Accountant/Bookkeeper

About St Giles

St Giles Estate sits at the southern end of the Cranborne Chase National Landscape, approximately 10 miles north of Wimborne. Home to the 12th Earl of Shaftesbury and his family, the Estate combines a working agricultural business with a thriving hospitality, events and stud enterprise centred on the award-winning restoration of St Giles House.

St Giles Farms Ltd is the Estate's in-hand farming business, working around 3,000 acres of predominantly light chalk soils. The principal enterprise is the production of combinable crops, wheat, barley, oats, oilseed rape and peas, alongside a strong commitment to stewardship of the wider landscape, including water meadows, permanent pasture and rare habitats under the Countryside Stewardship scheme.

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced and diligent Farm Accountant / Bookkeeper to take ownership of the day-to-day finance function for St Giles Farms Ltd. Working closely with the Farm Manager and the wider Estate Team, the post-holder will keep the books in good order on Xero, manage ledgers and payment runs, handle VAT, payroll and statutory returns, and provide reliable, well-organised support across a busy and varied farming operation.

This is a hands-on role suited to someone who enjoys rural life, takes pride in accurate work, and is comfortable juggling routine bookkeeping with the unpredictable rhythms of a working farm. You will be part of a small, friendly team in a dynamic and genuinely interesting environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Day-to-day bookkeeping on Xero, maintaining accurate and timely records for St Giles Farms Ltd.
• Running the purchase and sales ledgers from end to end, including invoice processing, coding and posting.
• Processing supplier payment runs and ensuring suppliers are paid to terms.
• Debtor and creditor controls: issuing statements, chasing overdue accounts and resolving queries promptly.
• Preparing and submitting monthly VAT returns to HMRC.
• Performing regular bank reconciliations across all farm accounts.
• Preparing P11D and P11D(b) forms and supporting other HMRC statutory returns.
• Managing payroll inputs and timesheets, and acting as the day-to-day point of contact for the external payroll manager.
• Providing administrative and financial support to the Farm Manager, including ad-hoc reporting and analysis.
• Responding promptly and professionally to internal and external queries on accounts, payments and payroll.
• Working alongside the wider Estate Team to ensure consistency of practice and to share information where appropriate.

About You

• Proven experience in a bookkeeping or accounts role, ideally within agriculture, an estate, or a similarly varied SME environment.
• Confident, current user of Xero, with a sound understanding of double-entry bookkeeping.
• Solid working knowledge of UK VAT, PAYE, P11D / P11D(b) and other HMRC obligations.
• Comfortable owning the purchase and sales ledgers, payment runs and bank reconciliations without close supervision.
• Highly organised, accurate, and able to keep multiple deadlines in view at once.
• A diligent, conscientious approach - integrity is essential.
• A team player who enjoys farm life and is happy to be part of a wider Estate community.
• Good IT skills generally (Microsoft 365 / email / spreadsheets) and confident written and verbal communication.
• A relevant accounting qualification (e.g. AAT) is welcome but not essential - the right experience matters more.

What We Offer

• A salary of between £32,000 to £37,000 per annum, depending on experience.
• Workplace pension scheme and statutory holiday entitlement (further details to be agreed with the successful candidate).
• Flexibility on hours - we are open to full-time or part-time arrangements for the right person.
• The opportunity to relocate locally may be available for the right candidate.
• A varied, hands-on role within a respected, long-established Estate with a strong commitment to people, place and stewardship.
• A friendly, supportive Estate Team and a beautiful rural working environment in Dorset.