We have an exciting opportunity to join our team at Florette in Lichfield, ideal for a recent Graduate or professional around the start of their career, as an Assistant Financial Accountant

This role within our Finance team is perfect for a recent Graduate with a degree in a finance/business/maths, or related degree field, to join Florette as we continue to expand. The role could also suit someone in a Finance or Accounts position who is at the start of their career and looking for a role with progression, professional accreditation support, and a strong supportive team in a varied role. This role will play a key duty to take ownership of our Agrial Fresh Produce transactions and reporting needs, including the monthly management of accounts and balance sheet reporting. The successful candidate will manage the Fixed Asset Register as well as take ownership of VAT reporting, with additional related tax and payroll duties.

Pay: DOE, with annual bonus eligibility and benefits.

Working hours: 37.5 hours per week. 08:30am-17:00pm Mon-Fri (1 hour break).

Main Responsibilities 

• Ownership of the Agrial Fresh Produce transactions and reporting needs. Including monthly management accounts and balance sheet reporting.
• Fixed Asset Register – maintenance & reconciliation, monitoring spend – actual vs. authorised as well as an audit of assets to enable the register to move from Excel to AX.
• Balance sheet reconciliations – prepayments / accruals, payroll controls and tax.
• Ownership of the VAT reporting.
• Preparation of journals including payroll, accruals, prepayments etc.
• Ad-hoc support in the following areas: expenses, bank reconciliations, bank payments, preparation of data for group reporting, prep/analysis of data for tax reporting, monthly KPI data, provision of analytical support of account spend as requested and supplier maintenance.
• Full support and assistance with month end procedures.
• To support the payroll lead in the accurate and timely production of BUUK payrolls and associated reporting, using knowledge gained through payroll certification to ensure legislation is adhered to. 

Skills and Experience Required

• Experience of an accounting/finance function.
• Strong administration experience.
• High understanding of Excel as well as other Microsoft Office programs.
• Desire to innovate and learn, with a goal to move onto professional accreditation (ACCA, CIMA).

What You Will Get In Return  

A competitive salary, inclusion in our annual bonus scheme and a range of employee benefits you’d expect from a market leading business, including:

• Life Assurance - three times your basic salary paid to your nominated beneficiary.
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme: providing a Remote GP service along with a 24/7 helpline for financial, legal, medical and life issues.
• A flexible & competitive annual leave entitlement that increases with service and offers an option to purchase additional holiday.
• Personalised training and development.
• Employee discount and salary finance schemes. 
• Recognition awards, an annual volunteering day and a free staff transport service covering Lichfield, Burton on Trent, Cannock, Rugeley, Burntwood.

About Us 

Florette is one of three UK food manufacturing factories within Agrial Fresh Produce, which is a part of the larger 22,000 employee strong French co-operative group, Agrial. The business operates mainly under it's recognisable Florette salad brand and we are one of the UK’s leading producers in the industry. Under the Florette brand, our site processes and distributes pre-packed, ready to eat fresh salad bags and other fresh produce to well-known retailers in the UK. 

Agrial has operations across 18 regions, with 280 farming outlets and 5 different divisions, which comprise Beverage, Dairy, Meat, Fresh Produce & Agricultural operations; it’s not just about lettuce! As well as the 3 factories in the UK, we also have a farming operation – Agrial Fresh Farms. All UK sites operate under the name of Agrial Fresh Produce Limited and fall under Agrial's vegetable division. We have a recipe for success through our EPIC values and working together as one team. 

Next Steps 

It’s an exciting time to join our business! We’re looking for positive and innovative people to join our professional team. If you have the skills and experience we are looking for, and want a fresh challenge we would love for you to join us on our journey!  

Please apply directly or alternatively contact Will Kaye, Recruitment Officer for a totally confidential discussion.  

Agrial Fresh Produce reserve the right to close this vacancy once we have received sufficient applications. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

We are committed to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of all of our staff. That’s why we’ve taken the Mental Health at Work Commitment and are currently delivering a programme of activities to ensure that everyone can have open and honest conversations about their wellbeing in the workplace and feel supported. We encourage applications from persons with experience of poor mental health and are committed to supporting our employees to fulfil their potential and perform at their best in work.

Agrial Fresh Produce Ltd is an Equal Opportunities employer. In addition, as part of Responsible Recruitment, Agrial Fresh Produce Ltd believes in the Employer Pay Principle. No worker should pay for a job – the costs of recruitment should be borne not by the worker but by the employer. 

VISA Sponsorship: We are unable to provide VISA sponsorship, and therefore cannot employ anyone who does not have the legal right to live and work in the UK. Our recruitment process will ask you to provide evidence of your Right to Work in the UK.