Job Description
Job Title: Senior Finance Assistant
Posting Start Date: 09/09/2025
Job Id: 1505
School/Department: Faculty of Health
Work Arrangement: Full Time (Hybrid)
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary per annum (£): 27, ,236.00 with potential to progress to £33,951
Closing Date:
The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.
We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more.
Overview
The Department of Finance is seeking enthusiastic, self-motivated, flexible and proactive team players with excellent customer service skills.
The primary focus of this role is to provide sound financial support to our Schools, helping them ensure that their external research and other external and internal funding achieves the objectives specified by the funders or the institution.. The role requires a flexible and pro-active approach and will support a variety of financial activities and colleagues across a number of Schools or business areas.
In this role you will liaise directly with both internal and external stakeholders and work with the University's financial systems to process a wide range of financial transactions and other financial administrative processes, with the objective of maximising financial administration efficiency and effectiveness.
Main duties and responsibilities
* Support the financial management of research grants, other external projects and core budgets as required, maintaining appropriate records covering staffing, studentships and other expenditure as required.
* Provide analysis and review of individual externally funded project accounts to ensure that accounts are monitored and controlled within the constraints of the budget and in accordance with external funder guidelines. To identify potential under/overspends on a timely basis in order that remedial action may be taken as appropriate. To examine, identify and assess potential or impending areas of risk and contribute to recommendations to minimise risk.
* Prepare financial expenditure statements (claims) on externally funded projects as required, liaising with Academic, School and other Professional Services colleagues as required.
* Liaise with external partners and / or collaborators to satisfy funder requirements in terms of reporting expenditure.
* Assist with the provision of evidence & relevant information to external auditors necessary for completing the audit of externally funded projects.
* Contribute to financial housekeeping in respect of external accounts: closures, data validation and other tasks as appropriate.
* Assist the team with a range of financial administrative activities such as the creation of cost centres and external project accounts using the finance system
* Plan tasks in accordance with known deadlines, including external funder requirements, monthly and annual University financial reporting requirements.
* As a member of staff you will be encouraged to make ethical decisions in your role, embedding the University sustainability strategy into your working activities wherever possible.
* Any other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.
Person Specification
Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.
Criteria
Essential or desirable
Stage(s) assessed at
5 GCSEs grades A-C, including Maths and English
Essential
Application
Excellent written/verbal communication skills and customer service skills, with the ability to build strong working relationships
Essential
Application/
Interview
The ability to analyse, interpret and effectively communicate financial data
Essential
Application/Interview
Ability to review and provide meaningful feedback on contractual
financial terms and conditions
Desirable
Application/Interview
Ability to work proactively using own initiative, with minimum
supervision and to multiple deadlines.
Essential
Application/Interview
Excellent written/verbal communication skills with the ability to build strong working relationships
Essential
Application/Interview
Confident with willingness to challenge and be challenged
Desirable
Application/Interview
Ability to manage simple and complex processes effectively
Desirable
Application/Interview
Ability to gain trust, confidence and respect amongst colleagues
Essential
Application/Interview
Further Information
Grade
5
Salary
£27,319 - £31,236 with potential to progress to £33,951
Work arrangement
4 FTE Full Time (1 fixed term)
Duration
Fixed term end date
Line manager
Finance Business Partner
Direct reports
n/a
Our website
For informal enquiries about this job contact Louise Ford at, Lisa Knight at or Claire Price at
Next steps in the recruitment process
It is anticipated that the selection process will take place week commencing 22nd September 2025. This will consist of a test followed by an interview. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage within a week of the closing date. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact Alicia Darwent )
Our vision and strategic plan
We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: ().
What we offer
* A minimum of 38days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
* Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
* Generous pension scheme.
* A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
* A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women's and Parent's networks).
* Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
* A range of generous family-friendly policies
* paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
* support for those going through the menopause
* paid time off and support for fertility treatment
* and more
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.
We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision ) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.