Finance Assistant

Colas Ltd are a UK subsidiary of the global Colas Group, which operates in over 50 countries worldwide and employs over 55,000 people including over 1500 in the UK across multiple sites. We are specialists in highways construction and have been involved in large-scale UK and international construction projects within the highways, airfields, and marine sectors as well as offering highways maintenance services and manufacturing our own innovative surfacing products. We hold a 'Gold Investor in People' award for continuously developing and rewarding our employees, offering excellent career potential.

Purpose of the Finance Assistant role

We have an exciting oppprtunity for a Finance Assistant to join our team supporting the CWAC contract in Chester, CH2 4EX. This is a great opportunity for someone with accounts experience who enjoys working in a fast-paced environment and supporting the wider finance and operational teams.

Reporting to the Finance Manager, you will provide financial and administrative support to the CWAC project. The role will involve assisting with month-end duties, processing purchase, subcontract and sales invoices, and supporting the management accounting function to ensure accurate reporting of financial performance.

Finance Assistant Main Responsibilities

As a Finance Assistant, you will process purchase and subcontract invoices within the Group finance system and ensure all materials are correctly GRN d within the LISA cost capture system. You will support the administration of purchase invoices for the contract, raise payment requisitions, and assist with the preparation of sales and proforma invoices, applications and intercompany valuations. The role will also involve coordinating and completing any additional sales invoicing required, completing contract costing journals for the project, and supporting contract reviews with the Business Manager, Contracts Managers and other members of the business unit. You will ensure that new contract codes are raised in a timely manner and help maintain and update the contract code list. In addition, you will assist in checking COUPA orders to ensure the correct head code, counterfoil reference and unit of measure are applied before approval, and help maintain and update new orders and purchase order spreadsheets. You will also support the production of monthly management accounts and internal reports, respond to both internal and external queries, and undertake ad-hoc duties as required by the Finance Manager. Ensure all activities are carried out with full regard for the safety of visitors, colleagues and yourself. Work in line with environmental standards to prevent pollution, comply with legal and corporate requirements and minimise environmental impact

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will be studying their AAT this is desirable, not essential. You will have minimum GCSE Maths and English. You will have experience of working in accounts department, have a good attention to detail and be wholly competent with Microsoft office excel/word preferred but can be taught in house.

Package Description

Here at Colas, we offer a great total compensation package, including:

• A salary between £24,784.50 and £30,000
• Our Colas Pension Scheme has combined contributions of up to 10%
• Life Assurance Scheme which is x4 basic salary
• 25 days annual leave per year + Public Holidays
• Holiday Purchase & Selling Scheme
• Hybrid Working Scheme (dependent on the role)
• Opportunities to study towards a fully funded Professional Qualification
• Ongoing personal / professional development
• Discounts on car leasing, holidays, cinema tickets, restaurants and much more through our online employee benefits portal

At Colas, our culture is guided by four core values: Respect, Commitment, Pioneering, and Sharing. These values shape how we work, collaborate, and grow together. We believe that respect is the foundation of every relationship. By treating others as we wish to be treated, we foster fairness, transparency, and inclusion within our teams and with our clients, communities, and partners. Commitment means dedicating ourselves fully to everything we do. We strive to create an environment where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered to make a meaningful impact. With a pioneering spirit, we prioritise bold innovation over blind ambition. We welcome new ideas, invest in our people, and work to deliver sustainable infrastructure solutions that shape the future. Through sharing, we build trust and solidarity, encouraging collaboration and growth at all levels of the business.

Colas Ltd is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that mirrors the communities we serve. As an equal opportunity employer, we welcome applications from all backgrounds. If you want a workplace where your voice is valued and your potential is developed, Colas is the right choice.

Note to Recruitment Agencies
In line with our Company Policy, Colas Ltd has a preference for direct hiring and we will reach out to our PSL (Preferred Suppliers List) agencies if the role is eligible for release. We do not accept speculative CVs from agencies. If a speculative CV is sent, no fee will be applicable.