Accounts Assistant

Bridgwater

We’re Westcotts – a Top 50+50 Accountancy Practice and Real Living Wage Employer, with over 300 team members based across Devon and Somerset.

We’re looking for an Accounts Assistant to join our Bridgwater office on a permanent basis. This is a great opportunity to develop your career within a friendly and supportive team, working with a wide variety of clients and gaining experience across all aspects of general practice.

Why Westcotts?

At Westcotts, we know our people are our greatest strength. When you join us, you’ll be part of a welcoming, down-to-earth team where your contribution really matters. You’ll enjoy:

• A friendly and supportive working environment
• Varied and meaningful work that helps you develop your skills
• A genuine focus on wellbeing and work/life balance
• The opportunity to grow your career within an established and respected firm

Main Duties

In this role, you’ll enjoy a varied workload and play an important part in supporting our clients and wider team. Your responsibilities will include:

• Preparing financial statements for limited companies, partnerships, and sole traders
• Providing bookkeeping services across a range of clients
• Preparing personal and corporate tax computations and returns
• Filing documents with Companies House and HMRC on behalf of clients
• Ensuring accounting records are accurate, well maintained, and up to date
• Preparing and completing quarterly VAT returns
• Working in line with internal policies, ethical standards, and regulatory requirements
• Providing general administrative support to Partners, Managers, and the office when needed
• Undertaking assignments both in the office and occasionally at client premises

Attributes, Skills, Experience and Qualifications

We’re looking for someone who is organised, proactive, and enjoys working in a team environment. Ideally, you’ll have:

• AAT qualification (or working towards it), or qualified by experience
• Strong analytical, numerical, and problem-solving skills
• A positive, friendly, and approachable manner
• Confidence in communicating with clients and colleagues
• Resilience, flexibility, and the ability to manage multiple tasks
• An organised and conscientious approach, with excellent attention to detail
• Initiative and the ability to prioritise your workload to meet deadlines
• A professional and team-oriented mindset
• Good working knowledge of Word, Excel, Xero and QuickBooks
• Experience of delivering great customer service in an office environment
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• The ability to learn new systems and IT tools quickly
• Experience in an accountancy practice environment (preferred, but not essential)

Terms / Benefits

• Ideally 36.25 hours / 5 days per week however part time hours / days can also be considered.
• Hybrid working is considered.
• Annual salary review.
• 20 days annual leave plus bank holidays increasing to 25 days plus bank holidays after 3 years’ service.
• Opportunity to carry over 1 week’s holiday into the following year.
• Death in service 3 x annual salary.
• Access to Westfield Rewards and Health scheme.
• 24-hour external Employee Assistance Programme helpline.
• Flexible benefits including Buy and Sell holiday, Cycle to Work, Payroll Charity Giving and Private Medical Insurance.
• Introducing clients and staff commission schemes.
• Pension 3% rising to 4% (but matched up to 6%) after 4 years’ service.
• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity pay after one years’ service.

How to apply

To apply for this position, please upload your CV along with a covering letter providing information on why you feel you would be suitable for the role in particular in regards to the desired attributes, skills, experience and qualifications. Please also state your current salary (if applicable), salary expectations and available start date.