Finance Assistant

Hours: 30 Hours Per Week

Work Pattern: Hybrid, with at least 1 day per week in our HQ office in NG8

Interview Date: 26th February 2026

Closing Date: 20th February 2026

Salary: Grade 3 (£25,583 - £26,402 FTE)

**Once you have submitted your application, please email recruitment@inspireculture.org.uk with your name, vacancy title and application reference so that we can check that your application has been received**

We are looking for a motivated and detail‑oriented Finance Assistant to join the Inspire Finance Team, based in Nottingham.

In this role, you will be a valued part of our friendly and supportive team, helping to keep our finance function running smoothly every day. You will play a key part in making sure our transactional finance tasks are completed accurately and efficiently, while providing helpful, positive support to colleagues and external stakeholders. You will also provide essential administrative support to the wider finance team.

Who We Are

Inspire: Culture, Learning and Libraries is a charitable community benefit society delivering a range of cultural and learning services across Nottinghamshire. 

What you'll do

Reporting to the Finance Officer, and with no direct reports, you will play a key role in ensuring the smooth running of our day‑to‑day financial processes. This includes accurately entering and uploading purchase transactions into Inspire’s accounting software, creating purchase orders when required, and preparing payment runs in line with our financial policies and regulations. You will set up and maintain supplier records and coordinate the purchase card process, including monthly reporting, correct VAT treatment, and regular liaison with budget holders. You will also prepare and issue sales invoices, generate income uploads, and ensure all finance documentation is kept organised and up to date. You will provide timely, professional responses to transactional finance queries from colleagues and external stakeholders. In addition, you will support the finance team with general administrative tasks, which may occasionally extend to wider Inspire activities such as minute‑taking at HR hearings.

Who we're looking for

We are looking for a motivated and capable individual with previous experience working within a finance function and the ability to confidently manage day‑to‑day financial processes. You will bring strong Microsoft Excel skills, including the use of formulas, VLOOKUPs and Pivot Tables, and you will be an effective communicator with clear and professional written and verbal skills.

You will have excellent organisational abilities, strong attention to detail, and the confidence to handle multiple tasks while meeting deadlines in a fast‑paced environment.

If you have any questions about this role, please contact Achara at achara.pongpaibul@inspireculture.org.uk

Job Description

Job Title: Finance Assistant

Grade 3

Job Purpose

To contribute to the effective running of Inspire’s finance function by ensuring the accurate and efficient processing of Inspire’s transactional finance requirements, providing timely resolutions to queries from internal and external stakeholders, and supporting the wider Inspire finance team.

Key Responsibilities

1.       Accurately enter and upload purchase transactions on Inspire’s accounting software

2.       Create purchase orders where required

3.       Create payment runs in line with Inspire’s financial policy and regulations

4.       Set up supplier records in line with Inspire’s financial regulations

5.       Coordinate Inspire’s purchase card process, including the collation of monthly reports, ensuring correct treatment of VAT, and liaising with budget holders regarding       appropriate coding

6.       Accurately prepare and raise sales invoices on Inspire’s accounting software

7.       Generate income uploads into Inspire’s finance software

8.       Keep up to date filing of all purchase and sales documentation

9.       Respond to and resolve transactional finance queries from internal and external stakeholders

10.   Provide administrative support to the finance team as required. From time to time, this may include supporting the wider Inspire, e.g. minute taking at HR Hearings.

11.   The post holder will work in accordance with all Inspire policies and procedures, Inspire Brand guidelines, Nottinghamshire County Council (NCC) contractual requirements, and professional best practice

Education and Knowledge Required for the role

1.       GCSE Maths and English grade C or above

Skills and Experience

1.       Previous experience of working in a finance function

2.       Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Excel (including formulas, Vlookups, Pivot tables)

3.       Excellent communication (both verbal and written), and excellent people skills

4.       Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail

5.       Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines simultaneously in a fast‑paced environment

Role Dimensions

1.       Reporting to Finance Officer

2.       No direct reports

Inspire Competencies

Customer Service (Competency Level 3)

1.       Demonstrates effective customer service skills – in person, online or on the phone - identifies and satisfies customer needs, adjusting their style with a friendly and professional approach as appropriate for the customer

2.       Responds positively to customer concerns, acts to resolve or reassure customers as needed, agrees solutions with the customer or hands over to an appropriate colleague

3.       Responds positively to any complaint or suggestion and seeks to resolve it within limits of their authority or hands over to a more senior manager as appropriate 

Deliver the service offer (Competency Level 3)

1.       Advises and promotes the Inspire Service Offer to customers – to meet their immediate needs and other services that could be of interest or benefit them

2.       Embraces any changes to the offer and any associated changes to processes or working practices positively

3.       Shares feedback about the Inspire offer with their line manager and contributes to meetings, discussions and related activities to ensure service delivery and/or improve our offer

Communicating well (Competency Level 3)

1.       Communicates effectively in person, one-one-one, and in writing respectfully and in a style appropriate to the person and situation

2.       Communicates effectively in a meeting or other group situation, respectfully and in a style appropriate to the group and situation with a solution/can do approach

3.       Debates or discusses positively with colleagues and line manager, sharing views and acknowledging and respecting the views of others and reaches agreement

Working together (Competency Level 2)

1.       Adopts a friendly, helpful, supportive and respectful manner when working with others

2.       Acts in a way that shows they are trustworthy, reliable and transparent in their dealings with others

Leading the way (Competency Level 1) 

1.         Incorporate the spirit of Inspire’s mission, vision and values in the work they do with customers, colleagues and stakeholders

Working efficiently and cost effectively (Competency Level 1)

1.       Uses Inspire resources and their time effectively to meet service demand, objectives and/or targets

Skills and qualifications (Competency Level 2)

1.       GCSE (Grades A-C) Inc. English and Maths or Level 2 Diploma (1st Diploma)

Including: Demonstrable IT Skills (Inspire Recruitment Activity/test)

Use of Internet – information searching

Microsoft Office – Basic Skills

Good verbal and written communication skills

**Once you have submitted your application, please email recruitment@inspireculture.org.uk with your name, vacancy title and application reference so that we can check that your application has been received**