Job Number
BU03987
School/Department
Finance Services
Grade
8
Contract Duration
Permanent
Responsible to
Head of Financial Planning & Analysis
Purpose of the Job
1. To prepare management information for area of responsibility enabling the evaluation of the Academic/Professional/Commercial Service financial performance and supporting the development of business plans.
2. Contribute towards the management of the Management Accounting function of the Finance Service, ensuring a clear focus on providing a responsive and flexible service that is valued by those accessing it and is compliant with legislative and regulatory audit requirements.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Generic Duties (appropriate to Grade)
3. Contribute to the management of the Management Accounting function, ensuring resources are used effectively and that staff are motivated, engaged and supported to develop and take responsibility for their performance.
4. Take the lead in developing and maintaining management information provision that is flexible and responsive to need (internal and external) and meets statutory and regulatory requirements.
5. Work with the Head of Service and other relevant parties to develop and agree Key Performance Indicators for the service, monitor & review performance against these KPIs, taking action to address issues as required.
6. To be an active member of the senior management team for the Academic / Professional / Commercial Service, working closely with and taking instruction from the Heads of the Service on specific tasks/requirements/projects. Maintaining excellent communication links with colleagues at College and School level and with colleagues in Professional/Commercial departments.
7. To be an active member of the Finance Service management team, engaging positively with colleagues to build/maintain good working relationships and shared understanding between the different areas of the service.
8. Foster and develop business relationships with internal and external partners in order to identify opportunities for the development and improvement of the service, and for collaborative working.
Specific Functional duties
9. Both provide and manage the provision of comprehensive management information to support the strategic planning and decision-making process and development of business plans.
10. Assist the Head of Financial Planning & Analysis in the preparation of 5 Year Forecasts and Statutory returns.
11. Undertake preparation, analysis and monitoring of budgets and financial forecasting to support decision making within Academic / Professional / Commercial Services.
12. Analyse and report on the financial performance of Academic / Professional / Commercial Services and advise on how performance could be improved.
13. Responsible for Academic / Professional / Commercial Services budget setting and modelling and reporting performance against budget on monthly/quarterly basis.
14. Assist Academic / Professional / Commercial Services in the preparation of project costing and evaluation of business plans.
15. Provide advice and support to the Academic / Professional / Commercial Services in the management of the budget and the development and implementation of the Services strategies and policies.
16. Implement and develop mechanisms to monitor financial activity across the Services and its constituent schools/projects and trading areas and provide management information to allow informed decisions.
17. Responsibility for ensuring best practice in planning and financial matters within the Academic / Professional / Commercial Services, developing and refining systems and procedures as necessary.
18. Assist the Senior Management Team to develop and support new strategic initiatives and ensure they are implemented effectively.
Other Duties and Responsibilities
19. The post holder will be expected to participate in performance review and developmental activities.
20. The post holder will be expected to comply with the University equal opportunities policies, Dignity at Work and Study Policy and the University’s Welsh Language Scheme.
21. The post holder has a general and legal duty of care in relation to health, safety and wellbeing and must take all reasonable steps to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for him/herself and for other members of staff, students and visitors affected by his/her actions or inactions. The post holder is also required to comply with all applicable health and safety policies, procedures and risk assessments.
22. The post holder must comply with relevant legal and financial policies and procedures and be aware of their responsibilities in terms of the legal requirements of their posts.
Person Specification
Qualifications/Training
Essential
23. Qualified Accountant (ACCA, CIMA, ACA or equivalent)
Experience/Knowledge
Essential
24. Demonstrable experience of managing staff and leading a team.
25. Understands internal/external factors that may impact on the service and takes action /make suggestions to mitigate any risk.
Desirable
26. Extensive and relevant management accounting experience gained within an HE environment.
27. A strong customer service focus.
Skills/Abilities
Essential
28. Strong analytical skills with-in depth experience of providing and commenting on management accounting information for strategic level use.
29. Ability to summarise and interpret complex and ‘specialist’ information and explain in language appropriate to the audience.
30. Ability to use appropriate techniques to influence and negotiate with a variety of stakeholders to achieve satisfactory outcomes.
31. Ability to gather information to identify future demands and opportunities and develop longer term plans.
32. Ability to translate operational plans into specific objectives for the team that enable them to contribute individually as well as collectively
33. Has the ability to evaluate individual & team performance and develops opportunities to improve performance through learning and development.
34. Ability to analyse problems /issues, consider all options in the light of experience and assess immediate and longer-term benefits and impacts.
35. Has the ability to use judgment to make decisions with limited or ambiguous data and takes account of multiple factors
Desirable
36. Ability to present complex information in a well structured, clear and concise manner using a range of styles and media to suit the audience.
37. Ability to plan and co-ordinate the work of the team to ensure that performance standards and objectives are met and that resources are used effectively.
38. Can identify and deal with performance problems or situations causing conflict within a team.
39. Can adapt services and systems to meet customer/stakeholder need and identify ways of improving standards
40. Ability to initiate processes and procedures to resolve new problems involving others as appropriate
41. Ability to anticipate issues and their potential impact upon own area of responsibility and identify practical ways to prevent or overcome them whilst still adhering to legal and regulatory requirements.
42. Ability to anticipate and highlights issues that need to be taken into account.
43. Can outline possible impacting factors, assessing their degree of influence on the choice of options
Other
Essential
44. Can help others understand complex, confusing or ambiguous data and explore options
45. Ensures that robust processes are in place to enable quality, legal and regulatory requirements to be met
Desirable
46. The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for these roles
47. Ensures that relevant strategic information is shared so others adjust plans accordingly.
General
We are a member of Advance HE's Athena SWAN Gender Equality charter and hold a Silver award in recognition of our commitment to and progress towards gender equality within the University's policies, practices, and culture. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.
All members of staff have a duty to ensure their actions are in line with the overall environmental aims of the University and minimise their environmental impact.
All offers are made subject to proof of eligibility to work in the UK and receipt of satisfactory references.