Junior Accountant Job Description
Ready-made, employer-facing copy and role guidance for hiring a practical, entry-level accountant who will support day-to-day finance operations and month‑end routines.
What does a Junior Accountant professional do?
A Junior Accountant processes day-to-day transactions, supports month‑end accounting and performs reconciliations while learning technical skills and accounting systems.
Junior Accountant job description template
Use this employer-ready example as a starting point, then replace the placeholders and adjust the content so it accurately reflects your vacancy.
Junior Accountant — [Location]
About the role
[Insert Company Name] is recruiting a Junior Accountant to join our finance team at [Insert Location]. You will support routine bookkeeping, process invoices and payments, prepare monthly reconciliations and assist with the preparation of management reports and VAT paperwork. This role is suitable for a candidate with strong attention to detail, basic accounting experience and willingness to train towards a professional qualification. Salary: [Insert Salary or Salary Range]. Benefits: [Insert key benefits]. To apply, send your CV and a short covering note to [Insert Contact].
Key responsibilities
- Post and code sales and purchase invoices; match and process supplier payments.
- Reconcile bank accounts and supplier/creditor ledgers on a monthly basis.
- Support month‑end tasks including accruals, prepayments and journals under supervision.
- Process and record employee expenses and assist with payroll input where required.
- Prepare VAT return working papers and assist with submission preparation.
- Maintain accurate customer account records and chase overdue invoices when appropriate.
- Help prepare schedules and documents for audits and senior accountants.
- Support the finance team with ad-hoc data queries and continuous improvement of accounting processes.
Essential skills and experience
- 1+ years' experience in bookkeeping, accounts or a similar finance role (commercial or practice).
- Working knowledge of double-entry bookkeeping and basic accounting principles.
- Practical competence with spreadsheets (Excel) including formulas and reconciliation techniques.
- Attention to detail and ability to organise and prioritise routine tasks.
- Good communication skills for liaising with suppliers, clients and colleagues.
- Right to work in the UK.
Desirable
- Part‑qualified AAT, ACCA or CIMA student or willing to study towards a qualification.
- Experience with cloud accounting packages (for example Xero, QuickBooks or Sage).
- Familiarity with VAT processes and basic payroll procedures.
- Previous exposure to month‑end reporting and year‑end audit support.
- Experience in a practice (accountancy firm) or in-house finance team.
What we offer
- [Pension contribution]
- [Paid annual leave — e.g. X days plus bank holidays]
- [Study support and time off for professional exams]
- [Hybrid working / flexible hours — if applicable]
- [Season ticket loan / travel allowance — if applicable]
- [Employee assistance programme or wellbeing support]
How to apply
Apply with your CV and any additional information requested. Make the interview process, closing date and any assessment stages clear where known.
Use this as a starting point rather than a final advert. The strongest version will reflect the real role, salary, location, systems, responsibilities, benefits and working arrangements.
What is a Junior Accountant role?
A Junior Accountant supports the finance function by maintaining day‑to‑day ledgers, carrying out reconciliations and assisting with routine reporting. They typically work under the supervision of a senior accountant or finance manager, completing transaction processing, preparing VAT and expense records, and building the technical skills needed to progress towards professional accountancy qualifications.
Typical day
Processing invoices, bank reconciliations, supplier queries and preparation of basic journals to support month‑end.
Team & reporting
Works within the finance team reporting to a Senior Accountant or Finance Manager, with regular contact across operations and suppliers.
Progression
Role commonly leads to Assistant/Staff Accountant positions and support for professional study (AAT/ACCA/CIMA).
Typical Junior Accountant responsibilities
Responsibilities should reflect the real scope of the vacancy rather than every task someone in this profession might ever complete.
Post and code sales
Post and code sales and purchase invoices; match and process supplier payments.
Reconcile bank accounts
Reconcile bank accounts and supplier/creditor ledgers on a monthly basis.
Support month‑end tasks including accruals
Support month‑end tasks including accruals, prepayments and journals under supervision.
Process
Process and record employee expenses and assist with payroll input where required.
Prepare VAT return working papers
Prepare VAT return working papers and assist with submission preparation.
Maintain accurate customer account records
Maintain accurate customer account records and chase overdue invoices when appropriate.
Help prepare schedules
Help prepare schedules and documents for audits and senior accountants.
Support the finance team with
Support the finance team with ad-hoc data queries and continuous improvement of accounting processes.
Junior Accountant skills and experience to look for
Keep the essential list focused on what the person really needs to perform the role. Move useful-but-trainable experience into desirable criteria.
Usually worth prioritising
- 1+ years' experience in bookkeeping, accounts or a similar finance role (commercial or practice).
- Working knowledge of double-entry bookkeeping and basic accounting principles.
- Practical competence with spreadsheets (Excel) including formulas and reconciliation techniques.
- Attention to detail and ability to organise and prioritise routine tasks.
- Good communication skills for liaising with suppliers, clients and colleagues.
- Right to work in the UK.
Useful where relevant
- Part‑qualified AAT, ACCA or CIMA student or willing to study towards a qualification.
- Experience with cloud accounting packages (for example Xero, QuickBooks or Sage).
- Familiarity with VAT processes and basic payroll procedures.
- Previous exposure to month‑end reporting and year‑end audit support.
- Experience in a practice (accountancy firm) or in-house finance team.
See our guide to what to include in a job advert before publishing.
How to write a Junior Accountant job advert
Small role-specific details can make the advert much easier for suitable candidates to assess.
Be explicit about systems
Name the accounting software and any key tools (e.g. Xero, Sage, Excel) so candidates know whether their experience matches.
Clarify supervisory level
State who the role reports to and whether the role includes any supervisory or client-facing responsibilities.
Promote training and progression
Highlight study support, time off for exams or clear progression routes — these attract candidates at this level.
Set realistic experience expectations
Specify the practical tasks candidates must be comfortable with (bank reconciliations, invoice processing) rather than vague years-of-experience counts.
Junior Accountant salary considerations
Salaries for Junior Accountants vary widely across the UK. Pay is influenced by employer size, sector (practice vs in‑house), local cost of living, required technical skills and whether study support or additional responsibilities are included. Use these factors to determine a competitive band appropriate to your organisation and location.
depending on experience
- Use a genuine range
- Separate variable pay
- Avoid “competitive” alone
- Match salary to seniority
What Junior Accountant candidates will want to know
Practical details can influence whether a suitable candidate applies, even when the title and salary are attractive.
Which accounting software and systems will I use?
Candidates want to know if their existing experience aligns with your tech stack and whether training is provided.
What are the expected working hours and flexibility?
Clarify core hours, overtime expectations at month‑end and any hybrid or remote working options.
Who will I report to and how large is the finance team?
Applicants need to understand supervision, mentorship and whether they will work closely with senior accountants.
Is study support offered for professional qualifications?
Many candidates at this level are seeking employers that fund or support AAT/ACCA/CIMA study and exam leave.
What are the most common day‑to‑day tasks?
Detailing routine duties helps candidates assess fit and readiness for the role.
Where to post a Junior Accountant job
Advertise this role on a mix of broad UK job boards and finance-specific channels. Use professional networks such as LinkedIn, specialist accounting boards or AAT/ACCA student forums, and local university careers services if you are open to recent graduates or apprentices. For faster hires, consider partnering with agencies that focus on accounting and finance or promoting the vacancy through targeted social media ads to reach candidates with the right technical skills.
Related finance & accounting job descriptions
Recruiting for a slightly different role? These templates may be a closer fit.
Junior Accountant job description FAQs
Do I need to require a degree for a Junior Accountant?
A degree is not essential for most junior accounting roles. Practical bookkeeping experience, demonstrable Excel skills and a willingness to study for professional qualifications are often more important for entry-level posts.
Should AAT or part‑qualified status be essential?
Making AAT part‑qualification desirable rather than essential widens the candidate pool. If the role must complete regulated tasks independently, consider making it essential.
How can I test candidates’ practical skills before interview?
Use a short practical assessment that covers bank reconciliation, coding/allocating simple transactions and an Excel task to demonstrate formula use and attention to detail.
What interview questions identify a good junior accountant?
Ask about examples of reconciliations resolved, experience with month‑end tasks, how they prioritise routine deadlines, and a practical scenario about correcting an invoice error.
How long does recruitment usually take for this role?
Time-to-hire varies, but expect 3–6 weeks from posting to offer for typical junior roles; allow more time if you require specific sector experience or qualification support.
Ready to post this Junior Accountant role?
Use this template to build your advert, adjust the responsibilities and benefits to reflect your organisation, and choose the channels that match the candidate profile you need.
