Finance Assistant

About Jo Loves

Jo Loves is a modern fragrance, bath, body, and candle brand established by Jo Malone CBE, a globally recognised innovator in scent creation. Drawing inspiration from Jo's personal memories and significant life experiences, the brand focuses on developing innovative and unique fragrances, marked by meticulous craftsmanship and its iconic red dot signature representing quality and integrity. The company enjoys a growing presence worldwide, supported by an engaged community on social media.

Job Role Overview

The Finance Assistant role operates within a dynamic and fast-moving setting, playing a pivotal part in ensuring the smooth operation of the finance department. Reporting directly to the Management Accountant and Head of Finance, this position collaborates extensively across departments to maintain accurate financial records, support revenue recovery, cost tracking, and cash flow forecasting. Adherence to evolving departmental policies and protocols is essential, including maintaining system integrity, timely response to demand fluctuations, and strict financial control procedures. This is a process-oriented role focused on compliance with KPIs and departmental guidelines.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage sales invoicing: promptly generate accurate invoices upon dispatch, ensuring correct SKU, payment terms, and VAT application.
• Collaborate with the Sales team to reflect return-to-vendor (RTV) credits accurately.
• Handle customer invoice queries swiftly to prevent payment delays.
• Maintain accurate purchase transaction records, including timely logging of supplier invoices with verified details and approved purchase order references.
• Verify account codes and departmental allocations align with budgets.
• Foster positive supplier relationships through effective communication.
• Perform daily processing of customer receipts to monitor outstanding balances, securing remittance advice and ensuring payment allocation matches advice.
• Issue regular customer statements to anticipate payment deadlines and monitor debtor days, reporting concerns to the Management Accountant.
• Generate weekly debtors reports for Management Accountant and Head of Sales review.
• Maintain thorough records of sales and purchase transactions with correct departmental postings.
• Ensure proforma payments align with invoices and outstanding balances in the Trade Creditor Ledger.
• Process staff expense claims with proper VAT documentation.
• Conduct bank reconciliations in the NetSuite system.
• Assist Management Accountant with company credit card processing and monthly financial close activities.
• Record transactions related to store stock given as 100% off.

Candidate Profile

• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to maintaining orderly and precise financial records.
• Strong analytical thinking and numeracy capabilities.
• Proficient computer skills, especially in Microsoft Excel.
• Effective communication skills internally and with customers.
• Ability to work within agreed processes and a willingness to learn and grow.
• Collaborative team player with logical reasoning.
• Interest in the fragrance industry is desirable.

Knowledge and Experience

• Experience with NetSuite ERP is advantageous but not mandatory.
• Sound knowledge of Excel and Microsoft Office components.
• Fundamental understanding of accounting principles and financial operations.
• Strong interpersonal skills combined with commercial awareness and ability to work cross-functionally.
• Flexibility to contribute effectively as part of a team.

Qualifications

Part qualification in accounting such as AAT, CIMA, ACCA, or ACA is preferred but not required.

Experience

A minimum of one year in a comparable finance role, ideally with exposure to finance functions within fragrance, personal care, or similar FMCG sectors, although this is not essential.