An international, contemporary gallery is looking for a motivated and proactive accounting assistant to join the gallery’s small and dynamic team in London. This is an excellent position for someone with good accounting fundamentals who is looking to expand their practical corporate finance skills in the exciting and singular world of contemporary art.
The job role will cover the company’s Mayfair gallery location as well as the Paris gallery space, providing a great opportunity for exposure to both English and French accounting systems. The position will be based in London with working from home possible some days of the week. French language skills are not required but would be a bonus.
The successful candidate will work closely with the Director of Finance and the gallery Accountant with training provided on all aspects of the role, however a good understanding of accounting principles and software is required.
The job scope is initially for an accounting assistant but the gallery is looking for a motivated and ambitious individual who can grow into the role with an aim to eventually taking ownership of the AP, cash management and staff expenses of the gallery, and ultimately becoming involved in all aspects of the finance department.
Primary responsibilities include:
Treasury, cash management and staff expenses
- Maintaining the daily cash book
- Assisting with monthly bank reconciliations
- Reviewing and posting any missing bank movements
- Reconciling the gallery’s petty cash and posting expenses
- Reviewing and posting staff expenses and working with assistants to ensure expense reports are satisfactorily prepared each month
Accounts receivable (AR)
- Matching incoming AR payments to sales invoices and updating sales software
- Notifying relevant parties once AR payments are received
- Posting AR receipts to accounting software
- Preparing sundry invoices from order forms
Accounts payable (AP)
- Reviewing AP payment requests and ensuring correct approval has been obtained
- Posting AP invoices and setting up the regular AP payment runs on accounting software
- Preparing payment files for uploading to the bank
- Responding to internal and external queries on AP payment statuses
- Assisting the accountant on AP statement reconciliations
Additional functions
- Working with other teams in the gallery to help reconcile exhibition budgets
- Assisting the accountant and the finance director in the preparation of quarterly and annual financial statements and responding to auditor requests
Requirements:
- Relevant experience in an accounting role and/or a suitable accounting/finance/business qualification
- Good fundamental knowledge of UK accounting and VAT principles and familiarity with accounting software
- Great knowledge of Excel and Google docs and the ability to work with and manipulate financial data
- Good communication skills and the ability to work with multi-disciplinary teams
- Excellent attention to detail
- Ability to work proactively and autonomously with an understanding of how to prioritize time-sensitive and competing tasks