Job Description

• Be responsible for the month end timetable, produce timely and accurate monthly management accounts to assess departmental financial performance. Present oral/written reports and make recommendations to the Business Managers to enable corrective actions are taken, where possible.
• Lead regular finance meetings and present and explain monthly finance reports to PIs and budget holders. Use financial expertise to influence behaviors in order to reduce variances.
• Undertake compliance tasks and attend routine review meetings for I&E & Pay. Responsibility for department dashboards to ensure resolution of issues and identifying proactive solutions.
• Prepare annual I&E and Pay budgets & forecasts using the Companies Budget and Forecasting Tool (BFT) for review and submission to the HoF by the Business Manager. Provide detailed pay analysis to control and explain headcount changes.
• Approve general ledger and project journals: This includes accruals, prepayments and corrections. Ensure all journals are processed under the SOP and take proactive action to minimize the need for future corrections.
• Create and develop annual Small Research Facility (SRF) models using the approved Research Accounts template to ensure grants are charged in accordance with funder rules and external customers generate a surplus.
• Oversee the work of the Finance Officer within your area to ensure recharge cost centres are effectively controlled to avoid distorting the accuracy of the management information. This includes oversight of grant pre-award and suspense ensuring no grant costs flow through the general ledger.
• Contribute to strategic decision making including preparing business cases/plans.
• Effectively manage Trust Funds by adhering to Charity Legislation.
• Process Donation funds correctly through the gift registry ensuring that they set up as restricted where possible.
• Validate monthly VAT reports ensuring Oracle has been set up correctly to derive the correct VAT treatment for input & output tax. Support the Finance Team to educate shoppers in this area.
• Provide Year End returns & reports to the central University teams as required including self-assurance submissions and responding to audit enquiries.
• Be responsible for maintaining strong financial controls across the department, including maintaining a current Departmental Delegation of Authority (DOA) and ensuring associated forms and Oracle R12 access is aligned.
• Act as the key contact responsible for the approval of shopper Oracle Access forms. Prepare Oracle Access forms for departmental staff for submission and approval by 's HoF.
• Be responsible for approving P2P ensuring purchases are within budget and adhering to University policy. Support the Finance Team to validate open PO's and invoices on hold to improve process.
• Validate the Departmental Equipment Lists (DEL) and Capex register and ensure the correct accounting treatment of assets. Ensure completeness for insurance purposes.
• Action changes as necessary to enable continuous improvement of the processes, financial controls and systems
• Undertake user-acceptance testing as required for new financial systems
• Provide cover for other Unit Finance Managers and have active involvement in the Finance Group.
• Ensure all financial transactions are carried out in accordance with the Business and external financial regulations. This may involve providing advice on financial procedures and policies to find workable solutions that mitigate against risk.
• Proactively manage good working relationships with key internal & external customers.
• Participate in and support the public engagement and widening access activities of the Department and the Business. This is anticipated to be not more than 2 days per year.
• Undertake mandatory training as required by the Business, Division and Department. The specific list of training courses may change from time-to-time, in response to both legal and internal University requirements.

What's on Offer?

• Employees enjoy 38 days' paid holiday
• Generous pension schemes
• Travel discounts
• A variety of professional development opportunities.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Currently studying toward a relevant CCAB or CIMA professional accountancy qualification, and have successfully completed foundation level or equivalent or higher, and looking to qualify and develop themselves
• Experience of financial IT systems e.g. Oracle, SAP, in a large accounting environment.
• Demonstrable strong understanding of accounts and forecasts
• The ability to work in a collaborative manner and confidently communicate with senior managers, building effective working relationships whilst challenging and guiding decisions.
• Organized and able to meet/achieve deadlines
• High level of numeracy and IT literacy, particularly in the use of spreadsheets, MS word and Outlook.
• Excellent communication skills including financial report writing, highlighting key insights and emerging trends
• Experience of interpreting financial policies and regulations
• Ability to manage change with resilience to overcome difficult situations with competing priorities