Accounts Assistant Vacancy at McLarens Holdings Ltd

About the Job

McLarens Holdings Ltd, one of Sri Lanka’s leading diversified conglomerates with a distinguished history spanning over seven decades, is currently seeking a highly motivated, detail-oriented, and ambitious Accounts Assistant to join its dynamic corporate Finance Team. The role is based at the Group’s head office located at Vauxhall Street, Colombo 02.

As a pioneer across multiple core sectors including Maritime & Logistics, Petroleum & Energy, Manufacturing & Distribution, Property & Strategic Investments, and Leisure McLarens Group offers an exceptionally stable and enriching work environment for finance professionals. Recognised as a Great Place to Work in Sri Lanka, the company continuously fosters a culture built on empowerment, professional excellence, operational accuracy, and continuous career advancement.

The Accounts Assistant position is a crucial entry-to-junior-level role designed for finance individuals who wish to build a strong foundation in corporate accounting, financial governance, accounts payable operations, and cash flow management. Working as part of the central finance division, the selected candidate will directly support senior financial officers and management accountants in maintaining rigorous financial control and ensuring seamless day-to-day transaction processing.

Whether you are looking to kickstart your corporate accounting career after completing professional examinations or aiming to leverage your prior finance experience within a prestigious Sri Lankan conglomerate, this role provides an ideal platform to sharpen your analytical skills, master modern ERP accounting software, and gain exposure to industry-standard internal control systems.

Job Details & Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will play an active role in supporting daily accounting activities, focusing heavily on accounts payable management, statutory compliance, tax reporting, and audit preparation. The primary duties and day-to-day responsibilities for this role include:

* Supplier Invoice Verification: Thoroughly reviewing and verifying incoming supplier invoices, purchase orders, delivery notes, and payment requisitions for mathematical accuracy, complete documentation, and proper managerial approvals prior to recording.

* Payment Processing: Accurately executing outgoing payments via electronic bank transfers, cheques, and other authorized corporate payment channels while maintaining complete documentation for cash outflow reconciliation.

* Supplier Relationship & Inquiry Management: Serving as the key point of contact for internal and external supplier queries regarding payment status, outstanding invoices, statement reconciliations, and payment schedule tracking.

* Month-End & Year-End Closing Assistance: Supporting the corporate finance team during critical monthly and annual financial closing periods by preparing accounts payable reconciliations, ledger balance reviews, and calculating necessary expense accruals.

* Financial Reporting & Cash Flow Forecasting: Compiling periodic financial reports concerning outstanding payables, commitments, working capital requirements, short-term payment forecasts, and vendor balance aging analysis.

* Tax Schedule Preparation: Preparing tax schedules related to accounts payable, including withholding tax (WHT), Value Added Tax (VAT), and social security levies in alignment with Inland Revenue Department guidelines.

* Internal Control & Policy Compliance: Adhering strictly to internal accounting guidelines, statutory requirements, corporate governance rules, and company SOPs to ensure financial risk mitigation.

* Audit Support: Assisting internal audit teams and external financial auditors during statutory audits by providing required vouchers, ledger accounts, receipts, tax files, and supporting documentation.

* General Finance Duties: Executing additional general ledger tasks, administrative duties, record management, and finance-related assignments delegated by senior management.

Requirements and Qualifications

McLarens Group seeks energetic and disciplined professionals who combine strong academic training with practical problem-solving capability. Applicants must meet the following educational background, technical competencies, and professional criteria:

* Professional Qualifications: Completion or ongoing pursuit of an entry-to-intermediate level professional qualification in accounting, such as CA Sri Lanka (Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka), CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants - UK), or AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians Sri Lanka).

* Work Experience: A minimum of one (1) year of practical experience in a finance or accounting role within a reputable corporate organization, audit firm, or commercial enterprise.

* Accounting Knowledge: A solid grasp of fundamental accounting principles, financial standards, double-entry bookkeeping, ledger management, and accounts payable processes.

* Computer Literacy: Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (formulas, lookup functions, pivot tables, spreadsheet formatting) and standard Microsoft Office software applications (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook).

* ERP & Accounting Software: Prior hands-on experience using professional accounting packages or Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software—such as Oracle Financials, QuickBooks, SAP, or similar platforms—will be considered a distinct advantage.

* Analytical & Soft Skills: Excellent numerical skills, strong attention to detail, strong problem-solving capabilities, good time-management skills, high ethical standards, and the ability to work effectively under tight deadlines.

* Communication Skills: Good spoken and written communication skills in English and Sinhala to interact professionally with internal management, department heads, bank officers, and external vendors.

Job Benefits & What You Gain

Working at McLarens Group provides significantly more than just a monthly paycheck. As an employer recognized among Sri Lanka's top corporate environments, the organization invests heavily in employee well-being and long-term career growth:

* Competitive Salary Package: A standard corporate remuneration package commensurate with qualifications, skill levels, and prior experience.

* Professional Growth & Exposure: Direct exposure to multi-industry financial practices across logistics, manufacturing, trade, and property sectors, accelerating your professional trajectory toward executive finance roles.

* Great Workplace Culture: Experience a supportive, equal-opportunity work environment celebrated for high employee engagement, teamwork, ethical governance, and gender equality.

* Skill Enhancement: Opportunities to work with modern enterprise software systems, automated financial tools, and high-level internal control frameworks guided by seasoned finance leaders.

* Convenient Location: Located in Colombo 02 (Vauxhall Street), offering easy accessibility via public transportation hubs, railway stations, and major road networks.