Management Accountant

The University of Manchester is part of the prestigious Russell Group of universities and highly respected across the globe as a centre of teaching excellence and research innovation and discovery. With 25 Nobel Prize winners among our current and former staff and students, we have a history of world firsts, with our impact ranging from splitting the atom to giving the world graphene. Our purpose is to advance education, knowledge and wisdom for the good of society, putting our three core goals of research and discovery, teaching and learning, and social responsibility at the heart of everything we do.

The Management Accountant is a member of the Directorate of Finance working under the guidance of the Head of School/Directorate Finance. You will assist with production of monthly management accounts, managing the financial planning, budgeting, forecasting and reporting processes for your area of responsibility. You will develop and continuously improve management information to assist budget holders. You will be customer focused, flexible in your approach, and work in conjunction with other finance colleagues, covering for and relating with them in order to develop and enhance your role and the service delivered by the Directorate of Finance.

Key Responsibilities, Accountabilities or Duties:

• Actively work with the Heads of School/PS Directors to develop their financial awareness and understanding of their area in the context of the University, and to help them drive appropriate actions.
• Work closely with the Heads of School/PS Directors in all financial planning, budget and forecast processes and consolidate results for their areas, meeting with budget holders as appropriate.
• Prepare and review the monthly management accounts, provide insightful management information and financial analysis and deliver to tight deadlines.
• Work with the Heads of School/PS Directors and the School/Directorate Leadership Teams to take appropriate action to deliver budget results and to ensure that the full financial implications of initiatives, including financial risks, are fully understood and appropriately managed.
• Work with the Directorate/School teams to develop a clear understanding of the drivers of business performance in order to enhance financial forecasting and decision making, including the optimal prioritisation of resources.
• Work with the Heads of School/PS Directors and their Heads of School Operations/Leadership teams to ensure that School/Directorate financial operations run efficiently and effectively, in compliance with University financial regulations, and to ensure up to date, accurate, and technically correct accounting.
• Assist in the preparation of the costing and financial aspects of business plans for new and current developments and activities.
• Line manage members of the finance team, providing developmental support or training as necessary and be actively involved in line management and training of the wider team where appropriate.
• Seek opportunities to continuously improve procedures as necessary to adequately support the business activities.
• Produce monthly and other ad hoc financial reports and ensure that these are distributed to the relevant Budget Holder and that appropriate action is taken where necessary.
• Responsible for ensuring that financial reconciliations are undertaken on a timely basis, as required.
• Oversee preparation and inputting of journals onto Oracle Financials, the University’s accounting system.
• Provide assistance, training and advice to School/PS Directorate staff on all aspects of University financial procedures.

Essential Knowledge, Skills And Experience:

• Possess a recognised CCAB professional accountancy qualification or equivalent. CCAB Finalists and exceptional candidates qualified by experience and with significant sector experience will also be considered.
• Experience of working within finance in a large, complex organisation demonstrating ability to work collaboratively and proactively across organisational boundaries.
• Significant experience of working in an accounts preparation role with strong analytical skills to enable production of meaningful financial reporting.
• Experience in the management and development of staff.
• Motivation to streamline processes and identify and implement continuous improvement.
• Strong IT skills, particularly accounting systems and high level excel skills, including data manipulation and interrogation.
• Ability to convert data into management information easily understood by non-accountants and colleagues alike.
• Experience of working in a customer focused environment and delivering exceptional customer service to stakeholders.
• Excellent communication (both verbal and written) and interpersonal skills to engage colleagues at all levels, including those without financial expertise.
• Motivation both to work as a team member, supporting other accountants, and to work under own initiative.
• Possess excellent organisational skills and a willingness to work flexibly.
• Have the ability to use discretion with sensitive information and to maintain complete confidentiality at all times.
• Be able to present a professional image of the University of Manchester at all times.

This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated individual looking to advance their career in a collaborative and forward-thinking environment. This role will be working with the DMEx research centre, funded by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (dstl). Dstl have responsibility for prescribing security clearance requirements for all staff. In this instance, this role is restricted to UK nationals only. Successful candidates will be required to undertake Baseline Personnel Security Standard checks and potentially undergo Security Clearance.

As one of the leading Universities our employees enjoy exclusive access to excellent benefits and schemes including:

• Generous annual leave allowance, including Christmas/New Year closure.
• Pension scheme membership to provide benefits for you and your family.
• Well-being programme with counselling, fitness and leading sports facilities.
• Learning and development opportunities.
• Season ticket loans for public transport.
• Cycle to Work Scheme.
• Workplace nursery scheme.
• Staff recognition schemes.
• Staff discounts on a range of products and services including travel and high street savings.

As an equal opportunities employer we welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status. All appointments will be made on merit.