Assistance Accountant

An Assistant Accountant plays a key role in supporting the day to day running of the finance function.

An Assistant Accountant plays a key role in supporting the day to day running of the finance function. They are often the link between transactional finance and management reporting, helping to maintain accuracy and ensure smooth operations.

This is a popular early-stage hire for growing businesses and often a stepping stone toward becoming a Management Accountant or Financial Controller.

What Does an Assistant Accountant Do?

Month-End Close Support

Posting journals and assisting with the monthly close process.

Account Reconciliations

Reconciling bank accounts, control accounts, and balance sheet items to maintain accuracy.

VAT & Compliance Assistance

Helping with VAT returns and other finance-related compliance tasks.

Management Accounts Preparation

Supporting the creation of monthly management accounts and performance insights.

Fixed Asset Register Maintenance

Keeping fixed asset schedules up to date and depreciation recorded accurately.

Accruals & Prepayments

Processing accruals and prepayments to improve the accuracy of reporting.

External Liaison

Communicating with external accountants or auditors as needed.

Occasional Payroll & Transactional Support

Providing backup on payroll, invoicing, or expense processing where required.

When Should You Hire an Assistant Accountant?

This role becomes relevant when:

Your Finance Lead Is Overloaded

The transaction volume is increasing, and your Finance Manager or Controller is stretched too thin.

Month-End Needs More Accuracy

Reporting is inconsistent or error-prone, and you need reliable data to work with.

You’re Structuring a Full Finance Function

You’re building a layered team beneath a qualified lead to ensure long-term scalability.

You’re Moving Beyond Basic Bookkeeping

Your business is evolving, and formal accounting processes are starting to replace basic bookkeeping.

Some companies appoint a Fractional CFO or Portfolio CFO to bring in senior expertise without the cost of a full time hire.

What Makes a Great Assistant Accountant?

You should look for someone who:

Has a desire to learn about accounting, including double entry bookkeeping

Is studying (or keen to study) towards AAT, ACCA or CIMA

Pays close attention to detail and works methodically

Ideally has experience of using accounting software like Xero, QuickBooks or Sage

Similar Roles

Sales Ledger

Bookkeeper

Management Accountant

Unsure What Role You Really Need?

It’s not always clear whether you need an Assistant Accountant, a Financial Controller, a CFO or something in between.

That’s where our Finance Function Blueprint comes in.

We map out your finance team structure based on your goals, business size, and growth stage, so you can hire with clarity and confidence.

Not Sure Where to Start?

We offer a free Finance Team Diagnostic session to help you assess your current setup and work out what you really need next. It is a no-obligation, one-to-one session with one of our experienced finance directors.

Planning to hire?

At Artemis Clarke, we help ambitious businesses find CFOs who combine strategic insight with practical experience.

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