Accounts Admin Assistant (24-month FTC)

Are you ready to play a key role in the dynamic world of publishing? We have an exciting opportunity for an Accounts Admin Assistant to join our Bertelsmann Global Business Services (BGBS) team based in Frating, Colchester on a fixed-term basis.

Bertelsmann Global Business Services Ltd (BGBS) is an accounting shared service centre established in 2018 to provide accounting functions for Bertelsmann group companies in the UK. Comprising of a team of over 50 and based at the Penguin Random House distribution centre on the outskirts of Colchester, the group companies served by BGBS include Penguin Random House, Dorling Kindersley, BMG, Arvato SCM and Little Tiger. The services provided by BGBS include Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Banking and General Accounting (general ledger, fixed assets, tax, financial reporting etc.).

In this role, you'll support our Accounts Controller in the timely audit and processing of employee expenses for our BGBS customers. You’ll be part of a dedicated team that ensures every expense is meticulously reviewed and compliant with relevant policies and tax rules. This role is crucial in maintaining the smooth operation of our financial processes and supporting our commitment to excellence.

 Key responsibilities:

• Review employee expenses in line with relevant customer expenses policy.
• Ensure compliance with relevant tax rules during expense reviews.
• Manage the approval process of employee expenses by relevant line managers.
• Maintain the expense team inbox and control related queries.
• Record and manage details of flights, hotel spends, and mileage for ESG purposes.
• Assist the Accounts Payable team in managing staff vendor master data.
• Undertake other relevant duties as directed by the Accounts Controller.

What you’ll bring

Essential criteria:

• Proven experience as an Accounts Receivable/Payable Clerk.
• Strong IT and systems skills, including proficiency in Excel.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, with the ability to influence a wide range of people.

Preferred criteria:

• A structured and disciplined approach to planning and organising workload.
• High attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines, projects, and workloads.
• Initiative to work independently without supervision.
• Capability to build and maintain strong working relationships at various levels throughout the Group.
• Consistent ability to meet strict deadlines and produce high-quality information.
• Commercially motivated mindset with the ability to challenge and probe current data and processes.

Application instructions

Please apply with your CV and cover letter outlining why you are the right candidate for the role by 11:59pm on Monday 27th January.

Please ensure you include a cover letter, as it is a crucial part of our assessment process. The cover letter offers an opportunity to show how your experience and interests align with the role requirements. Typically, we expect the cover letter to be no more than one or two pages in length.

Salary

Up to £24,500 dependent on how your skills and experience align to the role, plus bonus and benefits.

What you can expect from us

Our people are the heart of our business, and we work hard to support a culture of responsibility and recognition.

Our benefits include:

• Financial – discounted shopping, season ticket loan, rental deposit loan
• Wellbeing – healthcare cash plan, employee assistance, gym loan
• Lifestyle – taste card, tech scheme, free and discounted books

For our full benefits list please visit: https://www.penguinrandomhousecareers.co.uk/what-we-offer/

Hybrid working

While our offices across the UK are places to connect, collaborate and celebrate with colleagues, we recognise that flexibility around where you work is just as important. For this role we currently expect that you will attend the office, based in Colchester, 2 days a week.

About Penguin

We’re the UK’s largest publisher; made up of some 2,000 people and publishing over 1,500 books each year. Our doors are open to all kinds of talent. In a constantly evolving industry, we work hard to stretch the definition of the word publisher. Here, you’ll work with a breadth of talent who all play their part to make each of our books a success. Together, we make books for everyone because a book can change anyone.

The recruitment process

You can read about our recruitment process at https://www.penguinrandomhousecareers.co.uk/how-we-hire/

As a Disability Confident Committed organisation, we offer interviews to candidates with a disability who meet the essential criteria for the role, and opt-in on their application form. The essential criteria for this role are listed as part of the ‘What you’ll bring’ section. There may be times when the volume of applications means we cannot take all eligible candidates to interview.

We encourage you to tell us about any reasonable adjustments you may need by emailing PRHCareersUK@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk. Remember, you only need to share what you are comfortable to for us to support your request.

Please note, we are not able to accept agency CVs for this role. Any CVs sent speculatively will not be eligible for a fee.

Company: Penguin Books Limited 

Country: United Kingdom 

State/Region: Essex 

City: Colchester 

Postal Code: CO7 7DW 

Job ID: 276696