Job Description
Position Details
Finance Office
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range £32,296 to £34,866 with potential progression once in post to £39,105
Grade: 6
Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to January 2026
Closing date: 7th January 2025
Our offer to you
People are at the heart of what we are and do. The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years, and we are equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university. We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success.
We are committed to helping the people who work here to develop through our sector-leading Birmingham Professional programme which provides all professional services staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential. Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees and to the success of the University and, depending on the role, we offer a variety of flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on all forms of flexible working. In addition, you will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 days paid holiday a year, one paid day a year for volunteering, occupational sick pay, and a pension scheme.
The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus, including main bus routes and a train station on site.
Background
The Financial Services division includes the Business Partnering team, Management Accounts, Corporate Accounts, Research, Tax, and Treasury. The teams focus on the following areas:
1. Leading budgeting, forecasting and five-year planning.
2. Preparing monthly management accounts.
3. Reporting on capital projects and subsidiaries.
4. Managing the external year end audit and other regulatory requirements.
5. Investing funds and advising on tax issues.
6. Providing advice and support in the finance business partnering role.
7. Connecting Finance with Research Strategy & Services division (RSSD).
8. Internal communications with Finance.
Role Summary
Reporting to the Management Accountant, this role is part of a central support team to provide management information to a range of Colleges and Professional Services. It is responsible for the preparation and consolidation of monthly accounts and communication of that information to key stakeholders.
Main Duties
* Ensure accurate and consistent reporting of income and expenditure within the budget area, in alignment with agreed accounting principles.
* Preparation of monthly management accounts to meet deadlines and ensuring budget holders comply with financial regulations and practices.
* Monitor spending to ensure alignment with budgets or plans, provide advice on implications, and prepare variance statements with commentaries on deviations from targets.
* Assist in preparing Budget and Forecast across multiple costs centres, in line with agreed assumptions.
* Reviewing the financial position of areas under their control, interpreting and analysing information and communicating these in a clear way to key stakeholders.
* Liaising with budget centre contacts and Finance Office staff to resolve day to day queries or issues identified through monitoring.
* Undertake balance sheet reconciliations.
* Enhance the monitoring of financial performance indicators by setting targets and identifying critical areas where focused efforts can drive meaningful improvements.
* Providing knowledge and advice on best practice relating to all aspects of accountancy, financial processes and management information.
* Produce ad-hoc financial data as required and undertake other duties consistent with the role's grade.
* Promotes equality and values diversity, acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.
* Supports the University's sustainability agenda through resource efficient working.
Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience
* Educated to Degree level (or equivalent qualifications) - where no equivalent qualification is held, significant practical relevant experience and expertise in a similar role will be required.
* Experience of working in a similar accounting role.
* Part-qualified accountant and actively studying for a CCAB/CIMA qualification.
* Excellent communication skills and able to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders.
* Aptitude for reviewing and interpreting often complex information.
* Proven planning and analytical skills.
* Adaptable and flexible when dealing with complex situations and the unexpected.
* Ability to generate innovative solutions in response to challenges to deliver change and to articulate these sharing both implications and benefits.
* Resilient and positive in response to changes.
* Able to influence both formally and informally within an organisation.
* Excellent general computer skills with the aptitude to develop skills in specific areas such as reporting systems.
* The ability to work independently and as a team.
* Ability to plan, organise, prioritise workload, and work to strict deadlines.
* Evidence of literacy and numeracy, with the ability to write clearly, and to analyse information and data.
* Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly.
Role context
Roles at this level will require expertise and a detailed understanding of methods, systems and procedures in an administrative or professional area. You will have the opportunity to exercise a high degree of personal responsibility and initiative which you will use to resolve queries; you will use your judgement to deal with unforeseen problems and circumstances, all with limited guidance/supervision.
Core competencies/transferable skills
Working at this level you will be able to develop and successfully use the core competencies/transferable skills outlined in each of the areas shown below. As appropriate for the level, our Birmingham Professionals will take ownership for getting things done. You will be expected to be flexible as required in supporting your department and wider University.
Informal enquiries to Chantelle Thomas, email: c.thomas.8@bham.ac.uk
We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life.
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