The role:

We have an exciting opportunity for an Accounts Payable Assistant to join our friendly Bristol Finance team.

The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring that all invoices, staff expenses, foreign currency and invoice recharges are received and approved within the correct authorisation and budget limits. You will insure that all invoices are posted in an efficient, effective and accurate manner to the correct matter and/or cost code and paid within the firms normal terms of business.

What will you do:

Using technical expertise to ensure the accurate recording of creditors and also compliance with relevant Customs & Excise legislation, the provisions of the Solicitors Accounts Rules and Money Laundering Regulations:

• Ensuring that supplier payments, staff expenses, foreign currency and invoice recharges are processed with adherence to GAAP, VAT legislation and the firm's internal financial controls.
• Liaising with the management accounts team regarding the coding structure of the general ledger in order to confirm the accuracy of the information used in financial analysis and reporting.
• Ensuring that supplier payments, staff expenses, intercompany invoices, foreign currency and invoice recharges are processed in a timely and accurate manner in accordance with finance policies and procedures.
• Ensuring that budget holders return all supplier invoices, authorised in accordance with the firm's signing policy in order to meet payment requirements and to take advantage of any early settlement discounts offered.
• Inputting of transactions on behalf of the finance department, providing corporate governance and financial control.

Providing a quality service and ensuring that the team processes and objectives align with business needs:

• Obtaining relevant feedback in order to advise on improvements to the processes of the team and actively promoting the finance function.
• Adhering to agreed best practices, policies and processes whilst adapting to local requirements as necessary.
• Consistently sharing knowledge and skills with colleagues.

Supporting and maintaining effective relationships and networks to facilitate and improve the firm's creditor cycle in relation to the UK practice and to support the Cashiers and Accounts Payable Manager in doing so on a firm-wide basis:

• Building constructive working relationships with the budget holders within the firm and key personnel within external organisations to ensure that focus is maintained on timely supplier payments.
• Establishing and maintaining effective relationships with external suppliers.
• Accepting responsibility and taking ownership of operational issues, finding practical solutions and escalating problems where appropriate.
• Interacting with a wide range of contacts at different levels, requiring an awareness of own impact on others and an adjustment of behaviour accordingly.
• Providing commercial and legislative advice as appropriate.

What we are looking for:

Education/Experience/Qualifications:

• At least 5 GSCE grade C or above or equivalent qualifications
• Proven experience working in a commercial environment with experience of accounts payable.
• To be able to demonstrate the application of best practice together with a commercial approach.
• To be able to demonstrate experience of building successful relationships.

Technical/Work-based Skills/Knowledge:

• Excel skills to Intermediate level.
• Strong working use of Microsoft office.
• Ability to advise on system functionality and transactions (Elite system knowledge an advantage).
• Strong awareness of Customs & excise VAT legislation.
• Good awareness of GAAP, and the provisions of the Solicitors Accounts Rules and Money Laundering requirements.

Here at Simmons & Simmons:

We believe our people define us. Our working environment is genuinely collegiate with a supportive atmosphere and team ethos - we have a reputation for being a friendly culture which we are very proud of. An inclusive and diverse culture, our innovative approach and being truly international are just a few more things that make us, us.

• Competitive Offer Package including bonus's dependant on role/level, private medical insurance & pension contribution to name a few.
• Dress 'for your day' Code.
• Hybrid working approach of 2 days a week required in the office with flexibility dependant on role/team/client demands.
• A wide range of international offices including: Hong Kong; Dubai; Tokyo; Dublin; Milan; Bristol; Madrid; Singapore.
• All offices have their own artwork collections - with a Damien Hurst and a Tracey Emin in the London office. We have a long standing history in supporting the art community especially up and coming artists.
• The creation of Simmons & Simmons Solutions - bringing together the best legal advice from our established legal teams with non-traditional capabilities that enhance, expand and differentiate the Simmons offering.
• We were ranked as a Times Top 50 Employer for Women and Top 30 Employer for Working Families in 2020.
• We have Social and Sport Committees contributing to Xmas & Summer parties, end of month social and various sporting events.
• We also have a range of Diversity Network Groups including LGBT+, Emerge (Race & Ethnicity) and The Number One Club (Women's network) who have organised various talks and events firmwide.

If you are interested in finding out more about this position then please contact the Recruitment Team with any questions. To apply for the role please click on the link at the bottom of the page/visit the career pages on our website, where there is also a detailed job description.