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Finance Project Officer (HTRC) - Metallurgy and Materials

Employer
University of Birmingham
Location
Birmingham, United Kingdom
Salary
£27,511.00 - £33,797.00
Closing date
Apr 18, 2021
Position Details
  • High Temperature Research Centre (HTRC), School of Metallurgy and Materials
  • Location: Ansty Technology Park, Coventry
  • Full time starting salary is normally in the range £27,511 to £30,046, with potential progression once in post to £33,797 a year.
  • Grade 6
  • Part Time - 22.5 hours per week (0.6 FTE) / Fixed Term Contract for 6 months or available as a secondment for internal staff


Background

The High Temperature Research Centre (HTRC) is a joint collaboration between the University of Birmingham and Rolls-Royce.

The 5,800 sqm Centre is funded through a £40M investment by Rolls-Royce plc, matched by a £20M government grant through the Higher Education Funding Council for England's (HEFCE) UK Research Partnership Investment Fund (UKRPIF).

The Centre, based near Coventry, enables production scale research and experimentation to deliver rapid high quality product and process innovation and is a unique casting, design, simulation and advanced manufacturing research facility. It focusses initially on the key design and manufacturing aspects of investment casting.

This position is based at Ansty Technology Park, Coventry and the post-holder might be required to travel to the University of Birmingham, Edgbaston Campus.

Working Context

The post-holder will act as the point of contact for advice on all financial and strategic matters within HTRC. They will have responsibility for the preparation of the financial elements of the strategic plan, budgets, accounts and business plans, budgetary control, allocation of resources, compilation of comparative costs and statistics, submission of management information, costing and pricing of internal and external activities.

The post-holder will be responsible for the Accountancy, Financial Service provided to HTRC. They will provide advice and expertise on financial strategy, strategic and operational business planning, management information and budgetary control, production and reconciliation of information for financial accounts.

Job Summary
  • Provide the main communications point which offers expert advice and resolutions regarding all financial matters to HTRC (including Academics, Academic Related, Professorial and Support Staff).
  • Initiate and deliver improvements to the regular monitoring of financial performance indicators to ensure HTRC financial targets are met and that any deviations are reported appropriately along with strategies for corrective action.
  • Ensure, with minimal supervision, that the production of monthly and annual statements are both timely and accurate for inclusion within Management Information and Annual Accounts.
  • Ensure, with minimal supervision, that the production of monthly reconciliations and invoices are both timely and accurate.
  • Oversee and provide knowledge, leadership and advice on best practice relating to costing of activities. Setting up systems and procedures to ensure an efficient service is provided to stakeholders.
  • Provide high level accountancy support to the Management Accountant and Business Partner.


Main Duties/Responsibilities
  • Preparing costings, budgets and accounts for all activity within HTRC
  • Providing analysis & information to manage the financial risk for the Centre with an increasing reliance on income generating activities.
  • Reviewing and reporting on the overall financial position of the Centre on a regular basis, indicating areas which are not in line with the budget plan and recommending appropriate action. This involves evaluating alternatives (scenario planning) & making recommendations to the Head of Budget Centre on how to achieve its financial targets.
  • Assessing and providing a financial commentary to Senior Officers on all aspects of the budget.
  • Production of business/scenario plans and ad-hoc financial data liaising with, and providing expert advice to, the full range of contacts including Heads of Budget Centre, Senior Officers, Managers, and other academic related staff.
  • Monthly reconciliations to ensure accounts are in order and reported and accounted, adhering to accounting standards and principles. Corrective journals are produced and processed accordingly. Improvement activities to minimise the requirement for these corrective journals
  • Ensuring that invoices are sent in accordance with the terms and conditions of contract in a timely manner and resolving any related queries
  • Provide relevant information to the Management Accountant to calculate monthly accruals and prepayments
  • Support with raising purchase orders for HTRC operations
  • Ensuring policies and procedures are communicated and understood.
  • Reviewing, improving, and developing systems and procedures to enhance service and outputs.
  • The information produced by the post holder provides a briefing for the Business Partner when attending the Planning meeting with the Budget Centre Head.
  • Dealing with internal and external correspondence.
  • Ad-hoc jobs for the Head of HTRC, HTRC Operations Director, Management Accountant and Business Partner including assistance with business plans, production of reports and management information, re-organisation of paper and computer records including assisting other team members as and when required.


Person Specification

Knowledge:
  • Some formal relevant training (such as AAT, part qualified CCAB, other Finance/Accountancy/Business qualifications).
  • Previous experience within accountancy or financial environment is essential. Preferably substantial experience which includes the preparation and monitoring of budgets and a demonstrated ability to cost activities.


Skills and Experience:
  • Due to the seniority and importance of staff within the budget centre, the ability to communicate effectively is paramount.
  • Experience of complex financial computer systems
  • Excellent general IT skills, particularly spreadsheets, experience of Excel is essential and previous use of Core Systems/Oracle/Fusion is benficial.
  • Ability to make most efficient use of time and resources through rigorous prioritisation and must be able to work to strict deadlines.
  • Able to listen and communicate clearly and openly with others both written and verbally.


The University is committed to safeguarding and we promote safe recruitment practice, therefore all associated pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed. Due to the nature of the work undertaken in this role all successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory BPSS / DBS clearance prior to appointment.

Informal enquires to Suki Basra, email: S.Basra@bham.ac.uk or Tim Halford, email: Tim.Halford@htrc.bham.ac.uk

We value diversity at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community

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