Location: Cumbernauld, Glasgow (office-based role)

Contract: Full-time, permanent

Reporting to: Finance Manager

About the Role

VWS Ltd is seeking a proactive and detail-oriented Finance & Commercial Assistant to support our finance, purchasing, and commercial control functions as the business continues to grow. This is a hands-on, role combining finance administration, bookkeeping support, purchasing coordination, and credit control activities.

The role would suit an organised and commercially aware finance professional who enjoys working across multiple functions, supporting the Finance Manager, managers, suppliers, and external accountants, while playing a key role in maintaining accurate financial records and controls.

Key Responsibilities

Finance Support & Reporting

• Support the day-to-day finance function and associated processes.
• Assist in the preparation of monthly management accounts, including profit & loss, balance sheet, and cashflow reporting.
• Maintain accurate company ledgers, nominal codes, and supporting documentation.
• Support monthly close processes including fixed asset depreciation, WIP adjustments, stock reconciliation, payroll postings, and billing documents.
• Monitor cashflow and highlight potential issues to the Finance Manager in a timely manner.
• Assist with budgets, forecasts, and KPI reporting for the Finance Manager.
• Liaise with external accountants to support statutory accounts, VAT, payroll, and HMRC processes.
• Prepare information for auditors and support audit processes.

Bookkeeping & Transaction Processing

• Oversee accounts payable and receivable, ensuring timely processing and accurate coding.
• Manage client invoicing, payment approvals, debt monitoring, and bank reconciliations.
• Ensure all financial records are scanned, stored, and filed correctly in line with company and GDPR requirements.
• Support and validate work-in-progress (WIP) valuations in collaboration with operational teams.

Purchasing & Supplier Coordination

• Support the purchasing process, ensuring value for money and compliance with internal procedures.
• Obtain and compare supplier quotations and negotiate pricing, credit limits, and payment terms.
• Create, validate, and authorise purchase orders raised by staff.
• Match purchase invoices to purchase orders and ensure correct nominal coding.
• Maintain purchasing and cashflow forecasting spreadsheets.
• Oversee stock control processes across all locations.
• Vet and approve new suppliers in line with ISO and company requirements.

Credit Control & Commercial Support

• Oversee invoicing, applications for payment, and customer billing schedules.
• Monitor aged debt, issue statements, and follow up overdue accounts.
• Work with operational and commercial teams to resolve invoice queries and rejections.
• Maintain PPM and monitoring billing schedules.
• Escalate persistent or high-risk debt issues to the Finance Manager with clear supporting information.

Collaboration & Communication

• Work collaboratively with finance, operations, and commercial teams.
• Work closely with managers, engineers, and operational teams to ensure financial accuracy and alignment with project delivery.
• Attend meetings as required to support financial reporting and commercial discussions.
• Maintain confidentiality and exercise professional judgement when handling sensitive information.

Skills & Experience

• Experience in a finance, accounts, or commercial support role.
• Strong working knowledge of accounting systems such as Xero.
• Solid understanding of bookkeeping, purchasing, credit control, and cashflow management.
• Experience producing management accounts, forecasts, and KPI reporting.
• Confident communicator, able to engage effectively with the Finance Manager, managers, suppliers, and external advisors.
• Highly organised, detail-oriented, and comfortable managing multiple priorities.
• Commercially aware with a proactive, problem-solving mindset.

Why Join VWS?

• Stable, office-based role within a growing, well-established business.
• Opportunity to develop technical finance and commercial experience.
• Supportive team environment with clear reporting structure.
• Competitive salary package, aligned with experience.

Interested?

If you’re a detail-focused finance professional looking to build your experience within a supportive commercial team, we’d love to hear from you.