleagues to support shared priorities and deadlines.
- Provide flexible support to the wider finance team as required.
Key performance indicators
- Purchase and sales invoices are processed accurately and within agreed deadlines.
- Payments to suppliers, staff and partners are made on time and recorded correctly.
- Financial records and reconciliations are maintained to a high standard of accuracy.
- Tasks are prioritised effectively and delivered on time.
- Internal colleagues and external contacts experience a friendly, helpful and responsive finance service.
- Queries and information requests are handled efficiently and with a strong focus on customer service.
Essential criteria
- Previous experience in a finance, accounts, or administrative role, or demonstrable transferable skills gained through at least 6 months of work, volunteering, or equivalent experience.
- Demonstrated ability to maintain accurate records, with examples of work requiring checking, validating, or reconciling information.
- Examples of successfully managing multiple tasks simultaneously, prioritising workload, and consistently meeting deadlines, particularly in a busy or time‑sensitive environment.
- Ability to confidently learn and use new systems, with practical experience of Microsoft Office, including Excel (e.g. using spreadsheets for data entry, basic formulas, sorting/filtering, or tracking information).
- Demonstrated customer‑focused approach, with clear examples of communicating clearly, professionally, and helpfully with colleagues and/or external contacts, including responding to queries and resolving issues appropriately.
Application process
Closing date:
We will be conducting short interviews with all applicants who meet the essential criteria. A shortlist will then be invited to a longer second interview.
First round interview / presentation (if relevant): -
Second round interview: -
Working at Watershed
Find out more about staff benefits, our values and more about our approach.
Access
Watershed will work with candidates to ensure their access needs are met during the interview process and will ensure access requirements are not a factor in decision making.
Equal opportunities monitoring
We are striving to understand more about who applies to work with us. At the end of the application process we invite you to complete our anonymous equal opportunities monitoring form, which will not be shared with anyone involved in the recruitment process.
Opening hours
At full operation, Watershed is open seven days a week, including Bank Holidays (Christmas Day and Boxing Day are the only exceptions). Watershed is a public building, which operates a diverse range of cultural and commercial activities. The post holder will need to be comfortable working in this environment.
Before you apply
Watershed's first value is Inclusive – We listen to and learn from our community, creating equity and addressing harm where it occurs. The information below lays out some of the steps we are taking to create a more inclusive recruitment process. Many of these steps are new to us, so feedback and questions are very welcome.
You may not have worked in a cultural organisation before, or in an organisation like Watershed. Please still consider applying as many other sectors offer transferable contexts.
If you are from a background that is underrepresented in the culture sector - for example you are from a community that experiences racism or you are a disabled person (as defined by the Equalities Act 2010), or you did not go to University or had free school meals as a child - and you would like support to articulate how your experience is transferable to this role, you can book time with us to discuss it. We will ensure the person you meet is not involved in the recruitment process. Please request this by emailing hr@watershed.co.uk (we will not ask you to disclose your background).
We believe our work will be stronger with greater diversity and welcome applications from those who bring balance to our team. Watershed welcomes the whole person to work, and we understand that each of us brings our experiences, our backgrounds and our own unique lens to what we do. Supporting our staff means they are not appointed to represent specific groups or organisations.
Watershed Values
As a registered charity and social enterprise, Watershed has well-established brand values. We seek to apply our values in everything we do and ask staff, partners, suppliers and collaborators to do the same.
Our values are:
- Inclusive We listen to and learn from our community, creating equity and addressing harm where it occurs
- Transparent We share our approach openly and clearly, working at a pace which enables everyone to participate who wishes to
- Responsible We use our resources generously and sustainably, considering our impact on future generations
- Kind We are careful and caring with ourselves and with others
- Hopeful We celebrate culture, creativity and wonder as paths to a better future
Watershed is a Social Enterprise Mark holder. Social Enterprises are businesses whose products and services create both social and environmental benefits.
Closing Date: Fri 29 May, 17:00 BST