Finance Business Partner

The University's Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) finance team develops and implements dynamic and future-focused financial strategies to support the University's aims, whilst maintaining sound financial oversight and administration in managing the University's financial affairs. We have business partnering teams aligned to research groups and central professional service departments within the AMRC and wider University.

Main duties and responsibilities:

• Work with AMRC research groups and AMRC Professional Services departments to provide finance support and information, ensuring that the AMRC's financial plan is sustainable and financial risks are identified, understood and managed.
• Provide expert financial support, guidance and management information, with responsibility for excellent customer service.
• Prepare accurate income and expenditure forecasts on a monthly and quarterly basis and as required, including analysis and explanation of variances against budget/forecast with recommendations for action or mitigation where appropriate.
• Prepare quarterly and year-end reconciliations as required, including reserves and other provisions, and coordinate year-end procedures, ensuring these are communicated and effectively implemented across departments.
• Provide information and advice regarding budgetary control and activity forecasting across all types of external income (both research and other external funding), identify and offer solutions to minimise areas of potential risk or conflict with University financial regulations.
• Review and/or prepare financial expenditure statements or award claims for all types of external funding (for example, research) as required in conjunction with relevant departmental staff; coordinate the external audit of financial returns prior to submission to funders, providing auditors with relevant information and acting as point of contact throughout the audit process.
• Support and enable finance staff to work to the highest professional standards and encourage a culture of continuous professional development.
• Lead colleagues in challenging activities and processes, and identify and deliver improvements to maximise effectiveness.
• Have oversight of and plan, in collaboration with other Finance Business Partners and the Finance Manager, workload allocations across the team, ensuring all objectives and deadlines are achieved and productivity is optimised.
• Carry out other duties commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

Person Specification:

• Essential: Sound knowledge of key principles of financial management; skills and experience in forecasting, budget monitoring, control and month‑end routines.
• Essential: Excellent interpersonal, communication, relationship building and influencing skills; credibility to operate as a finance leader and advisor, generating confidence in stakeholders.
• Essential: Ability to lead and develop a team, motivating high performance in line with the department's vision and values.
• Essential: Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, able to interpret and evaluate financial and business information to inform business decisions.
• Essential: Qualified or part‑qualified accountant (e.g. ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent).
• Essential: Proven ability to communicate complex financial information to a non‑financial audience, producing high‑quality financial reports.
• Essential: Excellent IT skills, particularly with Microsoft Excel and experience of finance systems and reporting solutions in an operational environment.
• Essential: Proactive, able to work to multiple deadlines, organise team resources and prioritise workloads.
• Desirable: Part‑qualified advanced (CIMA Managerial level or equivalent ACCA).
• Desirable: Awareness and interest in issues facing the Higher Education sector and experience managing funding from external bodies.

Government baseline personnel security standard (BPSS) check required.

What we offer:

• Minimum of 41 days annual leave (including bank holidays and closure days, pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• Wide range of retail discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• Staff networks providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (Race Equality, LGBT+, Women and Parent's networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond.
• Commitment to development – access to learning and mentoring schemes; Professional Services Shared Skills.
• Family‑friendly policies: paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies; support for menopause; paid time off and support for fertility treatment; and more.

Equal Opportunity Statement: We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.