Job Description
Job Title: Finance Manager - Financial Planning & Analysis
Posting Start Date: 01/10/2025
Job Id: 1676
School/Department: Finance
Work Arrangement: Full Time (Hybrid)
Contract Type: Fixed-term
Salary per annum (£): £48,822 - £58,225
Closing Date: 15/10/2025
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.
A key member of the Financial Planning & Analysis team, supporting the provision of strategic financial information and analysis in the delivery of the University's overall strategy and regulatory financial requirements.
You will have responsibility for the preparation of the University's financial forecasts and will undertake a range of strategically focused financial analyses and modelling projects. This role is central to ensuring that financial forecasts and reporting are accurate and aligned with the University's financial strategy, and is key to identifying & communicating progress against plans and financial risks.
You will also be required to undertake ad hoc project work to support decision-making by senior management or to make improvements in the effectiveness and efficiency of financial reporting, either by taking the lead or by supporting non-finance colleagues. Recent examples were to model the impact of increased National Insurance contributions, to redesign a new reporting hierarchy following the move to Academic Schools, to improve accuracy in staff FTE reporting.
Reporting to the Head of Financial Planning & Analysis, the team provides a range of financial management information, including reporting on financial performance, multi-year forecasting, budgets, scenario modelling, regulatory financial returns and various KPIs, including research performance and statistics.
The Department of Finance has over 150 staff within several specialist teams supporting specific areas of financial activities of the University. The scale & diversity of activities at the University makes this a truly interesting environment for any inquisitive, dynamic & enthusiastic finance professional.
Main duties and responsibilities
* Consolidation and review of University level five-year forecasts and budgets, including coordinating inputs from various teams, analysing and challenging all areas of activity, and presenting key variances and insights to senior management
* Responsible for coordinating the preparation of University level monthly, quarterly, annual and ad-hoc financial management information
* Responsible for the preparation of contributions to various regulatory financial reports, including liaising with external audit as required
* Development and clear communication of timetables to finance colleagues, ensuring that key deliverables are completed throughout the financial planning cycle
* Undertake financial modelling and project work as required, utilising professional expertise, and understanding of the HE environment, providing challenge & advice
* Encourage and enable continual review of existing processes, systems, & policies, recommending & implementing improvements
* Key point of contact for Faculty and Professional Services finance colleagues on the forecasting, budgeting and monthly reporting processes.
* Fostering and supporting constructive communication and relationships with colleagues at all levels within the Finance Department.
* Support the management, development & motivation of colleagues within the Financial Planning & Analysis team as well as wider finance teams
* Carry out 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 previous 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
Substantial experience in financial planning, forecasting, analysis and reporting within a complex organisation or environment
Essential
Application/ interview
Excellent IT skills, particularly in Excel, with the ability to interrogate and analyse large volumes of data, identify trends and effectively report on findings
Essential
Application/ interview
Professionally qualified accountant with strong technical skills
Essential
Application/ interview
Proven ability to work proactively, to encourage and facilitate continual improvement to meet organisational needs
Essential
Application/ interview
Excellent communication and people skills with the ability to analyse, interpret and present complex financial information meaningfully to staff at all levels
Essential
Application/ interview
Approachable and personable, with the ability to gain trust amongst colleagues, and be confident with a willingness to challenge and be challenged
Essential
Application/ interview
An innovative and strategic thinker with the ability to develop complex modelling with robust solutions, whilst also appreciating longer-term implications
Essential
Application/ interview
An understanding of finance within the Higher Education sector
Desirable
Application/ interview
Experience of working with SAP or similar ERP systems, and reporting software such as IBM Planning Analytics (TM1)
Desirable
Application/ interview
Further Information
Grade
Grade 8
Salary
£48,822 to £58,225 per annum
Work arrangement
Full-time, Hybrid. Flexible options considered
Duration
Fixed Term (Maternity Cover) 14 months (dependent on start date)
Line manager
Head of Financial Planning & Analysis
Direct reports
TBC
Our website
For informal enquiries about this job, contact:
Kate Fletcher, Finance Manager - Financial Planning & Analysis, or
Anya Rayner, Head of Financial Planning & Analysis,
Next steps in the recruitment process
The selection process will consist of a panel interview. You will also be asked to discuss your thoughts on a scenario that will be shared with you prior to the interview. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process, you can contact
Our vision and strategic plan
We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: ().
What we offer
* A minimum of 41days 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 commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Professional Services Shared Skills Framework.
* 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.
Criminal record
A basic DBS check will be needed for this role. More details on the checks can be found on the Government website: (opens in a new window).
Possession of a criminal record is not an automatic bar to employment at the University of Sheffield. We recognise the value of steady employment in the rehabilitation process and examine each case in its own right. More information can be found on our Information for candidates page:- (opens in a new window).
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.