Summary
The Finance department at the University of Birmingham provides a range of services and advice to all areas of the University to ensure that the finances – present and future – support the University’s delivery of the Birmingham 2030 Strategic Framework. These services and the teams that deliver them are outlined below:
Transaction Services – a large team that covers four functions. Accounts Payable - ensuring that invoices received from suppliers are processed. Accounts Receivable – responsible for the raising of invoices and credit control for research and student fees and accommodation. Income Processing – raising sundry ledger invoices and reconciling all income received across the University. Buying – reviews and process smaller purchases before sending orders to suppliers.
Procurement and Insurance – providing procurement support and advice to all areas of the University, to ensure that it gets best value for money from all its suppliers.
Financial Services – another large team that includes four teams. Financial Business Partnering – informing, interpreting and strategically advising the University’s Colleges and Professional Services on financial matters to support decision making. Tax and Treasury – subject matter experts on tax requirements and advise on fund investment. Corporate Accounting – Statutory and regulatory reporting including the support of year end audits, the management of the University’s asset register and financial support for the University’s subsidiaries. Management Accounts – producing the monthly management accounts and variance analysis, supporting the Colleges, Professional Services and Campus Services.
Analysts - focus on developing financial reporting and automating financial processes.
Internal Audit – an independent function that provides assurance that the University’s and its subsidiaries risk management, governance and internal control processes are operating effectively.
Core Systems Optimisation Team (CSOT) – managing, maintaining and improving the University’s HR, Payroll and Finance systems.
University of Birmingham Enterprise – providing an end-to-end service for academic’s that are seeking to take their ideas and concepts to market. Services include practical and financial support for proof of concept studies and market research, training for academics and facilities for hi tech and biomedical startups.
Finance Trainees will work across the whole finance department, gaining knowledge and skills in each area while studying the CIMA qualification.
Over the three-year learning period the Finance Trainee will be supported by expert professionals throughout the Finance department to develop their knowledge and skills to become a finance professional. The CIMA qualification will be delivered through an external professional training organisation.
Main Duties
The Finance Trainee will learn and develop skills across a broad range of teams within the Finance department over the three-year programme. Whilst each trainee will undertake two placements a year, the below indicates the variety of placements on offer across the Finance department and outlines some of the experiences that a trainee can expect. These placements have been designed to align as best as possible to the structure of the CIMA programme.
Year one
• Transaction Services
• Accounts Receivable (AR): working in the AR team to liaise with our students/research partners/customers to ensure payments are collected in line with terms and resolve queries and disputes that arise.
• Cash Management: to work with the team to ensure that the University bank accounts are reconciled to system transactions in a timely manner and that variances are investigated and resolved expediently.
• Accounts Payable (AP): working in the AP team to process invoices against valid purchase orders, validating they are in line with university guidelines, are duly authorised by budget holders, are received from bona-fide suppliers, are correctly calculated (including VAT) and sufficiently detailed to meet HMRC guidelines.
• Reconciliations: following working in the other areas of Transaction Services to gain an understanding of the systems and processes in place in those teams, work with the Reconciliation Accountant to prepare the month end control account reconciliations between the system subledgers and general ledger; investigating and resolving variances and differences.
• Buying Team: working in the team to convert end user purchase requisitions into purchase orders by assessing best value for money in line with procurement contracts and types of purchasing required. To close and true-up old purchase orders to clear the general ledger. To manage the Service-Now inbox for end-user enquiries.
• Procurement
• Procurement: to support end users to prepare contracts for tendering, analyse tenders to determine the overall best value for the University, prepare contract packs for signature and ensure relevant documents are completed related to contract award. To deal with queries related to procurement and contracting activity.
• E-Marketplace: to support the maintenance of the e-marketplace in relation to clearing daily ‘held requisitions’ due to changes or updates in information. To review and upload new price schedules or remove product lines that have been updated.
Year two
• Corporate Accounting: joining the Corporate Accounting team, supporting the preparation and planning processes for the external statutory audit, as well as helping with the compilation of the University’s Annual Report and Accounts. Assisting with the financial tracking and oversight of the University capital programme.
• Management Accounting: to work with the Management Accounting team on preparation of college/ professional services monthly management accounts and variance analysis, ensuring costs are being captured and reported accurately. Assisting the teams with financial forecasting and planning activities.
• Taxation and Treasury Management: working with the Tax team to manage the University taxes, deliver processes and ensure documentation is complete, assist with month end processes and manage user queries through the VAT inbox. Also, working with the Treasury team to support the actions from the University Investment Sub Committee relating to the efficient investment of University funds. Support cash flow reporting and forecasting, as well as reconciliations of the cash and investments balance sheet accounts.
Year three
• Business Partnering: to work with the Finance Business Partnering team, supporting the Colleges/Professional Services with monthly financial reporting and analysis, explaining and presenting financial information. Assisting with the budgeting and forecasting processes, to help with prioritisation and decision making.
• Internal Audit: to support in the delivery of the University’s Internal Audit plan that reviews the governance, risk management and control arrangements across the University as it seeks to deliver its organisational objectives. Working alongside a Senior Internal Auditor, learn about the role and methodology of internal audit by assisting with fieldwork to review the existing controls an area has in place to mitigate their risks and test their effectiveness. Input into the writing of the audit report to document Audit findings and provide the auditee with recommendations to address any weaknesses identified.
• Finance Projects: to work across the University to deliver financial and commercial support on large University-wide projects. To work across the Finance team on a large and varied range of finance and corporate related projects and to coordinate implementation across Finance teams.
Specialised placements are also available in the following areas:
• Birmingham Enterprise: support the protection of Intellectual Property (IP), including inventions, patents, and copyright, helping academics progress their ideas into real innovations. Ensure new developments have the appropriate commercial protection and provide consultancy to academics on innovation development.
• Core Systems Optimisation Team (CSOT): to assist the CSOT team with ServiceNow incidents and triage, support operational activities to ensure the smooth running of the Core Systems service, and provide support to assist area leads with operational activity in the Oracle system.
• Insurance: working in the team to manage the insurance ServiceNow inbox to resolve daily insurance enquiries, to manage personal claims and assess for validity against the University’s insurance policy. To assist in the annual insurance renewal programme (updating the insurance record of liabilities and cover required) and support students and staff with insurance cover related to travel or special projects.
Person Specification or Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience
We are looking for future leaders, and our ideal candidates are bright, inquisitive graduates who are passionate about the University and the city of Birmingham and its wider region. We value diversity, and recognise that by embracing different perspectives, thoughts, ideas and values, we will be more effective in achieving our objectives. We provide equal access to opportunity and welcome applications from people who identify with any of the Protected Characteristics, such as race/ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity/expression. Our culture is based on our shared values, which we seek to embody throughout the organisation.
You should be able to demonstrate the following qualifications, attributes, and skills:
• Demonstrable interest in a career in Finance;
• Interested in working in a large and complex organisation with an ability to adapt to work effectively in new environments;
• Able to manage the demands of working and studying simultaneously;
• The ability to think analytically and to be resilient;
• At least a 2.1 in a first degree in any subject in the past three years (between 1 January 2023 – 1 August 2026, or a postgraduate qualification completed in the same period, having previously achieved at least a 2.1 in a first degree;
• GCSEs to a minimum of grade 4 or C in English and Mathematics (or equivalent qualifications);
• A high degree of initiative, resourcefulness, flexibility, and a self-motivating approach;
• The ability to form effective working relationships with a diverse range of colleagues;
• The ability to communicate clearly and effectively through oral and presentational skills as well as excellent writing skills;
• 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.
The application process
There are three stages to the application process:
• Stage 1: Online application
For the first application stage you will need to complete a brief online form and upload a current CV and cover letter through the University's online jobs portal. Please note that your CV and covering letter should be uploaded as one document. In your cover letter you should answer the following questions:
1. Why are you interested in a career in Finance and, in particular, why at the University of Birmingham?
2. What is your proudest achievement to date?
3. Can you describe a time when you showed initiative?
Your cover letter should be no more than 1000 words
• Stage 2: Online Interview – week commencing 2 March 2026
A brief interview will be held via Microsoft Teams, giving you the opportunity to highlight the skills you possess that align with the requirements of the role and to learn more about what the position involves.
• Stage 3: Assessment centre – 16 March 2026
The assessment centres involve a variety of activities designed to enable you to show the skills and qualities that we are looking for in our Finance Trainees. It is also an opportunity for you to meet members of the finance team, learn more about working at the University, and decide whether a career in Higher Education is for you. The assessment centre will take place over one day and will include activities such as group discussions, individual interviews and an individual task. It is designed to be both enjoyable and challenging.
Career Pathway
• Chartered Accountant
• Financial Accountant
• Management Accountant
• Finance Business Partner
• Tax Accountant
• External/Internal Auditor