Overview of the Role
Role: Finance Associate
Reporting to: Client Director
Salary: £35,000 to £40,000
Location: Remote - working from home in the UK
Reporting to: Client Director
Salary: £35,000 to £40,000
Location: Remote - working from home in the UK
At Onside Accounting, Finance Associates provide specialist support in delivering accurate reporting and compliance, with a focus on month-end, year-end and VAT.
Finance Associates work under the direction of a Client Director, with the Client Director owning all client communication. The role focuses on reviewing outputs from outsourced bookkeeping providers, supporting VAT compliance, and assisting with financial reporting and analysis. This role provides excellent exposure to management accounts, year-end accounts and finance support projects, with a clear progression pathway to Finance Manager. Finance Associates are expected to take a proactive, hands-on approach and contribute to process and system improvements, supporting the adoption of technology and automation across the
team’s workflows.
Extensive experience of dedicated home-working within a UK accounting practice is an essential requirement for this role, where working from home was the norm rather than the exception. Applicants must be confident managing priorities, delivering work independently and collaborating effectively in a remote environment, including throughout training and induction. Remote working experience gained during Covid-19 restrictions will not be considered sufficient. We may consider applicants from formal hybrid arrangements, but only
where home working was a long-term, contracted agreement and typically involved at least two to three days per week working from home.
Finance Associates work under the direction of a Client Director, with the Client Director owning all client communication. The role focuses on reviewing outputs from outsourced bookkeeping providers, supporting VAT compliance, and assisting with financial reporting and analysis. This role provides excellent exposure to management accounts, year-end accounts and finance support projects, with a clear progression pathway to Finance Manager. Finance Associates are expected to take a proactive, hands-on approach and contribute to process and system improvements, supporting the adoption of technology and automation across the
team’s workflows.
Extensive experience of dedicated home-working within a UK accounting practice is an essential requirement for this role, where working from home was the norm rather than the exception. Applicants must be confident managing priorities, delivering work independently and collaborating effectively in a remote environment, including throughout training and induction. Remote working experience gained during Covid-19 restrictions will not be considered sufficient. We may consider applicants from formal hybrid arrangements, but only
where home working was a long-term, contracted agreement and typically involved at least two to three days per week working from home.
What the Role Offers
This role provides the opportunity to step into a more analytical and client-support focused position, building long-term technical capability and creating meaningful impact for clients and the team. It offers:
A shift away from repetitive processing work, focusing on month-end, year-end and financial analysis.
Exposure to management accounting and finance support projects, supporting progression to Finance Manager.
Opportunities to develop financial and process expertise while supporting client efficiency.
The chance to work closely with a Client Director and collaborative team within Onside’s outsourced finance model.
Active involvement in improving financial systems and technology, supporting automation, efficiency and best practice across accounting processes.
Responsibility for educating clients to follow efficient processes, improving workflows and reducing requests for information.
Key Responsibilities
Finance Associates are responsible for:
Acting as the point of contact for clients on bookkeeping and VAT matters within Client Director-led portfolios.
Reviewing bookkeeping and VAT outputs from outsourced providers and supporting VAT compliance.
Supporting Finance Managers and Client Directors with month-end and year-end reporting, including collation and review of financial data.
Assisting with preparation of management accounts, financial statements and supporting schedules.
Preparing supporting documentation for client meetings and reporting packs.
Educating clients to follow efficient processes, reducing unnecessary information requests.
Completing hands-on accounting tasks where required, particularly during busy periods or when supporting new clients/systems.
Supporting finance projects, process improvements and system enhancements.
Championing technology and automation tools to refine workflows and improve
accuracy, scalability and service delivery.
accuracy, scalability and service delivery.
Supporting the training and development of new team members.
Personal Specification
You should have completed your Level 3 Assistant Accounting qualification, as a minimum, and have completed, or be working towards the completion of your Level 4 Assistant Accounting or ACCA qualification and should have excellent results on examinations taken to date. You should have 2+ years’ experience working in a UK accounting practice, with a strong emphasis on bookkeeping and financial record-keeping, and be working towards a relevant professional qualification.
You should be experienced in a modern, paperless practice environment and demonstrate a strong understanding of:
• Xero and bookkeeping principles
• Bank reconciliations and accurate financial record-keeping
• Financial controls and best practice
• Documenting and communicating processes clearly and consistently
You should be well-organised, adaptable and capable of managing multiple workloads with strong self-management and time management skills. You should also have strong communication and interpersonal skills, alongside discretion in handling confidential client information.
Remote working experience is an essential requirement for this role; formal hybrid arrangements may be considered only where home working was contractually agreed and consistently applied for at least two days per week.
You should be comfortable working under pressure, meeting deadlines (including alongside study commitments), and demonstrate strong IT skills (Xero, Excel, Word, Outlook) and the ability to learn new systems and workflows quickly. A genuine interest in finance, bookkeeping and business operations, particularly supporting start-ups, is important.
You should be experienced in a modern, paperless practice environment and demonstrate a strong understanding of:
• Xero and bookkeeping principles
• Bank reconciliations and accurate financial record-keeping
• Financial controls and best practice
• Documenting and communicating processes clearly and consistently
You should be well-organised, adaptable and capable of managing multiple workloads with strong self-management and time management skills. You should also have strong communication and interpersonal skills, alongside discretion in handling confidential client information.
Remote working experience is an essential requirement for this role; formal hybrid arrangements may be considered only where home working was contractually agreed and consistently applied for at least two days per week.
You should be comfortable working under pressure, meeting deadlines (including alongside study commitments), and demonstrate strong IT skills (Xero, Excel, Word, Outlook) and the ability to learn new systems and workflows quickly. A genuine interest in finance, bookkeeping and business operations, particularly supporting start-ups, is important.
Residency and Visa Status
You must be resident in and have a legal right to work in the UK.
This is a home-working role with all staff at Onside working from home across in the UK.
This is a home-working role with all staff at Onside working from home across in the UK.