Bookkeeper / Trainee Accountant Full Time NEW

Bookkeeper / Trainee Accountant

About us

With 140+ years of heritage, Empee is a leading UK B2B fabric wholesaler, trusted by fabric retailers and manufacturers across fashion, hobby, and craft industries.

We’re currently undergoing a bold rebrand and digital transformation to reshape the future of textile wholesale and elevate the customer experience.

As part of this next phase of growth, we’re looking for a detail-oriented and ambitious Bookkeeper / Trainee Accountant to take ownership of day-to-day finance operations and grow into a key finance role within the business. If you’re looking for a role where you can build real ownership, learn fast, and grow into a senior finance position, we’d love to hear from you.

Why Join Us? 

• Join a growing B2B business with a loyal customer base
• Work closely with senior leadership
• Mentorship from an experienced CFO consultant
• Opportunity to grow with the business and become a key member of the team driving its financial growth and direction
• Be part of a business modernising a 140-year legacy

Job Description

Location: On-site (Edmonton, North London)

Job Type: Full Time

Salary: £38,000 – £45,000 depending on experience

Job Summary 

This is a hands-on finance role combining core bookkeeping responsibilities with exposure to broader financial management.

We are open to:

• An experienced Bookkeeper looking to step up into a broader finance role

or

• A Trainee Accountant looking to qualify while gaining practical, end-to-end experience

Key Responsibilities

Day-to-Day Finance Operations

• Maintain accurate financial records, ledgers, and documentation
• Process purchase and sales invoices, ensuring correct coding and approvals
• Manage accounts payable and receivable, including supplier payments and debtor tracking and creditor risk
• Month end tasks including journals, accruals, prepayments & ledger analysis
• Perform bank, credit card, and balance sheet reconciliations
• Manage and coordinate foreign currency payments, including supplier payments and FX purchases

Reporting & Financial Management

• Prepare monthly management accounts (P&L, balance sheet, cash flow)
• Assist with budgeting, forecasting, and cashflow management
• Support financial analysis to inform business decisions Monitor costs, and operational performance

Compliance & Processes

• Prepare and submit VAT returns
• Support payroll processing and expense management
• Ensure compliance with UK accounting standards and internal policies
• Liaise with external accountants on year-end and statutory filings

Business Support & Growth

• Help implement and improve financial systems, controls, and processes
• Work cross-functionally with sales, operations, and warehouse teams
• Support the business through its digital and operational transformation

What you’ll bring

• 2–5 years’ experience in bookkeeping or a similar finance role (or strong trainee profile)
• Proficiency in Xero beneficial but not compulsory
• Solid understanding of UK accounting principles, VAT, and financial processes
• Strong Excel skills Book
• Organised, reliable, and able to manage multiple priorities
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment
• Detail-oriented but commercially aware
• Proactive, driven and solutions-focused
• Comfortable taking ownership, responsibility & using initiative
• Interested in growing with a business long-term
• Collaborative and team-oriented, with a willingness to support where needed

For Trainee Accountants

We welcome candidates actively studying or planning to study a UK professional accounting qualification, such as:

• AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians)
• ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants)
• CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants)

We will support your development alongside hands-on experience across all areas of finance.

Nice to Have

• Experience in wholesale, retail, or product-based businesses
• Exposure to inventory or stock-based accounting