At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead finance operations, produce management accounts, and partner with stakeholders for strategic decisions.
- Company: Falmouth University, a vibrant creative community with 120 years of experience.
- Benefits: Generous pension contributions, 35 days holiday, and flexible working options.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in higher education while developing your career in finance.
- Qualifications: Qualified accountant with experience in management accounting and strong analytical skills.
- Other info: Join a diverse team and enjoy excellent career growth opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 28800 - 48000 ÂŁ per year.
We’re looking for a dynamic Management Accountant to deliver high‑quality financial and management accounting for Falmouth University and our partners, Falmouth Exeter Plus. This is your opportunity to influence strategic decisions, modernise financial practices, and make a visible difference.
You’ll lead the finance operations for a defined portfolio, combining hands-on delivery with value-adding partnership to senior stakeholders. You will:
- Own and modernise day‑to‑day finance operations across your area, ensuring a seamless, accurate and efficient service with consistent standards and strong controls.
- Partner leaders across academic and professional services, providing timely, commercial advice that informs operational and strategic decisions.
- Produce high‑quality monthly management accounts with insightful variance analysis, lead regular budget‑holder reviews, and provide accurate income & expenditure forecasts.
- Shape plans and cases: support capital and revenue planning, full‑economic‑costing and investment appraisals to enable long‑term sustainability.
- Lead and develop a team, coaching for consistency, service excellence and continuous improvement.
- Ensure compliance and readiness for audit; contribute to statutory returns and annual financial statements, improving policies, processes and systems where needed.
- Drive cross‑University projects, bringing financial insight to transformation and performance improvement.
You’ll work at the intersection of higher education and commercial operations, gaining breadth across multi‑entity/group finance.
You’ll bring sharp analytical skills, strong professional judgement and the confidence to engage at all levels. We’re looking for someone who is:
- A qualified accountant (e.g., ICAEW, CIMA, ACCA, CIPFA)
- Experienced in management or financial accounting within a complex organisation, operating at both operational and strategic levels
- Skilled in communicating financial information clearly to non‑finance colleagues
- Proficient with integrated finance systems, Excel and current financial regulations; proactive about process improvement and change
- Experienced in leading or supervising teams and building a collaborative high‑performing culture
- Experience in Higher Education and/or multi‑entity organisations together with VAT and Corporation Tax knowledge is an advantage.
This is a permanent, full time, 35 hours a week position across Monday-Friday. We operate a hybrid flexible approach to working with the opportunity to work from home and either our Penryn or Falmouth campus. An on-campus presence will be required for at least 2 days per week.
If you are looking to have an informal discussion about the vacancy ahead of applying, please email recruitment@falmouth.ac.uk. The closing date for the position is Sunday 1 March 2026.
In return for your hard work and commitment, we offer the successful candidate for this role a range of benefits, including:
- Employer Pension Contribution up to 12%
- 35 days + 8 days bank holiday
- Relocation Assistance to 10% of salary
- Annual salary increments (Until top of grade reached)
- Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Pay
- Salary Sacrifice Car Scheme (Tusker)
- Salary Sacrifice Cycle Scheme
- Salary Sacrifice Home & Tech Scheme
- Life Assurance
Full details on our employee benefits can be found on our careers page www.falmouth.ac.uk/jobs. Alongside these benefits we offer a first class working environment across our campuses with all the facilities you would expect from a leading University.
A successful external candidate for this position would be employed by Falmouth Staffing Ltd, a wholly‑owned subsidiary of Falmouth University. Employees of Falmouth Staffing Ltd work alongside Falmouth University colleagues in the delivery of Falmouth’s strategic vision and will adopt Falmouth University’s HR policies and procedures in full.
Falmouth University welcomes and encourages job applications from people of all identities and backgrounds, particularly those under‑represented and/or marginalised, as it is important we have a diverse range of candidates to consider.
Management Accountant (Finance Operations Lead) in Falmouth employer: Falmouth Exeter Plus
Contact Detail:
Falmouth Exeter Plus Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Management Accountant (Finance Operations Lead) in Falmouth
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the finance sector, especially those who have experience in higher education. A friendly chat can lead to valuable insights and even job leads.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Falmouth University and its financial operations. Understand their challenges and think about how you can contribute to their goals. This will show you're genuinely interested and ready to make an impact.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your communication skills! As a Management Accountant, you'll need to explain complex financial info to non-finance folks. Try explaining your past experiences to friends or family to get comfortable with it.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, you’ll find all the details about the role and benefits right there.
We think you need these skills to ace Management Accountant (Finance Operations Lead) in Falmouth
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Management Accountant role. Highlight your relevant experience in financial accounting and how it aligns with our mission at Falmouth University.
Showcase Your Skills: Don’t just list your qualifications; demonstrate how your sharp analytical skills and professional judgement have made a difference in previous roles. We want to see how you can bring value to our finance operations!
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward. Use clear language to communicate your financial expertise, especially since you'll be working with non-finance colleagues. We appreciate clarity!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application through our careers page. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, you’ll find all the details about the role there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Falmouth Exeter Plus
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Management Accountant, you'll need to demonstrate your financial acumen. Brush up on key financial metrics and be ready to discuss how you've used them in past roles. This shows you can provide the insightful variance analysis they’re looking for.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Since this role involves leading a team, prepare examples of how you've successfully coached or developed others. Highlight your experience in building a collaborative culture, as this will resonate well with their focus on service excellence and continuous improvement.
✨Understand Their Strategic Goals
Familiarise yourself with Falmouth University's mission and strategic objectives. Be prepared to discuss how your skills can help shape plans and support long-term sustainability. This shows you're not just about numbers but also about contributing to their vision.
✨Communicate Clearly
You’ll need to explain complex financial information to non-finance colleagues. Practice simplifying financial jargon into clear, relatable terms. This will demonstrate your ability to partner effectively with leaders across various departments.