Payroll and Accounts Assistant

Payroll and Accounts Assistant

Acro Aircraft Seating is one of the UK's leading and fastest growing manufacturers of passenger seats for commercial airlines around the world. We are an agile, innovative business at the forefront of disrupting the aerospace market. Through modern methodologies, lean techniques, inspired innovation, and passion to be the best, Acro is positioning itself to be the world's leading aircraft seating supplier.

Collaboration is one of Acro's core values, by working together and applying our skills and expertise across Sales, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain and Operations, we find the solutions to our clients' most complex challenges and how we deliver our promises today and tomorrow.

Job Description

We are looking for a detail-oriented and well-organised Payroll and Accounts Assistant to join our team. This is a dual-role position, with roughly half of the focus on payroll administration and the other half on core financial processing (such as invoice entry and accounts payable). The ideal candidate will have a high degree of accuracy, the ability to handle sensitive information, and the capability to balance cyclical payroll deadlines with daily transactional tasks in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Administration (c.50%)

• Payroll Processing: Manage the end-to-end payroll cycle (monthly), ensuring accurate and timely salary payments, including calculations for overtime, allowances, Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), maternity pay, and other statutory payments.
• Data Maintenance: Maintain accurate employee payroll records, liaising with HR to process new starters, leavers, salary changes, and bank account updates.
• Compliance & Reconciliation: Prepare and submit RTI (Real Time Information) and other HMRC returns; manage pension auto-enrolment contributions and payroll deductions (e.g., union fees, attachment of earnings); perform payroll control account reconciliations.
• Employee Support: Act as the first point of contact for internal payroll queries, providing clear guidance on payslips, tax codes, and deductions.

Financial Operations & Accounts Payable (c.50%)

• Invoice Processing: Receive, verify, and enter supplier invoices into the accounting system, ensuring correct cost centre allocations and appropriate authorisation approvals.
• Payment Execution: Prepare and process supplier payment runs (e.g., BACS transfers), monitor bank balances, and reconcile corporate credit card transactions and employee expense claims.
• Account Reconciliations: Perform regular supplier statement reconciliations, resolving any invoice discrepancies or disputes; conduct bank reconciliations and purchase order matching.
• Month-End Support: Assist the Finance Manager with month-end closing activities, including accruals, prepayments, and aged accounts payable analysis.

Skills and experience required

Experience:

Minimum 1-2 years of experience in both payroll processing and accounts payable; proven understanding of end-to-end payroll cycles and invoice-to-payment workflows.

Technical Skills:

• Advanced Excel skills (VLOOKUP, pivot tables, data manipulation).
• Familiarity with accounting systems such as Sage, Xero, QuickBooks, or SAP, as well as dedicated payroll software.
• Strong numerical aptitude with exceptional attention to detail and accuracy.

Personal Attributes:

• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality regarding payroll and employee data.
• Excellent communication skills, capable of handling queries from internal staff and external suppliers professionally.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to work independently and meet tight payroll and month-end deadlines.

Benefits

• 25 days holiday + bank holidays
• Pension contributions up to 5%
• Healthcare cashback scheme
• Life assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Retail discounts
• 37.5 hours per week - 1 pm finish on a Friday
• Hybrid working (1 day a week working from home)
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave

Acro Aircraft Seating is an equal opportunities employer.

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