Commercial Assistant

Colas Ltd are a UK subsidiary of the global Colas Group, which operates in over 50 countries worldwide and employs over 55,000 people including over 1500 in the UK across multiple sites. We are specialists in highways construction and have been involved in large-scale UK and international construction projects within the highways, airfields, and marine sectors as well as offering highways maintenance services and manufacturing our own innovative surfacing products. We hold a 'Gold Investor in People' award for continuously developing and rewarding our employees, offering excellent career potential.  

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Purpose of the role

We are looking for a motivated and detail-focused Commercial Assistant to join our team at Colas on a 6 month FTC, based at our Bescot derpot, WS1 4NL. You will be supporting the Commercial function with a primary focus on cost reconciliation and value recovery. In this role, you will be responsible for ensuring costs are accurately allocated to the correct jobs in line with the contract, with all relevant information and supporting documentation provided to the Finance/Data Team for upload to the database. You will work closely with colleagues across Operations, Planning and the DNP Team to obtain accurate information, check and challenge data and resolve any discrepancies. While cost reconciliation will be your primary focus, you will also provide wider commercial support to the Commercial Team as required. Your ability to turn data into accurate and meaningful information will help the team identify and recover value owed to the contract.

Main Responsibilities

As Commercial Assistant, you will play an important role in ensuring that cost information is accurate, complete and allocated correctly. You will review and reconcile costs, ensuring they are assigned to the correct jobs and are in line with the requirements of the contract. You will work collaboratively with Operations, Planning and the DNP Team to obtain the correct information and relevant paperwork, while confidently checking and challenging data where necessary. You will be responsible for ensuring all costs and supporting information are submitted to the Finance/Data Team for uploading to the database and will maintain accurate records of costs allocated. You will also provide the Commercial Team with regular updates on costs to date and other relevant information, ensuring that accurate management information is available in a timely manner. Alongside these responsibilities, you will support the wider Commercial Team with other duties and activities as required.

 

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will be a highly motivated and organised individual with excellent attention to detail and a strong ability to work accurately with financial and commercial information. You will have good computer literacy and advanced Excel skills, with the ability to analyse, manipulate and interpret data effectively. You will ideally have experience working within a financial or commercial environment and be comfortable collaborating with different teams to obtain and validate information. Strong communication skills and the confidence to check and challenge data are important, as is a customer-focused approach and the ability to build positive working relationships. You will be able to manage your workload effectively, meet deadlines and ensure that monthly management information is collated accurately and reported in a timely manner. Above all, we are looking for someone who is proactive, commercially aware and takes pride in delivering accurate and reliable information that supports the wider team's objectives.

Package Description

Here at Colas, we offer a great total compensation package, including:

• A salary of £26,500
• 6 months FTC, 30 hours a week
• Our Colas Pension Scheme has combined contributions of up to 10%
• Life Assurance Scheme which is x4 basic salary
• 25 days annual leave per year + Public Holidays 
• Holiday Purchase & Selling Scheme
• Hybrid Working Scheme (dependent on the role)
• Opportunities to study towards a fully funded Professional Qualification
• Ongoing personal / professional development
• Discounts on car leasing, holidays, cinema tickets, restaurants and much more through our online employee benefits portal

At Colas, our culture is guided by four core values: Respect, Commitment, Pioneering, and Sharing. These values shape how we work, collaborate, and grow together. We believe that respect

is the foundation of every relationship. By treating others as we wish to be treated, we foster fairness, transparency, and inclusion within our teams and with our clients, communities, and partners. Commitment means dedicating ourselves fully to everything we do. We strive to create an environment where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered to make a meaningful impact. With a pioneering spirit, we prioritise bold innovation over blind ambition. We welcome new ideas, invest in our people, and work to deliver sustainable infrastructure solutions that shape the future. Through sharing, we build trust and solidarity, encouraging collaboration and growth at all levels of the business. 

Colas Ltd is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that mirrors the communities we serve. As an equal opportunity employer, we welcome applications from all backgrounds. If you want a workplace where your voice is valued and your potential is developed, Colas is the right choice. 

Note to Recruitment Agencies                                                                                                                                         

In line with our Company Policy, Colas Ltd has a preference for direct hiring and we will reach out to our PSL (Preferred Suppliers List) agencies if the role is eligible for release. We do not accept speculative CVs from agencies. If a speculative CV is sent, no fee will be applicable.