Job Purpose

Provide an efficient and accurate financial management reporting service across the University. Provide high quality technical support through insightful analysis and issue resolution and continuously improve processes and procedures to support operations within a strong internal control environment. Lead on the collation and completion of sector specific statutory financial returns. Support training and awareness on management reporting and budgeting.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. The role holder will support the Senior Finance Analyst and the Head of Management Accounts in coordinating all month-end activity across the University, including timetabling, transaction processing, and provision of standard reports.

2. The role holder will consolidate, review and challenge the monthly results and full year forecast and prepare the monthly reporting pack for review with the Senior Finance Analyst and the Head of Management Accounts, ahead of review by the Finance Office Directorate and publishing to the Senior Management Group.

3. The role holder will contribute to the improvement of all aspects of financial management reporting within the University, including salary forecasting, research reporting and systemisation of the budget process. The role holder will be a key contact for external consultants and the College Finance teams, ensuring improvements are made to the current reporting.

4. The role holder will consolidate the budget inputs for review ahead of meetings with key members of the Senior Management Group. The role holder will provide robust analysis of the budget inputs, with comparison to previous performance and to strategic goals, and summarise key areas for consideration.

5. The role holder will lead on the preparation and completion of sector specific statutory financial returns, for example, the annual Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Finance Return, the annual Knowledge Exchange (KE) Return, the annual Higher Education – Business and Community Interaction Return (HE-BCI) and the annual Transparent Approach to Costing (TRAC) Return. The role holder will use knowledge and judgement to ensure data is correctly allocated and makes sense relative to each other. The role holder will work with colleagues in Planning, Research & Enterprise, Estates & Buildings and College Finance teams to ensure all elements of the returns are accurately reflected.

6. The role holder will service ad hoc financial queries and requests for information, from both internal (Management Accounts mailbox, Finance Office Directorate, Senior Management Group) and external sources (Scottish Funding Council, Higher Education Statistics Agency, Freedom of Information). The role holder will provide accurate, informed and reliable responses in a timely nature, with reference to service level agreements and statutory requirements.

7. The role holder will be expected to optimise the service that the Management Accounting team provide to the College Finance teams and remove duplication and wasted effort.

They will have a clear understanding of the needs of the customer base and will work to provide an effective service level delivery. In doing so, they will be expected to work closely with College Finance staff and Financial Accounting staff to ensure that management reporting, and the underlying data integrity and processing, is delivered in a controlled, effective and efficient manner, utilising a standard corporate process.

Knowledge/Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Knowledge/Qualifications

Essential:

A1 Ability to demonstrate the competencies required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post having acquired the necessary knowledge and skills in a similar or number of different roles, or, Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 9, (Ordinary Degree, Scottish Vocational Qualification level 4), or equivalent (including professional accreditation with relevant formal training), and experience of personal development in a similar or related role(s).

A2 Qualified or working towards qualification with a recognised CCAB accounting professional body.

A3 Strong evidence of continuing professional development relevant to the role.

A4 Detailed operational knowledge of business processes, management information systems and value drivers of management accounting.

A5 Thorough understanding of budgeting and strategic planning within a large complex environment. A6 Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint.

Desirable:

B1 Knowledge of financial governance and regulation in the HE sector.

Skills

Essential:

C1 Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to prepare and present financial management reports and commentary.

C2 Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build effective working relationships at all levels and with the confidence and capability to challenge assumptions and practices.

C3 Demonstrable customer service skills with the ability to evidence a strategic solution focused approach that is adaptable to the needs of the customer and the continued success of the department.

C4 Self-motivated with the ability to effectively plan, prioritise and organise workload in response to business needs, working effectively under pressure to ensure that competing deadlines are met.

C5 Logical and analytical thinker with astute decision-making, problem solving and conflict resolution skills. C6 Excellent IT skills with the ability to develop and enhance computerised management systems, analyse and manipulate data and present meaningful management information using a range of industry standard and accounting software.

Experience

Essential:

E1 Significant experience in a similar or related role(s) within a large and complex financial environment.

E2 Extensive experience of working with non-financial managers to drive improvements in financial analysis leading to additional insight and improved decision-making.

E3 Demonstrable experience of presenting and explaining financial data to both financial and non-financial colleagues such that it is fully understood.

E4 Experience of successfully leading continuous financial process improvement and change with demonstrable operational and financial efficiencies delivered.

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 7, £40,247 - £45,163 per annum.

This post is full time (35 hours p/w) and fixed term for up to 12 months.

Please Note: If you are a current employee of the University of Glasgow, please be advised that the University would consider an internal secondment opportunity for this post. University of Glasgow applicants should seek clearance for release for internal secondment from their line manager before making a formal application.

The University of Glasgow has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.  If you require a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK, you will be required to meet the eligibility requirements of the visa route to be assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship.

Please note that this post may be eligible to be sponsored under the Skilled Worker visa route if tradeable points can be used under the Skilled Worker visa rules. For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.

Closing date: 12 March 2025 @ 23.45