We’re on the lookout for a Bookkeeper

We are looking for a talented Bookkeeper to maintain our financial records and handle financial operations in the charity.

Core duties include processing all routing transactions encompassing supplier invoices, sales invoices, bank transactions, petty cash, credit cards and treasury management. You will also make payments, prepare our in-house payroll and submit pension returns.

You will work closely with our Finance Director to support the month end close while complying with and upholding the Charity’s policies and procedures.

Our ideal candidate will have experience in a similar role, ideally have worked for a charity and be familiar with Xero. You will also have at least one of the following:

• A relevant qualification such as an accountancy or business degree

• Part or fully qualified with an accountancy body, such as the AAT

• Demonstrative qualification by experience.

Salary: £30,500 pro rata Contract Type: Permanent, 7 hours per week (one day per week or two half days – working pattern by agreement) Location: Remote working OR Hackney, London (London weighting applies if working from our Hackney office) Application Deadline: 12 noon, Friday 28th November 2025  Stage One Interviews: Phone, 3rd & 4th December Stage Two Interviews: Online, 10th & 11th December   Start Date: Early January or as close as possible , after successful completion of a DBS

Who we’re looking for

Required skills 

• Proven bookkeeping experience in a similar enviroment

• Solid understanding of financial operations in a SME environment

• Proven ability to calculate, post and manage accounting figures and financial records

• Accurate data entry skills along with an eye for numbers

• Proficiency in English and in MS Office

• Qualified to degree level, or partly or fully qualified with an accountancy body, or demonstrable QBE

Person specification 

• Highly organized

• Dedicated to providing excellent service and building positive working relations

• Able to balance speed of work with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail

• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Able to work independently at times and use initiative

Responsibilities

Process all financial transactions in our finance IMS (Xero) accurately and promptly encompassing:

• Accounts payable

• Employee and volunteer expense claims

• Sales invoices, grants, donations and other income

• Bank transactions

• Petty cash

• Credit cards

Download bank records into the IMS and reconcile all bank accounts

Monitor savings and move funds between accounts ensuring that we comply with our investment policy

Operate credit control on the sales ledger and issue payment receipts to customers and donors

Make payments to creditors and settle expense claims

Prepare payroll to draft status, pay staff and HMRC, report pension contributions

Electronically store all required records in line with statutory requirements

Update contacts and restricted fund profiles in the finance IMS

Make Gift Aid claims

Operate within the Charity’s financial procedures and prevailing accounting standards

Support the Finance Director with any of the following:

• Operating restricted funds

• Balance sheet reconciliations

• Financial reporting (internal/external)

• Budgeting and forecasting

• Statutory reporting

• Supporting the annual audit process
• Any other reasonably requested duty

What to expect as a member of the crew

• Be part of a committed, inclusive organisation that supports its team to thrive.We value each member of our team’s professional development and provide training to make sure you have the chance to develop your skills and grow your experience as part of our expanding team.Click herefor more information about our commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.

• Request flexible and home-working arrangements.We know how important your personal life is, so every member of the team is able to apply for flexible and home-working arrangements around their delivery commitments.

• Receive enhanced sick, maternity, paternity and adoption pay, with supportive parenting arrangements.Your family is important and we are committed to supporting our you as a parent, which is why we go above and beyond our statutory responsibilities.

• Take a mental wellness day. Staying well means looking after our mental health and physical health so, rather than taking a sick day, a mental wellness day acknowledges that sometimes we can feel overwhelmed, not quite ourselves and we need time out.

• Takea career break. After four years with The Literacy Pirates, you can take sabbatical leave to pursue personal development or time with your families, and come back to work without needing to end your contract.

• Gain 24 hour access to qualified counsellors for yourself and your immediate family.Through theHealth Assured Employee Assistance Programme, yourself and your immediate family can receive free, confidential advice and support from qualified counsellors, on everything from stress and anxiety to family issues, bereavement and finances.

• Save up to 39% on a commuter bike and accessories throughThrough our partnership with Cyclescheme, you can get a bike for work with payments automatically taken from your monthly salary and no upfront payments. This means you’ll be able to spread the cost over 12 months and pay less Income Tax and National Insurance.Cyclescheme.

• Get time during work hours to volunteer.As an organisation that relies on the passion and generosity of volunteers, we know how valuable volunteering is. We offer all employees 14 hours of volunteering time per year, which you can take by the hour or in one go, so that you can support issues and causes that you care about.

• Receive 25 days of annual leave per year (pro-rata), plus bank holidays and the days between Christmas and New Year, and increased allowance with service.

• Get 8% pension contributions, with 3% paid by The Literacy Pirates.

• Get to work on a pirate ship!

How to apply

To apply for the position, complete our online application form and upload a CV by midday on Friday 28th November 2025. 

Stage one interviews will take place via the phone on 3rd and 4th December.

Stage one interviews will take place online on 10th and 11th December.

The successful candidate will be called for a final interview with a few of our Young Pirates.

All employees are required to complete an Enhanced DBS check prior to starting work. You can see our policy on employing those with a criminal record here.

If you need to take time from work to attend interviews, we are happy to compensate you for your time.

We’re committed to ensuring our recruitment practices are accessible to and inclusive of all prospective candidates. If you require any reasonable adjustments to accessing our recruitment materials or attending interviews, please let us know by emailing admin@literacypirates.org or by calling us on 020 3327 1777. 

Want to learn more about the role? Get in touch at admin@literacypirates.org to sign up to our open evening on 19th November.