About us
We have been at the heart of the UK energy market for 25 years and are today playing a critical role in decarbonising the UK energy system. As a major energy services and smart metering company with technology, data and sustainability at the core of our ethos and business model, SMS is committed to delivering the future of smart energy.
We are proud of being both an equal opportunity employer and an accredited real living wage employer! We look out for our customers and our focus is ‘putting our people first’.
Our people enable us to do all of this by living our 5 core values: Safety, Customer excellence, Sustainability, Innovation and Pride
The Role
Reporting to the finance manager , the role of Business Support Officer will be the finance link between the Finance department and Metering Data. They will ensure all assets and data points on the Energy Services portfolio are invoiced and paid for monthly providing revenue to the business.
They will assist the Finance Manager in both strategic and operational tasks including monthly reporting, forecasting and providing information to Metering & Data divisional leaders to assist in their decision making. They will liaise with customers, suppliers and colleagues internally in Cardiff and also the wider group.
Key responsibilities
- Invoice processing and production across all Data Services & Metering, including the billing and curtailing of unbilled items
- Validation of credit requests from customers
- Ensure dispute resolutions of invoices and customer data queries are dealt with in a timely and efficient manner to keep debtor days to a minimum
- Assist in the preparation of weekly and monthly reporting on meter and data points
- Coordinate accurate and timely month-end activities.
- Prepare monthly financial reports including P&L and balance sheet reconciliations for Data Services and Metering business area
- Ensuring spend is in line with budgets and reviewing variances
- Assisting in short- and longer-term forecasts
- Recommending ways of cutting costs
- Working with all departments and the management team to help make financial decisions
- Assisting with audit preparation (internal and external)
- Assisting the purchase ledger and sales ledger with any M&D queries.
- Provide additional general support and complete ad-hoc tasks as required.
- To comply with all SMS plc Health, Safety and Environmental requirements
Education and Professional Qualifications
- Studying towards finance related qualification – ACCA, CIMA or equivalent.
- ERP Accounting systems – e.g. SAP, Dynamics 365, Oracle
- A minimum of 2 years practical finance experience
Skills & Knowledge
- A self-starter and able to work on own initiative with minimal supervision
- A good understanding of accounting and mathematics concepts and be highly competent with Excel
- Ability to explain complex financial information in a clear way
- Ability to work as part of a team but also as an individual
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to interact with both internal and external stakeholders
- Honesty and discretion
Personal Attributes
- Manages own workload effectively
- Ability to manage change
- Analytical thinker with good planning skills and good at decision making
- Good communication skills
- Able to motivate others
- Flexible
- Quality focus
In return
- 25 personal holiday days per year with additional allocation of 8 public holidays
- After 5 years of service you will be rewarded with an additional 5 days annual leave taking it to 30 personal days and 8 public holidays.
- Length of service cash incentive
- Refer a friend bonus (£500)
- Cycle to work scheme
- Corporate season ticket travel
- Automatic enrolment into the Company Stakeholder Pension Scheme (will commence following 3 months employment)
- Eligibility to join the Share Incentive Plan following 6 months employment
- Life Insurance cover where your next of kin will receive 4 times your annual salary