Competent Adviser jobs

Rural Estate near Stamford

Approximately 35 hours per week
£27,000–£31,000 per annum, depending on experience

A varied role combining farm and Estate administration, bookkeeping and payroll, PA support, and day-to-day coordination of customer-facing businesses.

The role would suit someone who enjoys variety, is comfortable working independently and takes ownership of their responsibilities. We are looking for someone proactive and capable who will enjoy playing an active part in the management and continued development of a diversified farming Estate.

Key Responsibilities

Estate & PA Administration

• General Estate administration across farming, property and other Estate activities.
• PA and personal administration for the owners and family.
• Liaising with tenants, suppliers, contractors, professional advisers and other third parties.
• Following up outstanding matters and ensuring actions are completed.
• Maintaining compliance records, documentation and routine check schedules across Estate properties and businesses.

Bookkeeping & Payroll

• Day-to-day bookkeeping using Sage 50/Xero.
• Processing and coding purchase invoices, expenses, receipts and other transactions.
• Raising sales invoices, rent demands and monitoring outstanding payments.
• Bank reconciliations and preparation of supplier payments.
• Preparing and submitting monthly VAT returns, including partial exemption calculations where required (training can be provided).
• Running monthly payroll for a small team of approximately four employees.
• Liaising with the Estate's accountants and preparing information required for year-end accounts and other financial reporting.

Business Coordination

• Day-to-day administration and coordination of the Estate's customer-facing businesses which includes Dog Walking Fields and Glamping.
• Managing booking systems, customer enquiries, amendments and cancellations.
• Dealing with routine operational issues and ensuring matters are followed through to resolution.
• Coordinating suppliers, stock requirements and routine purchasing.
• Maintaining and improving systems, procedures and records.

Digital & Marketing

Previous experience with websites, booking platforms and similar digital systems would be useful, but is not essential. The ability and willingness to learn and confidently manage new systems is more important.

• Administration of the digital systems used across the Estate and its businesses.
• Basic website maintenance and updates.
• Preparing occasional customer communications, marketing emails and other straightforward digital marketing.

The Person

We are looking for someone who is:

• Highly organised, reliable and accurate.
• Proactive and confident taking ownership of their areas of work.
• Comfortable and resourceful in independently learning and using new software and online systems as required.
• Able to identify what needs doing, resolve routine problems independently and suggest improvements.
• Comfortable managing several different workstreams and priorities.
• Confident dealing with customers, tenants, contractors, suppliers and professional advisers.
• Numerate and confident undertaking bookkeeping and payroll.
• Competent with Microsoft Office and general online/digital systems.
• Discreet and trustworthy.

Experience & Skills

Previous experience in a PA, farm/estate secretary, bookkeeping, business administration or coordination role would be particularly relevant.

Applicants should have practical bookkeeping experience, ideally using Sage 50/Xero, and be comfortable with invoice processing, nominal/cost coding and bank reconciliations.

Experience of payroll and VAT returns would be beneficial. Partial exemption experience is useful but not essential and can be taught.

Formal accounting qualifications are not required, although AAT or equivalent would be advantageous.

Working Arrangements

The position is approximately 35 hours per week, predominantly during normal weekday working hours.

The customer-facing nature of some of the Estate's businesses means that occasional time-sensitive issues can arise outside normal working hours. A reasonable degree of flexibility will therefore sometimes be required.

The successful candidate will become a central point of administrative and business coordination across the Estate, with responsibility for maintaining their areas of work, anticipating routine requirements and following matters through to completion.

Pay: £30,000.00-£35,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person