Job title: Accounting Officer
Department: Finance & Procurement
Contract Type: Permanent, Full Time
Grade: 7
Location: Bloomsbury, Camden, Greater London, WC1H 0XG.
Hours: 35 hours per week
SOAS University of London is the leading higher education institution in Europe specialising in the study of Asia, Africa and the Near and Middle East. The university is positioned to play a leading role in reimagining higher education globally, with a new strategic plan in place to renew and revitalise the School, committing SOAS to student responsiveness and research intensity.
This role offers a unique opportunity for a part‑qualified finance professional to contribute to a knowledgeable and dedicated team. You will support SOAS’s statutory reporting, financial control environment and compliance obligations, including external financial reporting, VAT and corporation tax compliance, and the endowment portfolio. You will collaborate with teams across Financial Systems, Operations and Finance Business Partnering to ensure financial excellence. You will support the preparation of year‑end financial statements, other compliance reports and financial administration for all capital projects and the endowment portfolio, contributing to the financial leadership within one of the world’s most culturally rich and academically diverse institutions.
Responsibilities
* Maintain the School’s bank mandate, process updates and manage KYC requests.
* Complete endowment investment accounting and reporting including monthly income, gains/losses and reconciliations.
* Calculate Total Return information and update the ledger.
* Administer the endowment portfolio including fund set‑ups and documentation.
* Provide financial advice to Advancement and the Scholarships Officer.
* Reconcile payroll suspense accounts and support Payroll with coding queries.
* Review new cost centres for compliance.
* Produce Gift Aid reclaims and interpret applicable charity law.
* Invoice external organisations.
* Assist with year‑end financial statements and audit processes.
* Support capital budgeting requests and maintain the fixed asset register.
* Support Wood Green Hall finance administration.
* Assist with VAT and Corporation Tax returns.
* Manage the Students’ Union loan and salary recharges.
* Liaise with Students’ Union auditors.
* Control internal Faculty Research Grants.
* Provide cover for the Banking Administrator.
* Complete monthly income and quarterly ONS returns.
* Submit SOAS International Ltd Annual Return to Companies House.
* Follow up outstanding travel advances.
* Assist the Head of Financial Compliance and the other Accounting Officer.
Qualifications
* Relevant and appropriate experience in finance and management obtained in a complex organisation.
* Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence at all levels within the organisation.
* Ability to work on own initiative, assess priorities and be proactive.
* Experience working in higher education or a similar setting is desirable, including knowledge of endowment or fund accounting.
Benefits
* 44 days holiday entitlement (30 days annual leave plus bank holidays and 5 closure days over Christmas and Easter).
* Flexible working arrangements.
* Generous occupational pension scheme.
* Learning and development opportunities.
* Health and well‑being initiatives including cycle‑to‑work scheme, eye tests and season ticket loan.
* Enhanced family leave including maternity, paternity and partner leave and shared parental leave.
* Employee Assistance Programme.
* Discounted gym membership.
Employment Conditions and Eligibility
Successful candidates will need to demonstrate eligibility to work in the UK or have leave to remain that allows work for the duration of the employment, in accordance with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006.
We are not able to offer sponsorship for candidates who do not currently possess the right to work in the UK.
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