At a Glance
- Tasks: Support a range of administrative duties and manage staff within the Finance Office.
- Company: Join the University of Birmingham, a leading global university with over 100 years of history.
- Benefits: Enjoy 40 days paid holiday, flexible working options, and a generous pension scheme.
- Other info: Located in Edgbaston with excellent transport links and a vibrant campus atmosphere.
- Why this job: Be part of a diverse team that values innovation and offers career development opportunities.
- Qualifications: A Levels or equivalent, with strong IT skills and experience in an accounting environment preferred.
The predicted salary is between 29647 - 31460 £ per year.
Join to apply for the Senior Accountancy Assistant - Finance Office - 106066 - Grade 5 role at University of Birmingham
Join to apply for the Senior Accountancy Assistant - Finance Office - 106066 - Grade 5 role at University of Birmingham
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Job Description
Position Details
Finance Office
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range £29,647 to £31,460, with potential progression once in post to £35,388.
Grade: 5
Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to September 2026
Closing date: 10 th August 2025
Our offer to you
People are at the heart of what we are and do.
The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years, andweare equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university.We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success.
We are committed to helping the people who work here todevelopthrough our sector-leading Birmingham Professional programmewhichprovides allprofessionalservices staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential.With almost 5,000professionalservices jobs in a wide-range of functionsin Edgbaston andin our campus inDubai, there are plenty of opportunities foryou to be able to develop yourcareer at the University.
We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and debate.We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we are,and how we work.
Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees andtothe success of the University and, depending on the role, we offer avarietyof flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on all forms of flexible working.In addition, you will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 dayspaid holidaya year, one paid day a year for volunteering, occupational sick pay, and a pension scheme. We also have three high quality subsidised day nurseries.
The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus, including main bus routes and a train station on site.On campus we have a state-of-the-art sports centre with pool, shops,places to eat and drink,our own art gallery, museum and botanical gardens.
Find out more about the benefits of working for the Universityof Birmingham
Role Summary
As a senior administrator within a team/department you will provide support for a broad range of administrative duties, some of which may be complex. You may also be responsible for managing other staff or for supporting colleagues and sharing knowledge. You will be able to use your wide range of skills, both technical and administrative, and have the opportunity to lead on specific tasks within a team. In order to flexibly use resource you may be given the opportunity to work in different areas of the department or wider University.
Senior Administrators may work in any area of the University; with large groupings in HR, Finance, and School/College Hubs.
Main Duties
- You will be able to deal with complex systems and procedures and will be expected to offer advice on these, including deciding on the response to more complex queries.
- You will be expected to exercise your judgment on the answer to queries or on the direction of work within parameters set by your manager. On a day to day basis you will be expected to resolve more complex queries without necessarily referring to your manager.
- If you have a supervisory role, you will line manage your staff taking responsibility for co-ordinating and prioritising the work of others. If not in a supervisory role you will still be expected to act as a role model and coach members of the team.
- Maintain high profile working relationships with key stakeholders on your own initiative, fielding enquiries and ensuring that appropriate information is disseminated to stakeholders as appropriate.
- You may be involved in organising events including booking a venue, sending invitations, arranging refreshments, liaising with speakers, manage bookings, co-ordination of colleagues, advertising, collating feedback and reporting back.
- Will manage some smaller projects on own initiative, but will also carry out desk research and source data from internal and external sources in order to contribute to wider projects.
- You will be expected to use a variety of complex University systems and processes to research, analyst and interpret complex data, producing bespoke reports as required. This may include identifying and resolving issues with the data.
- Support the management, development and implementation of operational processes and systems.
- Process more complex data (which may be financial, HR, student-related or other), monitoring accuracy, chasing up missing information, and resolving any issues as appropriate.
- Provide specialist advice and training to colleagues on area of activity.
- As required, provide a professional secretarial service to relevant committees and meetings.
- You may be required to be responsible for one or more of the following:
- monitoring budgets including processing payments, authorising expenditure, raising concerns where finances are not in line with the budget,
- procuring goods and services through the University system,
- updating and writing contents for the department’s communications eg intranet pages,
- dealing with health and safety and facilities issues,
- HR-related tasks such as managing staff absence, induction, or dealing with leavers,
- dealing with arrangements for international visitors.
- monitoring internal procedures/compliance and ensuring these are followed and disseminated as appropriate.
- Supports equality and values diversity, moderating own behaviour to avoid unfair discriminatory impact or bias on others.
- Educated to A Level standard, or equivalent level 3 qualification such as a Level 3 NVQ, or level 3 national diploma or relevant work experience evidencing the skills and ability to undertake the role.
- Minimum of grade C/4 in Mathematics and English at GCSE or equivalent.
- This post would suit someone working towards a professional accounting qualification with experience of working in an accounting environment.
- Highly proficient IT skills, in particular the ability to handle complex electronic diaries and emails, the wider MS Office suite of programmes including excel and PowerPoint, and some experience of using an enterprise resource planning package. The post holder should also be confident and able to quickly learn new IT skills and software packages as required.
- Proven ability to plan ahead and anticipate requirements, proactively planning own (and sometimes others’ workloads) to manage time effectively, progress tasks concurrently and work to deadlines.
- Excellent communication skills, including the ability to write for different audiences, and to required deadlines.
- Excellent interpersonal skills. The post holder must inspire confidence and command authority with a range of colleagues and provide excellent customer service at all times.
- A high degree of professionalism, tact, and diplomacy, and the ability to exercise discretion regarding the handling and management of sensitive information/issues.
- A high degree of initiative, personal judgement, resourcefulness, flexibility, and a self-motivating approach.
- Ability to work effectively in a large, complex organisation, and to develop a good understanding of how the University and higher education institutions work.
- Ability to understand policy and procedures and how to apply these.
- Understands the importance of equality and diversity in the workplace.
- Ability to identify and respond to equality and diversity issues in line with relevant policies and procedures.
This role will require the exercise of personal initiative within and beyond the department. May manage a team or budgets.
Planning and Organising
The role is required to work independently on daily, weekly and monthly tasks but also on projects with medium-longer-term horizons without daily supervision. May manage others staffs’ workloads.
Problem Solving and decision making
They will work with direction from management but with a significant degree of autonomy. They will deal with more complex queries and be expected to resolve any problems in their area of responsibility. They may also manage the workload of others or coach others to achieve results.
Internal and External relationships
This role will be liaising with internal colleagues and stakeholders, likely to be University-wide and with external stakeholders.
Informal enquiries to Rajvir Sandhu, email: r.sandhu.2@bham.ac.uk and Camilla Sexton, email: c.e.sexton@bham.ac.uk
View our staff values and behaviours here
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. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website .
Seniority level
Seniority level
Mid-Senior level
Employment type
Employment type
Full-time
Job function
Job function
Accounting/Auditing and FinanceIndustries
Higher Education
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#J-18808-LjbffrSenior Accountancy Assistant - Finance Office - 106066 - Grade 5 in Birmingham employer: University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and inclusive work environment that prioritises employee development through its Birmingham Professional programme. Located in the picturesque Edgbaston area, employees benefit from excellent transport links, a vibrant campus with state-of-the-art facilities, and a generous benefits package including 40 days of paid holiday and flexible working arrangements, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Accountancy Assistant - Finance Office - 106066 - Grade 5 in Birmingham
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the University of Birmingham's values and mission. Understanding their commitment to diversity and inclusion will help you align your approach during interviews and discussions, showcasing how you can contribute to their culture.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current employees or alumni from the University of Birmingham. Engaging in conversations about their experiences can provide valuable insights into the work environment and expectations, which you can leverage during your application process.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your experience with complex data systems and financial processes. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've successfully managed similar tasks in previous roles, as this will demonstrate your capability for the Senior Accountancy Assistant position.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your IT proficiency, particularly with MS Office and any enterprise resource planning software. Consider preparing a brief demonstration or example of how you've used these tools effectively in past roles to solve problems or improve processes.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Accountancy Assistant - Finance Office - 106066 - Grade 5 in Birmingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience and skills that align with the Senior Accountancy Assistant role. Focus on your administrative abilities, financial knowledge, and any supervisory experience you may have.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Write a cover letter that showcases your enthusiasm for the position and the University of Birmingham. Mention specific examples from your past work that demonstrate your ability to handle complex queries and manage projects effectively.
Highlight Relevant Qualifications:Clearly state your educational background, especially if you are working towards a professional accounting qualification. Include your GCSE results in Mathematics and English, as these are essential for the role.
Showcase Communication Skills:Since excellent communication is crucial for this role, provide examples of how you've successfully communicated with different audiences in previous positions. This could include writing reports, liaising with stakeholders, or training colleagues.
How to prepare for a job interview at University of Birmingham
✨Understand the Role
Make sure you thoroughly read the job description and understand the key responsibilities of a Senior Accountancy Assistant. Be prepared to discuss how your skills and experiences align with these duties, especially in areas like managing budgets and handling complex queries.
✨Showcase Your IT Skills
Since the role requires proficiency in various IT systems, particularly MS Office and enterprise resource planning packages, be ready to provide examples of how you've successfully used these tools in previous roles. Highlight any specific projects where your IT skills made a significant impact.
✨Demonstrate Communication Skills
Excellent communication is crucial for this position. Prepare to discuss instances where you've effectively communicated complex information to different audiences. You might also want to practice answering questions clearly and concisely during the interview.
✨Emphasise Teamwork and Leadership
Whether you're applying for a supervisory role or not, it's important to demonstrate your ability to work well within a team and lead when necessary. Share examples of how you've supported colleagues, managed workloads, or contributed to team success in past positions.
