Assistant Management Accountant - Finance Office - 105110 - Grade 6

The Financial Services division includes the Business Partnering team, Management Accounts, Corporate Accounts, Research, Tax, and Treasury. The teams focus on the following areas:

• Leading budgeting, forecasting and five-year planning.

• Preparing monthly management accounts.

• Reporting on capital projects and subsidiaries.

• Managing the external year end audit and other regulatory requirements.

• Investing funds and advising on tax issues.

• Providing advice and support in the finance business partnering role.

• Connecting Finance with Research Strategy & Services division (RSSD).

• Internal communications with Finance.

Management Accounts are financial outputs used by key stakeholders and management for day-to-day and strategic decision making. The Management Accounts team are responsible for preparing management reports and accounts to provide accurate and timely financial information required for day to day decision making and in year forecasting. This includes responsibility for the integrity of the general ledger, providing financial support and guidance to budget managers and producing relevant management information across all Colleges and Professional Services.

Role Summary

Reporting to the Management Accountant, this role is part of a central support team to provide management information to a range of Colleges and Professional Services. It is responsible for the preparation and consolidation of monthly accounts and communication of that information to key stakeholders.

To deliver an effective and efficient financial service across a range of financial and management accounting activities the post holder has responsibility for ensuring that the data provided is accurate, timely and consistent and that reports provided are clear and easily understood. Working closely with the business partnering teams the Management Accountants gain an understanding of the business to ensure the integrity of data and information provided to budget holders enables them to manage their budgets effectively and support financial decision making.

Main Duties

• Ensure accurate and consistent reporting of income and expenditure within the budget area, in alignment with agreed accounting principles.

• Preparation of monthly management accounts to meet deadlines and ensuring budget holders comply with financial regulations and practices.

• Monitor spending to ensure alignment with budgets or plans, provide advice on implications, and prepare variance statements with commentaries on deviations from targets.

• Assist in preparing Budget and Forecast across multiple costs centres, in line with agreed assumptions.

• Reviewing the financial position of areas under their control, interpreting and analysing information and communicating these in a clear way to key stakeholders.

• Liaising with budget centre contacts and Finance Office staff to resolve day to day queries or issues identified through monitoring.

• Undertake balance sheet reconciliations.

• Enhance the monitoring of financial performance indicators by setting targets and identifying critical areas where focused efforts can drive meaningful improvements.

• Providing knowledge and advice on best practice relating to all aspects of accountancy, financial processes and management information.

• Produce ad-hoc financial data as required and undertake other duties consistent with the role’s grade.

• Promotes equality and values diversity, acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.

• Supports the University’s sustainability agenda through resource efficient working., Working at this level you will be able to develop and successfully use the core competencies/transferable skills outlined in each of the areas shown below. As appropriate for the level, our Birmingham Professionals will take ownership for getting things done. You will be expected to be flexible as required in supporting your department and wider University.

• Educated to Degree level (or equivalent qualifications) – where no equivalent qualification is held, significant practical relevant experience and expertise in a similar role will be required.

• Experience of working in a similar accounting role.

• Part-qualified accountant and actively studying for a CCAB/CIMA qualification.

• Excellent communication skills and able to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders.

• Aptitude for reviewing and interpreting often complex information.

• Proven planning and analytical skills.

• Adaptable and flexible when dealing with complex situations and the unexpected.

• Ability to generate innovative solutions in response to challenges to deliver change and to articulate these sharing both implications and benefits.

• Resilient and positive in response to changes.

• Able to influence both formally and informally within an organisation.

• Excellent general computer skills with the aptitude to develop skills in specific areas such as reporting systems.

• The ability to work independently and as a team.

• Ability to plan, organise, prioritise workload, and work to strict deadlines.

• Evidence of literacy and numeracy, with the ability to write clearly, and to analyse information and data.

• Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly.

Role context

Roles at this level will require expertise and a detailed understanding of methods, systems and procedures in an administrative or professional area. You will either use specialist knowledge or have more of a planning/co-ordination/project role or a role which is supervisory in nature where you may manage a team doing similar kinds of work. You will have the opportunity to exercise a high degree of personal responsibility and initiative which you will use to resolve queries; you will use your judgement to deal with unforeseen problems and circumstances, all with limited guidance/supervision.

Informal enquiries to Chantelle Thomas, email: c.thomas.8@bham.ac.uk