Financial Accountant in Buckingham

The core purpose of this role is to produce timely, accurate and compliant financial reporting and compliance, maintain an effective financial control environment and support the overall effectiveness and efficiency of financial processes and controls across the University, including the production of the University's subsidiaries' annual financial statements, quarterly banking covenants compliance reporting, regulatory compliance, and control account reconciliations.

Key Responsibilities

• Responsible for the accounts of the University's subsidiaries, including the detailed preparation of the statutory accounts for both the individual subsidiaries and the Group.
• Ownership and management of the finance system.
• Review and approve all journals prior to uploading to the finance systems.
• Responsible for ensuring financial regulatory compliance for the University and subsidiaries.
• Ensure weekly and monthly cash forecasts are produced on time.
• Ownership of treasury and banking covenants compliance and reporting, including prompt escalation of issues when necessary.
• Oversight of financial matters relating to the University's Student's Union.
• Supervise the Student Union Book-keeper.
• Responsible for the review of Purchase Ledger payment runs.
• Production of various balance sheet reconciliations on your areas of responsibility.
• Transaction review, analysis, reporting and compliance.
• Oversight of prepayments and accruals ensuring adequacy, accuracy, and compliance to accounting policy standards and good practice.
• Any other duties required from time to time to ensure the smooth running of Finance and the University.
• Cover & assistance for Lead Financial Accountant on VAT matters and Statutory Reporting.
• Contribute to process and control improvements for the finance systems and procedures.
• Contribute to the production of reports and papers for Committees and Council as appropriate, including technical matters to members with varying professional backgrounds and technical financial expertise.

Person Specification

Education and Training

• Educated to degree level with an appropriate professional accounting qualification CCAB and post qualified experience.

Experience and Knowledge

• The person will have experience as a qualified accountant and will need to demonstrate experience and achievement in the following competencies:
• Possessing good accounting and management skills and experience, and ability to help drive forward the improvement and function of financial operations and control.
• Possessing good working knowledge of Microsoft Office systems, in particular advanced Excel, and other financial management software tools.
• Previous experience with ERP systems is helpful, but not essential.
• Assisting in the implementation of new finance systems and procedures or delivering change an advantage.
• Ability to maintain overall quality, balancing different demands, ensuring that others have the support they need to provide quality service and fulfil their role.
• Experience in the drafting and completion of Financial Statements to industry standard.

Equal Opportunities

The University of Buckingham recognises that equality of opportunity and the recognition and promotion of diversity are integral to its academic and financial strengths. The following principles apply in respect of the University's commitment to equality and diversity:

• To provide and promote equality of opportunity in all areas of its work and activity.
• To recognise and develop the diversity of skills and talent within its current and potential community.
• To ensure that all University members and prospective members are treated solely on the basis of their merits, abilities and potential without receiving any unjustified discrimination or unfavourable treatment on grounds such as age, disability, marital status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, trans status, socio-economic status or any other irrelevant distinction.
• To provide and promote a positive working, learning, and social environment which is free from prejudice, discrimination, and any forms of harassment, bullying or victimisation.
• To promote good relations between individuals from different groups.

Benefits

We might be small, but we can still offer plenty of perks! In addition to an Aviva Pension scheme, we offer:

• Beautiful working environments across our campuses with plenty of space.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Christmas closure.
• On-site gym and exercise classes.
• On-site catering facilities.
• University bookshop with staff discount.
• Free on-site parking.
• Excellent opportunities to network and continue learning across a variety of departments.
• Discount of courses for staff and their families.