Reporting Accountant in Kilmarnock

Overview

This role reports to the Head of Financial Planning and Analysis. The role is to assist with the delivery of various planning, budgeting, and reporting exercises required by the University. These include:

• Monthly Management Information Reporting
• The rolling 5-Year University Financial Plan
• Ongoing Financial budgeting and monitoring timetable and outputs
• Delivery of the annual TrAC
• Production of the annual University Financial Performance Review

These are delivered under the strategic direction of the Head of Financial Planning and Analysis.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

FINANCIAL PLANNING

The role-holder has responsibility for assisting with the planning and management of the following key exercises:

• The rolling 5-Year University Financial Plan
• Ongoing Financial budgeting and monitoring timetable and outputs

For these exercises the role-holder produces appropriate timetabling, templates and guidance and ensures that the relevant stakeholders are aware of the required inputs. The role-holder oversees and collates returns from all University areas and ensures consistency and quality of response/final output, adding value commentary to the final product for onward consideration.

FINANCIAL REPORTING

The role-holder is responsible for assisting with co-ordinating inputs to, and completing various statutory and internal reporting processes, such as:

• Delivery of the annual TrAC, reporting
• Production of the University Annual Financial Performance review
• Scottish Funding Council (SFC) Return
• Ad hoc management information requests

As with planning exercises, the role-holder ensures that all relevant inputs are received in a timely manner, ensures inputs are consistent and accurate and produces the final outputs for internal Finance review (including their value-add commentary), before approval and then issue to relevant stakeholders.

The role-holder is responsible for maintaining and explaining the methodology and figures driven by TRAC (Transparent Approach to Costing) both internally and externally. TRAC is a UK wide methodology used by University Management, Funding Councils, Banks/Funders and Governments to assess financial performance. It allows institutions to operate sustainably by understanding the full economic cost of their activities. This in turn enables institutions to make more informed pricing decisions, and to access increased funding.

FINANCE PROJECT SUPPORT

The role-holder provides support for major and minor University projects as required. These can include production of financial models to support business cases and government grant requests. Examples could include new University building construction and construction of financial models for proposed new business or teaching activities. This is the primary responsibility of the Head of Projects, but the role-holder may be required to assist in this area in their absence.

RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT

The role-holder assists the team leader in influencing and challenging the decision-making of senior colleagues by providing persuasive financial expertise. He/she assists with the management of the complex matrix elements of the various planning and reporting exercises, by maintaining strong working relationships with stakeholders and by demonstrating technical expertise, through challenge and support.

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

The role-holder is responsible for understanding the needs of internal and external customers to ensure that planning and reporting processes are fit for purpose. This involves embedding a continuous improvement ethos across the processes and stakeholders directly and indirectly controlled by the role-holder.

Essential Criteria

• The role-holder must be educated to degree level and hold a recognised UK accounting qualification (e.g., ICAS, ICAEW, CIPFA, CIMA, ACCA)
• Advanced excel skills
• Knowledge of Oracle finance system preferable
• Experience of working within a similar environment as outlined above
• Well-developed understanding of relevant legal, statutory and governance applications and turning them into good practice
• Ability to persuade, motivate and influence
• Demonstrable excellent customer service
• Experience of working closely with stakeholders across all levels of the organisation
• Ability to research, analyse and present complex information effectively with good attention to detail
• High level planning and organisational skills with the ability to prioritise major developments and to function effectively in a pressured environment
• Demonstrable professional and proactive approach

How to Apply

Applications can be submitted up to midnight (UK time) on 22nd April 2026. Please submit your CV via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment. We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g.; part-time working and job share options.

About The Team

The Finance team is one of the Professional Services supporting the University’s mission and its strategic priorities. On a day-to-day basis, it does this by delivering a range of financial operations:

• Routine financial transactional processing in payroll, accounts payable and accounts receivable
• Sound management accounting, including ensuring the availability of accurate and timely financial management reporting; and effective budgeting and planning
• Effective operation of financial systems
• Effective and timely delivery of statutory financial reporting

In addition, the Finance department supports the delivery of the University’s strategic plan through effective financial planning, including capital investment planning, project appraisal and identification of sustainable funding streams.

About Heriot-Watt University

Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised, and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.

Heriot-Watt University values diversity across our university community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups.