Jobs at the BA

POSITION 

Accounts Assistant, THE BA GROUP 

SALARY

£19k pa + benefits 
 
BA GROUP OF COMPANIES 

The Booksellers Association of the United Kingdom & Ireland Limited is a trade association, founded in 1895 and provides services to its 4,500 UK and Irish bookseller members, and to others in the book trade.  
The Booksellers Association wholly owns two subsidiary companies – Book Tokens Limited and Batch Limited.  The Association and its companies occupy freehold premises in London WC2.  Currently, 31staff are employed by the BA and its companies.
The Booksellers Association provides a wide range of services to help its members sell more books more profitably.  
Book Tokens runs the Book Tokens scheme, currently reporting annual sales of around £15m.
Batch Ltd is a web-based service that allows booksellers to pay their suppliers  The Booksellers Association also co-owns World Book Day Ltd s

REPORTING TO :
The holder of this position will report to the Financial Controller of the BA Group of Companies.   

THE ACCOUNTS DEPARTMENT OF THE BA GROUP OF COMPANIES
The Accounts Department of the BA Group of Companies is responsible the following areas of activity :

          • Purchase ledger
          • Sales ledger & credit control
          • Management of Statutory Accounts and filing requirements
          • Cash and banking
          • Investments
          • Fixed assets
          • Petty cash and other accounting activities.  
          • Hosting accounting services for other entities

 DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THIS POSITION 

The following is intended to highlight the different areas in which the holder of this post can expect to be involved.  The list is indicative but not prescribed. 
   The Key duties will include: 
         • Processing online Book Tokens orders
         • Counting and providing the Accounts executive with the relevant data of paper tokens, including Waterstones.
         • Processing employee benefit orders
         • Book Tokens Credit Control
         • Dealing with customer account queries
         • Working on targets and deadlines
         • Adhering to established policies and procedures
         • Maintaining a professional manner at all times
         • Undertaking any other reasonable duties or tasks as requested by the Financial Controller or the Finance Director

   Additional Key duties:
         • Cover Customer service at lunch time
         • Cover the Accounts Executive when away or off
         • Cover basic tasks of other members in Finance
         • Cover reception when need.

 

CHARACTERISTICS & SKILLS REQUIRED 

The following skills are required:- ​

Essential Skills 
       • Part-qualified individual, or accounts background is desirable
       • Excellent inter-personal and communication skills, with confident telephone manner
       • Hands-on, proactive approach with strong team-working skills
       • Ability to prioritise, multi-task and be adaptable
       • Ability to problem solve and pay attention to detail
       • Computer literate with fluency in Excel, outlook and MS word; desirable to have knowledge of Navision

LOCATION
You will be located at Bell Yard, London, but you may be required in the future to work at a different location.  

WORKING TIME 
This is a full time permanent position.  The office hours are presently 35 hours per week - Monday to Friday.  However, you will be expected to work any additional hours necessary to carry out your duties.  

DISCRETIONARY BONUS SCHEME

A Discretionary Bonus Scheme operates whereby the Accounts Assistant would be able to obtain an annual discretionary bonus of up to the equivalent of 5% of the salary, based on the individual meeting previously agreed performance targets with the Financial Controller.  Members of staff joining any companies within the BA Group during the Financial Year (1st November to the following 31st October) and still employed on the last day of the financial year shall be entitled to receive a pro rata share of a full year’s entitlement, provided that they have been employed by the Company for more than three months.  [Further details can be provided.] 

 

SEASON TICKET LOAN SCHEME  
An interest free annual season ticket loan scheme is available at the end of the probationary period. 

HOLIDAYS
Four weeks’ annual leave is granted each year (pro rata for employees beginning work during the holiday year or working part-time) in addition to public holidays.  Additional holiday entitlement is given to staff with over five years’ continuous service.  

MATERNITY , PATERNITY AND COMPASSIONATE LEAVE 
Maternity, Paternity and Compassionate Leave are granted.  Full details will be given on request. 

PENSION, LIFE ASSURANCE AND DISABILITY COVER  
A Group Personal Pension Scheme is available to staff who have successfully completed their probationary period.  The company pays up to the equivalent of 10% of the employee’s salary into the scheme; the employee up to 5% from his/her salary.   A Life Assurance Scheme and PHI Scheme have been arranged for the benefit of all employees. 

CONFIDENTIALITY
The Association and its trading companies possess confidential information in both electronic and manual formats concerning its own operations, as well as possessing details on booksellers, publishers and others.  It is a condition of employment that such material and information remains confidential and under no circumstances should be copied for use outside the Association. 
 
EMPLOYMENT POLICY  
As part of a continuous policy to select with the utmost fairness, applicants will be considered on the basis of their suitability for the post, regardless of sex, age, nationality, race, marital status, sexual orientation and disability. 
 
WORKING IN A SMALL ORGANISATION    
It must be appreciated that the above details are designed to give an accurate indication of the type of work involved and the general conditions of employment, but the Booksellers Association group is a small organisation and the holder of the above position must be prepared to help in other ways and to take on tasks that may be necessary
 
DISCLAIMER
These notes are intended as a guide for prospective employees of Book Tokens Ltd and do not form part of the Contract of Employment.   

APPLICATIONS 
Those interested in applying should send their CV, outlining how their skills fit the role to alison.pinder@booksellers.org.uk.    
The closing date for applications is 8th March 2019