Junior Subsidiary Accounts Assistant

Work Location: Brighton & Hove, East Sussex (office based – remote working discretionary (Post probation)

Hours: Full time, Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:30pm (Flexible)

Remuneration: Competitive, dependent on experience (£25,000 – £27,000)

Company Description

Paterson Simons & Co (Africa) Ltd is an international trading and logistics organisation operating across Africa through subsidiaries including Pasico Ghana Ltd, Paterson Simons Nigeria Ltd, and Paterson Simons Cameroon Ltd.

Our finance function provides structured, high-quality accounting and reporting support across the group, ensuring strong financial controls, regulatory compliance, and continuous process improvement.

We are committed to developing our people and supporting long-term career progression through training, exposure to complex group accounting, and professional qualifications.

Job Description

We are looking for a motivated and detail-oriented Junior Subsidiary Accounts Assistant to join our Group Finance team.

Reporting to senior finance staff, you will support accounting operations across multiple subsidiaries, gaining experience in accounts payable, accounts receivable, banking, VAT, withholding tax, group stock, and year-end processes.

This is a full-time, office-based position with occasional international travel.

Person Profile / Characteristics Required for this Role

This role is ideal for someone at the early stages of their finance career who is keen to gain broad international accounting experience and develop professionally within a group finance environment.

We are looking for someone who:

  • Has previous experience in an accounts, finance, or office-based role (desirable)
  • Is studying, or willing to study, towards AAT or similar accounting qualification
  • Takes pride in producing accurate, well-organised work with strong attention to detail
  • Is confident working with Excel and accounting systems (Sage experience desirable)
  • Can manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines in a structured environment
  • Is proactive, organised, and eager to learn new systems and procedures
  • Communicates clearly and professionally with internal teams and external partners
  • Can build strong working relationships across international teams

As a Junior Subsidiary Accounts Assistant you will:

  • Support finance operations across Pasico Group subsidiaries
  • Work closely with internal finance teams, management, and overseas colleagues
  • Maintain accurate accounting records and documentation
  • Assist in the development and improvement of accounting procedures and controls
  • Build technical skills across multiple accounting areas and systems

Tasks and Responsibilities will Include:

ApprovalMax

  • Assist in maintaining ApprovalMax workflows, approvals, reports, and documentation
  • Review expense approval requests for accuracy and compliance
  • Produce daily ApprovalMax reports for cashflow and treasury reporting
  • Maintain accounts payable request lists and payment approval reports

Suppliers & Purchase Ledger

  • Set up and maintain supplier accounts in Sage
  • Process supplier invoices and payments
  • Maintain supplier invoice records and resolve discrepancies
  • Prepare trade creditor reports and creditor control queries

Banking

  • Prepare and enter daily bank payments and interbank transfers into Sage
  • Assist with reconciliation and distribution of provisional receipt reports

Customers & Accounts Receivable

  • Set up customer accounts and maintain master records
  • Process AR invoices and receipts
  • Maintain sales ledger and support credit control activities
  • Distribute customer statements and follow up on outstanding debts
  • Prepare monthly sales reports

VAT & Withholding Tax

  • Assist with preparation and submission of monthly VAT returns
  • Process VAT and WHT journals in Sage
  • Prepare withholding tax schedules, payments, and certificates tracking

Loans & Reconciliations

  • Review loan schedules and process adjustments
  • Prepare and maintain loan account reconciliations

Group Stock

  • Assist with group stock coordination using Forward ERP
  • Maintain group stock listings and reconcile stock movements
  • Prepare daily and monthly stock reports

Year-End & Audit

  • Assist with year-end reconciliations and audit schedules
  • Prepare journal documentation
  • Support responses to auditor queries

General & Other Duties

  • Process weekly foreign exchange rates
  • Support management accounts preparation and general ledger reconciliations
  • Maintain accurate filing systems and audit trails
  • Assist with ISO / QMS documentation and rollout
  • Provide ad-hoc reporting to finance management and group directors
  • Attend staff meetings and support continuous improvement initiatives
  • Occasional travel to Ghana/ Nigeria to liaise with finance teams, banks, and auditors

Training & Development

  • Funded AAT qualification (AS & A Level equivalent)
  • Exposure to internal audit processes
  • Structured on-the-job training within group finance

How do I apply

Application Process:
Please send a copy of your CV along with a brief summary outlining your interest in the role and relevant experience to: recruitment@patersonsimons.com

Please note: You must be UK based and living in easy commute distance

Interview Location: Brighton & Hove, East Sussex

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Work Location: In person/ Eventual Hybrid