Accounts Payable Clerk in Ilminster, Somerset at Gooch & Housego Ilminster & St. Asaph

Location: Ilminster (with responsibility Torquay and Ashford sites)

Department: Finance

Reports to: Assistant Accountant & Financial Controller

Hours: Full-time

Contract: 12 Month Fixed term

ABOUT US

G&H is a world leader in optical designing, testing and manufacturing. As experts in the technology of light, G&H works with customers to provide optical systems, assemblies, and components for demanding applications.

Headquartered in Ilminster Somerset, UK with primary operations in the USA and Europe, G&H is recognised for the breadth of their acousto-optic, electro-optic, crystal-optic, fibre optic, and precision optic products. G&H is recognized as the preferred source for OEMs in the life sciences, industrial, and aerospace and defence industries, with a history of quality and excellence that dates back over seventy-five years.

Our success is built on innovation, precision, and the talent of our people. We are committed to developing capability at every stage of a career, from apprenticeships and graduate pathways through to leadership development.

We are looking for a proactive and detail-driven Accounts Payable Clerk to support the Finance function across our Torquay and Ashford sites. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, enjoys problem-solving, and takes pride in delivering accurate, timely financial administration. Previous experience of managing a large purchase ledger will be essential.

You will play a key part in maintaining an efficient Purchase Ledger function, supporting intercompany processes, and ensuring smooth day-to-day financial operations.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Daily processing of purchase ledger invoices for Ashford and Torquay, ensuring compliance with approval limits and HMRC VAT guidance.
• Preparation of supplier payment runs for approval.
• Completion of supplier statement reconciliations.
• Cash book administration, including bank reconciliations.
• Preparation of monthly control account reconciliations.
• HMRC Intrastat and VAT reporting.

Other responsibilities include:

• Manage employee expense claim records.
• Assist with ad-hoc reporting.
• Assist with other finance team duties as required.

ABOUT YOU

• Ideally AAT qualified or with equivalent work experience
• Experience in a similar Accounts Payable/Purchase Ledger role, in a medium to large business
• Experience of dealing with suppliers and customers
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Problem solving capabilities.
• Team player.
• Good knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.
• Experience of using an MRP system - Syspro knowledge advantageous but not essential.
• Strong organisational skills.
• Proven ability to work to strict deadlines

WHY JOIN G&H?

• 25 days of holiday plus Bank Holidays.
• Pension contributions: Company pays 6%.
• Company bonus scheme.
• Health Cash Plan.
• £500 referral bonus for recommending friends (terms apply).

Notes: This job description is not intended to be exhaustive in every respect, but rather to clearly define the fundamental purpose, responsibilities and dimensions for the role. Therefore, this job description does not describe any individual role holder. In addition to the contents of this job description, employees are expected to undertake any and all other reasonable and related tasks allocated by their line manager.

The Company is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants for employment. The Company does not discriminate in employment opportunity or practices on the grounds of gender, race, religion or belief, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by national laws under which the Company operates.

Potential candidates should be aware that many of the employment roles at Gooch & Housego are subject to government security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities that you may have previously held and your place of birth, could restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation.

All UK applicants must, as a minimum, be able to successfully complete security vetting to the UK government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard, which includes a criminal record check being performed. Many roles may also require higher levels of security vetting to be completed, where applicants must typically have been continuously resident within the UK for the past five to ten years.

This is a SITE bonus position