Full Time

Hours: Full Time/ Part Time (4-5 days Per Week) 
Duration: Initial 12-month fixed-term contract, with the possibility of a permanent appointment
Pay: Circa £36,000 + Benefits

We are looking for an exceptional Assistant Accountant to join our happy and high-performing Finance team. This position presents a rare opportunity to join The Royal Yacht Britannia (Tripadvisor’s No.1 Visitor Attraction), a leading five-star visitor attraction and exclusive events venue celebrated for its outstanding quality and customer experience, as well as the team behind our sister ship, Fingal—Scotland’s only luxury floating hotel, awarded Scotland’s AA Hotel of the Year 2023/24 and Edinburgh’s No.1 hotel on Tripadvisor.

This role offers an outstanding opportunity to gain broad accounting experience across one of the visitor attraction and hospitality industry’s leading businesses.

Company benefits include:
• 6.6 weeks/33 days pro-rata, annual holiday entitlement (one week/5 days pro-rata more than statutory min).
• Hybrid working opportunities.
• Performance and loyalty payment scheme.
• 10% employer pension contribution, with a choice to contribute up to a further 5% yourself, which would then be matched by us as well! (so 20% potential contribution to your pension).
• Free car parking for staff.
• Up to one week/5 days pro-rata, long service holiday entitlement.
• Life Assurance.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Complimentary tickets and staff discount (Britannia and Fingal Hotel and other luxury hotels).
• Study Support available.

Finance Team
The Finance team is involved in a wide range of activities, ranging from day-to-day financial processing, to playing a role in formulating the organisation’s financial strategy. We provide support to the managers and staff of Britannia and Fingal, who are responsible for delivering exceptional experiences to our visitors. We are looking for an Assistant Accountant to join the friendly team on board (your office would be on Britannia!).

The Assistant Accountant Role
The core purpose of the role is to provide support to the Senior Finance Manager, Finance Manager and wider Finance team in both management and financial accounting disciplines.

Critical to the success of the role will be to gain an active understanding of each department, so that direction and advice can be given on all aspects of month end reporting, budgets, forecasting, and other financial and non-financial matters relating to the development of the company.

Furthermore, the business is in an exciting phase of digital development and as we adopt the automation of traditional accounting processes and embrace real-time reporting, the role will expand and adapt accordingly to support data analysis across the business (including non-finance systems) to ensure sound financial decision making.

The post holder is required to use their initiative and be pro-active in supporting the Senior Finance Manager in seeking to improve the company’s financial position, performance, and mitigation of risks.

The post holder will support the Finance Managers, Managers, and Directors in monitoring and taking remedial action to ensure financial performance meets key corporate performance indicators.

Main Duties, Responsibilities & Accountabilities:
• Working in conjunction with the Senior Finance Manager, Finance Manager, and wider Finance team to ensure the delivery of high standards of transactional processing, as well as providing excellent financial guidance and support to the business.
• Support the Senior Finance Manager and Finance Manager in the preparation of the monthly management accounts, including undertaking tasks such as accruals & prepayments, stock adjustments, fixed assets, and tax, all in accordance with the month end timetable.
• Preparation and review of monthly management information packs for Directors and Managers.
• Post month end, meet with certain Directors to review performance against budget and provide guidance as and when required.
• Support the Senior Finance Manager to ensure the delivery of revenue and capital budgets in accordance with budget timetable.
• Support the Senior Finance Manager in the preparation of the Annual Reports for both the Group and trading subsidiary.
• Own and drive real-time reporting and analytical insights.
• Carrying out ad hoc reporting where required by the Senior Finance Manager or Finance team.
• Take ownership of the company’s aged debt including effective credit control management.
• Take a lead role in developing the Finance teams reporting capabilities from our new Finance system – Access Financials and support wider data analysis across the business through our data warehouse – Analytics.
• Ownership for the Gift Aid process, including month submission and reconciliation.
• Undertaking daily/monthly monitoring of company financial information.
• Supporting the Senior Finance Manager in ensuring that appropriate internal financial controls exist across all departments.
• Preparation of various regulatory returns, including VAT and National Statistics.
• The successful candidate will be trained in other aspects of a busy Finance Office including Accounts Payable, Daily Sales, and Treasury, and will undertake these roles when the other Finance Assistants are on annual leave.
• Carrying out any other duties as may be requested from time to time by the Director of Finance & Administration, Senior Finance Manager and Finance Manager.
• Other ad-hoc duties as required.

Accountability
• The Assistant Accountant is accountable to the Senior Finance Manager.

Qualifications
• Good level of education with at least GCSE/Standard Grade/National 5 English &
Mathematics at Grade 1-3 or equivalent – Essential
• AAT Part Qualified or equivalent experience – Desirable

Experience
• Basic understanding of accounting principles (debits & credits) – Essential
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience at Finance Assistant level or above – Essential
• Ability to use IT systems efficiency and effectively (MS Word, Excel) – Essential
• Experience of using accounting software (we use Access Financials) – Essential
• Ability to work with bespoke IT systems – Essential
• Excellent understanding of accounting principles – Desirable
• Relevant work experience in a similar organisation or background – Desirable

Personal Attributes
• Sound, consistent personal organisation and effective time management.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to work effectively and participate fully within a team environment.
• Ability to provide accurate, relevant responses to both the Finance team and external parties.
• Manipulation and presentation of financial data to suit needs of varying recipients.

Personal Qualities
To excel in this role, you will need strong communication skills, a keen eye for detail, good organisational abilities, and a positive, flexible approach to managing a busy and varied workload. It is also essential that you are passionate about delivering excellent internal service, and have a very good sense of humour!

If you feel you have the personality, skills and experience we are looking for, then we would love to hear from you.

How to Apply:
Please send your CV and a tailored covering letter outlining why you feel you would be suitable for the role of Assistant Accountant to: jenny.blain@tryb.co.uk. 

JOB PURPOSE
Ben Lawers NNR is the most important mountain area in the UK for rare arctic-alpine plants, some of which occur in few other locations. The long running programme of monitoring is fundamental to informing conservation management such as the pioneering restoration of montane willow scrub, which was in terminal decline. The reserve now hosts the finest examples in the UK.
We are looking for a Seasonal Ecologist to be an enthusiastic and effective member of the property team. You will carry out botanical and other biological monitoring, as part of an ongoing programme, to inform management of the NNR.
The role is a physical one, requiring regular walking to high altitude locations and working on steep ground. You may work alongside other staff and volunteers but there will be a frequent requirement for lone working.
Although the role is not primarily public facing, you may interact with visitors during the course of your work. You will be an ambassador for the National Trust for Scotland leaving those you meet with a desire to respect, protect, and enjoy the NNR and an understanding of how they can help to contribute their support to the property. The role may support other staff with events when required.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES
Biological monitoring
 Carry out repeat monitoring of specified rare species at known locations on Ben Lawers SSSI (training in identification and method will be given).
 Assist with other monitoring and recording of species and habitats as required.
 Produce written reports on the above.
Working together
 Support a strong health & safety culture by complying with the property’s Safe System of Work to safeguard yourself and colleagues.
DIMENSIONS AND SCOPE OF JOB
People management
 Liaise closely with property staff and other Trust staff as required (eg. Natural Heritage Officer).
 Work with, and occasionally supervise, volunteers.
 Engage with members of the public of all ages and abilities.
Financial Management
 Not a budget holder and will be expected to liaise with the Property Manager (budget holder) prior to incurring any expenses and be mindful of effective management of Trust funds and resources.
Other duties
 Assist with other areas of property work, such as watering the tree nursery, assisting with other maintenance as necessary.
Tools/Equipment
 May be required to use equipment and vehicles subject to appropriate training.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE
The above outline the core skills and experience necessary to fulfil the role. In addition, the following is required:
Essential
 An interest in field botany and demonstrable identification skills.
 Competence in hillcraft to be self-reliant working safely on steep ground, at up to 1200m and in varying weather.
 Ability to walk to high altitude and remote parts of the property on a daily basis.
 A current valid driving licence.
 Experience in producing written reports.
Desirable
 Experience of lone working.
 Experience of using GIS.