At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the finance team in delivering high-quality budgeting, forecasting, and management accounting services.
- Company: Join the University of Bath, a dynamic institution committed to excellence.
- Benefits: Generous leave, pension schemes, professional development, and local discounts.
- Other info: Flexible working environment with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on financial decision-making and support strategic initiatives.
- Qualifications: Qualified accountant with significant experience in financial leadership and advanced Excel skills.
The predicted salary is between 46688 - 57063 £ per year.
We are seeking to appoint a Head of Management Accounting to lead the Management Information Section (MIS) finance team.
About the role
This role is responsible for delivering high-quality finance business partnering, budgeting, forecasting, and management accounting services across the University’s academic, professional services, and research support functions. You will work closely with colleagues across the wider University and the Finance department to provide insightful financial support, drive process improvements, and influence decision-making at senior levels. As the University transitions to a cloud-based accounting system, you will play a key role in guiding the team through changes to financial processes, systems and reporting, working collaboratively with the programme team to support a smooth and effective implementation. In addition to these core responsibilities, you will contribute to strategic projects and support the development of new initiatives and practices in response to both internal priorities and external developments.
About you
You will be a qualified accountant with:
- Significant post-qualification experience in financial leadership roles, ideally within complex organisations
- A strong track record of leading finance business partnering teams and delivering strategic financial support
- Proven ability to build effective relationships with senior stakeholders and influence decision-making
- Advanced Excel skills (Power Query) and experience using Power BI and financial reporting tools
- Technical proficiency in management accounting, budgeting, and forecasting, with the ability to communicate financial implications clearly to non-financial audiences
- Experience supporting system and process change
- A flexible and adaptive approach, with the ability to thrive in a changing environment
- A genuine commitment to the success of the University and an appreciation of its impact across students, staff, and the wider community
Further information
This position is based at the Virgil Building in Bath's city centre. The team operates flexibly, with regular meetings held both at the Virgil Building and the University’s Claverton Down campus. For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Stephanie Court, Director of Management Accounts.
What we can offer you
We're continually expanding our benefits package to better support you and enhance your experience with us, and the below is just an example of some of the many great benefits we offer:
- Generous annual leave allowance with an additional 5 discretionary days so that you can enjoy a positive work-life balance
- Generous employer-contributory pension schemes
- Cycle to work scheme
- Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme
- Staff discount at Team Bath gym
- Staff benefits, including discounted postgraduate tuition and language courses, alongside a wide range of personal and professional development opportunities such as apprenticeships, LinkedIn Learning, and more
- Local discounts, including free entry to the Holburne Museum in Bath
- A family-friendly workplace
- An excellent reward package that recognises the talents of our diverse workforce
- Relocation allowance
- Visa reimbursement and Interest-Free Loan to help with the cost of some immigration expenses
- Employee assistance services through Health Assured, including access to the Wisdom app
Find out more about our benefits on our website and watch the video to hear from our staff about what makes the University of Bath a great place to work, as well as following us on X and LinkedIn.
Be Well at Bath
We're committed to creating a health-supporting working environment where everyone can thrive and be at their best. We offer a range of resources to enable you to do that from your first day here, including:
- Staff support groups and networks
- A network of Staff Wellbeing Champions
- A suite of tools, resources and frameworks that enable you to be at your best and thrive
Right to Work in the UK:
We do not assess immigration or right to work status until the offer stage. Being invited to interview does not guarantee you are eligible for visa sponsorship, and all offers are conditional on meeting right to work requirements. Further information is available on our application support webpage.
Anonymous shortlisting:
We are constantly seeking to reduce the unconscious bias that enters any assessment process, with the goal of creating an inclusive and equal assessment process. To support this, personal details such as your name may be removed from application forms at the initial shortlisting stage.
Head of Management Accounting in Slough employer: University of Bath
SETsquared Bath is an exceptional employer, fostering a vibrant work culture that champions innovation and collaboration. With a strong commitment to employee growth, we offer extensive professional development opportunities, generous benefits, and a supportive environment that values diversity and inclusion. Located in the heart of Bath, our team enjoys a family-friendly workplace with a focus on wellbeing, making it an ideal place for those looking to make a meaningful impact in the community.
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We think this is how you could land Head of Management Accounting in Slough
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We think you need these skills to ace Head of Management Accounting in Slough
Some tips for your application 🫡
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How to prepare for a job interview at University of Bath
✨Brush Up on Technical Skills
Make sure you're comfortable with key financial concepts, especially around forecasting, budgeting, and variance analysis. Sometimes, interviewers may throw in technical questions or case studies, so practicing these types of scenarios will help you shine!
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In full-time interviews, especially in financial controlling, be prepared for numerical reasoning tests or questions. Brush up on your mental maths and understand how to interpret and analyse financial statements on the spot, as this may come up during the assessment.
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Familiarise yourself with University of Bath's financial objectives and any recent developments. During the interview, try to weave your understanding of their business model and challenges into your answers—this shows your genuine interest and alignment with their goals!