Who actually knows how well a company is doing? Is it the big boss in the big office or the team generating new sales?
Actually, no. They have a handle on their bit of the business but, if you want to know the overall health of any organisation, ask the finance assistant.
They get to see the nitty gritty – how much is being invoiced and what payments are coming in.
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There are vacancies for finance assistants on s1jobs in many different kinds of organisations but what they all have in common is their need for someone organised, efficient and numerate, who can keep track of the numbers that keep the whole kit and caboodle running.
From sales invoices for work completed to payment for goods and equipment, a good finance assistant will have the latest figures at their fingertips.
But to make the grade you must also . . .
Know people
You’ll have a contacts list that includes decision makers in every one of the organisations your business trades with.
You’ll also be in constant touch with them to ensure they prioritise your payments. Because, as much as this job is about numbers, it’s also a role that demands highly developed people skills and a huge dollop of common sense.
Have a sixth sense
Work as a finance assistant for long enough and you’ll be able to tell when a customer is making excuses to avoid making a payment.
Persuading your opposite number within a client’s office to make your invoices a priority could make a huge difference to the company’s bottom line.
So, while on paper the job may appear to be about purchase and sales ledgers, it’s also about your insight and persistence.
Be independent
If you’re looking for a new role in finance, most employers will expect you to be educated to HNC level, be familiar with a range of IT systems, have the ability to plan and organise your work and have good written and communication skills.
What they may not specify, but which can prove vital, will be your ability to be entirely self-motivating, building your own relationships within and outside the organisation.
Making all the numbers add up? That’s only the beginning.
For all the latest Financial Services/Investment roles check out s1jobs.