Accounts Receivable / Finance Assistant

Position: Finance Assistant  - Account Receivable
Reporting to: Transactional Finance Manager / Financial Controller
Location Base: Chiswick, London, UK (3 days office, 2 days remote) 
Contract: Permanent              

Global Touring

Here at Global Touring, we're a travel company specializing in group tours and inspiring people through life-changing travel experiences. Through our brands Topdeck Travel, Back-Roads Touring and Grasshopper Adventures we are expanding our product range, driving growth in key sales markets (Australia, New Zealand & North America), innovating product delivery and ensuring we deliver a first-class customer experience. Don’t worry if you can’t find Global Touring when you search online – this is our internal brand, externally we only use our customer facing brands.

Topdeck, Back-Roads and Grasshopper Adventures serve very different customers, however our ‘one best way’ approach is consistent and effective in supporting the specific strategy and activity for each brand. At Global Touring, each team member works across all our brands with equal commitment.

We’re looking for someone to join our team that aligns perfectly with our brand and values... if this sounds like you then keep reading! 

Overview:

We are seeking a proactive Finance Assistant who is solution driven, has great attention to detail and a talent for multi-tasking. The ideal candidate will work in collaboration with their immediate Accounts Receivable peers, with the wider finance team and effectively as an individual.

The Finance Assistant will be crucial in the daily operations of the Accounts Receivable function. The ideal candidate will be a bright, upbeat and self-driven individual who enjoys working within a dynamic environment. 

This vacancy may suit an AAT studier or someone early in their CIMA/ACCA studies. For the right candidate, the role could develop in the future, to encompass more aspects of the financial control environment as our business grows.

Key Responsibilities:

• Daily authentication of and routine update of customer receipts, both credit card and bank transfer
• Twice weekly validation and processing of any required customers refund requests
• Weekly validation and processing of Agent Commission payments
• Daily management of Accounts Receivable shared mailboxes, applying diplomatic problem solving skills to queried items
• Ongoing proactive chasing of outstanding debts across our brands, ensuring that agent debts are collected in a timely manner, reducing risk whilst maintaining strong relationships with our external agents, finance and our internal customer service team
• Accuracy of data entry at all times ensuring all transaction details, receipt lines and tax are processed correctly in our Travel Studio system, in adherence to company policies
• Proactive investigation and prompt, accurate resolution of day-to-day queries
• Support the administration of Month End activity
• Regular Agent reconciliations, with prompt solution for issues identified
• Support Global Touring in meeting statutory reporting requirements, by ensuring documentation is maintained and retained in line with company guidelines
• Deliver required support for our local and group audit processes
• Assisting with other ad-hoc projects and tasks as advised, such as audit

Experience, Requirements and Key Behaviours

• Minimum 2yrs experience in Accounts Receivable or similar finance role
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced high volume environment with ongoing deadlines and regular change for new agents & queries. Circa 2,000 receipts and 175 manual payments per month
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate out in a clear and concise effective manner to agents / internal teams
• Great problem solving and organisational skills with fantastic attention to detail
• Team player with a proactive approach to problem solving and process improvement
• Is customer focused, accepts constructive feedback and embraces change
• First-rate time management and prioritisation skills
• Experience of operating across multiple legal entities with multi-currency accounts in multiple IT systems
• Demonstrates capability of working on the full cycle of accounts receivable processes including receipt processing, debt chasing, query management, and statement reconciliation
• Intermediate level knowledge of Microsoft Excel and proficiency in MS Office applications
• Advantageous to have experience with SAGE 300
• A Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field is preferred
• Experience in the travel or tourism industry is a plus
• Upholds Company Values and Culture

Corporate and Social Responsibilities
You should demonstrate a commitment to the following, within Global Touring:

• protect our company culture of openness to all people regardless of gender, age…improving recycling processes
• stopping the use of all single-use plastic items
• promoting the use of reusable items such as Tupperware and water bottles

Team member benefits:
Our benefits are ever changing and are offered to UK employees (some with specific length of service required to access), as subject to change. 
Access guides an usage policies and T&Cs can all be accessed upon joining.
 
Travel & Entertainment

• Annual free trip with one of our brands
• Family & Friends discount on Global Touring trips
• Travelwise - Internal travel agent with access to exclusive industry deals and discounts
• Eurostar - Flat rate fares across the network
• Hotels - travel industry concessions at selected international chains
• Perkbox (UK) membership with flexipoints added monthly
• Pension contribution (UK)
• Access to FCTG employee share plan (Global)

 
Health & Wellbeing

• Free annual eye test
• Healthwise forum
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Cycle to work scheme

Working arrangements & leave

• 23 days annual leave + Bank Holidays
• Birthday leave
• Flexible working
• L&D days (up to 4x days per year)
• Volunteer Leave
• Additional Annual leave purchase
• Bonus up to 10% based on profits linked performance

Hungry for more? Shoot over your resume along with a cover letter telling us why this is the job for you – and equally why you’re right for us.

Global Touring Values
Our vales aren't just words on a page. They're the backbone; the steering wheel; the soundtrack to how we embrace each day. Like a well baked brownie, every ingredient combines to achieve the rich consistency fueling the soul of Global Touring.      

Stay Curious
We are natural born explorers. Our people question old solutions, apply alternative thinking and embrace being challenged in the search for outcomes. We’re excited by the journey on and off the road – expanding our knowledge, adapting to feedback and questioning the status quo. Value ideas over hierarchy. Have the courage to take risks. Don’t let perfection prevent growth.

Choose Transparency
We take the right way, not the easy way. We're straight up even through the toughest conversations; tackling challenges head-on and with integrity. Honor commitments. Communicate with clarity. And build relationships based on mutual respect. Forget hidden agendas, we treat everyone fairly - despite a preference for instant coffee.

Don't pass the buck
If we do it, we do it well. We are empowered to make decisions based on data and experience - holding each other accountable along the way. Spare the excuses. Be fearless in the pursuit of results. And take responsibility - even when no one's looking. There will be bumps in the road; that's ok. We own our mistakes and learn from the challenges as well as the successes.

Together we go further
Across oceans and office desks, it's more than a love for travel that keeps us connected. 
There are no silos here; we are each other's toughest critics and loudest supporters - especially around the ping pong table. People with diverse backgrounds, different identities and varied experiences making our company exceptional. We embrace alternate perspectives, recognize each other's strengths and champions collective genius.