Accounts Assistant (Breeding Division)

Department: Finance (Agriculture Finance)
Reports to: Management Accountant
Direct Reports: None
Location: Brackley
Hours: Monday to Friday, 08:30 – 17:00 (40 hours per week)
Salary: Up to £30,000 per annum

Benefits

• Salary up to £30,000 per annum
• 31 days holiday allowance
• 5% pension contribution
• Subsidised staff canteen
• Staff shop with discounted products
• Cycle to work scheme
• Salary sacrifice schemes (including car scheme)
• Employee benefits package including GP access, mental health support, physiotherapy, and discounts

Who are we?

Avara Foods is one of the UK’s leading food businesses, supplying chicken and turkey products to major supermarkets and well-known restaurants across the country.

We operate an end-to-end supply chain, from farms through to processing and delivery, supporting a wide range of careers across agriculture, operations, and finance. With major processing sites across England and Wales and a network of over 350 farms, we are proud to play a key role in feeding the nation.

About the Brackley Site

Our Brackley site is a key part of our agricultural and finance operations, supporting the Breeding Division. The site works closely with farming and hatchery operations to ensure accurate financial and performance reporting that supports decision-making across the business.

Job Purpose

To maintain accounting procedures and financial processes that generate accurate cost and performance information, supporting the management of the Breeding Division.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Governance

• Ensure accurate allocation of costs to correct cost centres and categories
• Create and maintain financial and non-financial inputs for weekly and monthly management accounts
• Ensure ledger entries are accurate, auditable, and maintain data integrity

Operational Accounting

• Maintain up-to-date understanding of key data, processes, and performance rates
• Produce weekly sales invoicing and recharges to external parties
• Analyse actual costs (feed, labour, utilities, etc.) against budget and report variances and root causes
• Support preparation of weekly and monthly management accounts with financial and operational commentary

Reporting & Forecasting

• Provide accurate data to support forecasting and business improvement
• Support reporting of current performance rates, identifying trends and opportunities
• Assist in ad hoc reporting to support business decision-making

Budgeting

• Support the budgeting and forecasting process by providing baseline financial and operational data

General Responsibilities

• Maintain confidentiality of all business information
• Ensure compliance with all company policies, procedures, and H&S standards
• Support delivery of agreed SLA standards
• Undertake additional duties as required

What we’re looking for

Essential

• AAT qualified or studying towards CIMA (Operational Level) OR qualified by experience
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in an Accounts Assistant or similar role
• Strong understanding of accounting processes and systems
• Good Excel skills (including pivot tables and data analysis)
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines

Desirable

• Experience with ERP systems
• Strong understanding of finance processes and controls
• Experience in agricultural or manufacturing environments

Personal Skills

• High attention to detail and accuracy
• Strong communication skills
• Able to work well under pressure
• Strong organisational and time management skills
• Proactive, energetic, and continuous improvement mindset
• Strong relationship-building skills across teams