Senior Finance Assistant (Business Partnering) - Finance Office - 7534 - Grade 6 in Birmingham

Position Details

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Salary: £33,002 to £35,608 (potential progression to £39,906)

Grade: 6

Type: Full Time, Permanent

Closing date: 7th June 2026

Number of positions: 2

Department Overview

The Finance Business Partnering team sits within the Financial Services department, which also includes the FP&A and Corporate Accounting teams. The team is responsible for running a reliable and responsive Financial Business Partnering function that provides the CFO, Deputy Director of Finance, and the Senior Management Team across the university with incisive, value‑add financial support and analysis which facilitates effective decision making.

Role Summary

Reporting to a Senior Finance Business Partner, this role will support the Finance Business Partnering team in providing 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.

Main Duties

• Using multiple systems and reports to collate financial information for the relevant College or Professional Departments budgets and forecasts.
• Provide financial analysis and guidance to budget holders on resource allocation, cost optimisation, staffing decisions, and program financial viability.
• Ensure the income and expenditure for the budget area is reported accurately and consistently against the budget set and to agreed accounting principles.
• Prepare accounts ensuring all deadlines are met and that budget holders are adhering to financial regulations and accounting practices.
• Ensure spending is in line with budget or plans and advise on implications if it is not.
• Prepare variance statements and commentaries of variances against targets.
• Liaise with budget centre contacts and Finance Office staff to resolve day‑to‑day queries or issues identified through monitoring and produce ad‑hoc financial data as deemed necessary.
• Undertake and review complex balance‑sheet reconciliations.
• Review and correct balance‑sheet reconciliations completed by Finance Assistants.
• Produce ad‑hoc financial data from a range of data sources including finance systems and other systems.
• Review the financial position of areas under their control, interpret and analyse information and communicate these in a clear way to key stakeholders.
• Understand and interpret management information for use in business decisions related to finance level initiatives and reviews.
• Discuss and review outputs and reports across with colleagues in Finance and relevant budget centres.
• Deliver improvements to the monitoring of financial performance indicators to ensure targets are set.
• Identify critical areas of financial performance and focus time on those areas where improvements can be effected.
• Provide knowledge and advice on best practice relating to all aspects of accountancy, financial processes and management information.
• Promote equality and values diversity, acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.
• Support the University’s sustainability agenda through resource‑efficient working.

Qualifications and Experience

• 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.
• Strong business partnering skills.
• Strong decision‑support background.
• Experience of producing management reports.
• Experience of creating business cases for projects.
• Team player, with exceptional interpersonal skills, able to work with a diverse and broad range of stakeholders across the organisation; demonstrable ability to influence.
• Good communication skills, able to communicate clearly, concisely and accurately in ways that promote understanding, to both finance and non‑finance specialists.
• Strong influencing skills, able to challenge stakeholders at all levels when needed.
• Ability to work flexibly with conflicting demands so that work is scheduled in order to meet changing priorities and deadlines.
• Highly proficient IT skills, including the wider MS Office suite of programmes including Excel and PowerPoint.
• Ability to understand financial processes and procedures, but also to recommend improvements and implement changes.
• Ability to plan and organise own workload effectively and get things done.
• 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.

Diversity and Inclusion

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Centre focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work, where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.