Finance Assistant / Bookkeeper (6-Month Contract - Maternity Cover)Location: North Yorkshire (Office Based)Contract: Initial 6 months, with potential extensionHours: 4 or 5 days per weekSalary: Equivalent to £28,000 per annum (pro-rata)Hays are supporting an established and growing SME business in North Yorkshire who are seeking an experienced Finance Assistant / Bookkeeper to join their team on an initial 6-month maternity cover contract. This role will be based fully on-site and offers the flexibility of working four or five days per week.This is a hands-on position ideal for someone who is confident managing day-to-day finance operations and enjoys playing a key role within a small, friendly team.Key ResponsibilitiesFinance & BookkeepingDaily bookkeeping using Sage Accounting / Sage 50Raising customer invoices and managing the sales ledgerProcessing supplier invoices and maintaining the purchase ledgerAged debt management and conducting proactive credit controlPreparing and submitting VAT returnsSupporting the business with cashflow forecasting and monitoringProducing regular financial reports for management reviewContributing to continuous improvement of finance processesAdditional DutiesSupporting general office and administrative tasks when neededAssisting with incoming calls and general enquiriesProviding ad hoc support to colleagues across the businessKey RequirementsPrevious experience in a similar finance or bookkeeping roleStrong working knowledge of Sage / Sage 50Experience preparing VAT returns and managing cashflowConfident handling both sales and purchase ledger processesExcellent organisation skills and strong attention to detailPersonal AttributesCommercially aware with a proactive approachProcess-driven with a mindset for continuous improvementStrong communication skills, especially when working with non-finance colleaguesAble to work independently and take full ownership of assigned tasksFlexible, adaptable, and comfortable within a growing SME environmentWhy Join?This role offers the opportunity to contribute meaningfully within a supportive SME environment, where your input is valued and you can quickly make an impact. If you're a capable finance professional who enjoys variety and thrives in a close-knit team, please reach out.What you need to do nowIf you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be JBRP1_UKTJ