Advert Reference Number: 1259
Job Location: Milton Keynes
Department: Accounting Services
Salary: £27,319 to £30,378 pro rata
Closing Date: 2 January 2026
Weekly Working Hours: 18
Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract until 31 August 2026
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About the Role
This is a varied role within a busy team who provides high quality financial services within the Finance Shared Service / Core Support function of the Business Partnering team, at The Open University.
The role supports collation of financial information for external and internal reporting, as well as projects. It assists with the preparation and organisation of relevant data, allocating to the correct reports, and coordinating submissions to the relevant external or internal stakeholders when complete.
The focus is around transactional entry and processing, ensuring the smooth support to units, faculties, and BP hubs (services include answering queries, entering journals, and general mailbox management), so accuracy and attention detail are key attributes for success. This includes running and distributing routine financial reports to other Finance colleagues, running reports on fee income, tuition, staffing, SCF (Salary Cost Forecast) and projects, as well as the preparation of financial analysis and tables for external returns and documents.
Problem solving, accuracy and attention detail are key attributes for success as the role also covers the collation of necessary information for financial due diligence, credit checks, and maintaining the register tracker.
This is a part-time, fixed-term position until 31 August 2026. The role is for 18 hours per week, working on-site on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Key Responsibilities
* Ad hoc and scheduled transactional queries, triaging when needed.
* Journal processing for Management Accounting team.
* Resolving transactional audit queries.
* Monitoring mailboxes and triaging as required.
* Set up and checking of Finance / systems access, using identification and forms.
* Cost centre and Profit centre maintenance and mapping.
* Completing project and donation set up, monitoring, maintenance, and closure.
* Raising sales orders / invoices.
* Running of various reports when needed.
* Document and updating financial processes, principles, and approaches.
* Keep up to date on funder terms and conditions as required.
* Proactive engagement with stakeholders to resolve queries.
* Familiar with latest process and systems guidance, advising colleagues when required.
About You
Essential:
* Relevant experience of working in an accounting environment, ideally within management accounts.
* Experience of costing /budgeting / forecasting, as well as basic accounting principles such as debit and credits.
* Sound knowledge of MS Excel (creating tables and charts, using financial Excel functions such as formulas and pivot tables, managing / manipulating large data sets).
* Experience of adhering to accounting conventions, financial regulations, and procedures.
* Ability to manage a wide variety of tasks and prioritise accordingly.
* Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to deal confidently with a range of people at all levels.
* Can demonstrate how they successfully maintain attention to detail.
* Able to demonstrate strong team working and adding value to the team.
* Ability to build and maintain good working relationships within the team and the key stakeholders.
* Balanced approach to hybrid working, both in person and virtually, using varied communication channels as appropriate.
What's in it for you?
At The Open University, we offer a range of benefits to recognise and reward great work, alongside policies and flexible working that contribute towards a great work life balance. Get all the details of what benefits we offer by visiting our Staff Benefits page (clicking this link will open a new window).
How to apply
If you are interested in applying for this position, please click the 'Apply' link above where you will be directed to our Careers webpage.
We may close this job advert earlier than the published closing date where a satisfactory number of applications are received. We would therefore encourage early applications.
The Open University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion which is reflected in our mission to be open to people, places, methods and ideas. We aim to foster a diverse and inclusive environment so that all in our OU community can reach their potential. We recognise that different people bring different perspectives, ideas, knowledge, and culture, and that this difference brings great strength. We strive to recruit, retain and develop the careers of a diverse pool of students and staff, and particularly encourage applications from all underrepresented groups. We also aspire to make The Open University a supportive workplace for all through our policies, services and staff networks.