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Accountancy & Resources Officer

Employer
Global Academy Jobs
Location
United Kingdom
Salary
Competitive
Closing date
Sep 1, 2019

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Job Details

Position Details

University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Academic Services

Full time salary is usually within the range of £30,395 to £39,609. With potential progression once in post to £42,036.

Part time/Permanent

Closing date: 1st September 2019

Job Summary

This role is designed to provide an internal communications point which offers advice and resolutions regarding agreed financial and resources matters within Academic Services. Located in the Academic Registrar's Office (ARO) and reporting to the ARO Business Manager, it will involve liaising with the Senior Management Team of the directorate, and with colleagues with operational finance responsibilities in each of the Divisions in Academic Services, as well as Business Partners in other Professional Services.

Main Duties
  • Liaise with the Senior Business Partner (based in the Finance Division) to ensure a joined-up approach to delivery in finance matters across Academic Services. It will follow the lead of Finance on all professional matters related to practice, policy and regulation
  • Initiate and deliver improvements to the regular internal monitoring of financial performance indicators to ensure Academic Services' financial targets are met, and any deviations are reported appropriately along with strategies for corrective action
  • Ensure, with minimal supervision and liaising with colleagues in Finance, that relevant management information is produced to assist the Academic Services senior team in tracking budgets and maximising the use of financial resources
  • Work with Finance to establish systems and procedures to ensure an efficient service is offered
  • Help Academic Services divisions to establish suitable systems and procedures to ensure efficient services are maintained and refined
  • Oversee costing of activities, and provide knowledge, leadership and advice on best practice relating to this
  • Work with senior Academic Services policy leads and Directors to gain oversight of policies around core resources relating to HR, IT and Estates, and catalogue and record data and produce management information across the range of underpinning resources
  • Be the first contact point for advice from Academic Services staff relating to resources available for HR, ITS and Estates matters
  • Be the first contact point for matters relating to the distribution of resources
  • Provide a supportive role in the departmental risk register, liaising with colleagues as necessary across the University
  • Work with the Assistant Academic Registrar on the production of the annual Academic Services Compact document, and carry out the research which underpins this
  • Provide assistance and advice relating to relevant projects, including representing the interests of Academic Services at University-wide groups where appropriate
  • Be the key contact within Academic Services for efficiency and effectiveness enhancement
  • Take a leading role in partnership engagement discussions with ITS through liaison with the ITS Business Partner, and become a key contact for systems development scoping
  • Provide support and advice to the Academic Registrar's Project Oversight Group (POG), particularly but not only regarding the use of financial resources


Person Specification

Knowledge and Qualifications

Essential
  • A formal relevant accountancy qualification
  • Previous experience within an accountancy or financial environment
  • Significant experience in the preparation and monitoring of budgets, and a demonstrated ability to cost activities
  • A demonstrable understanding of organisational structure and the ability to liaise effectively across departments with staff of different levels of seniority and with sensitivity to their priorities and needs within the broader institutional context
  • Experience of creating and interpreting data to produce effective management information
  • Interest in the Higher Education sector and willingness to work outside the finance area


Skills and Experience:

Essential
  • Due to the seniority of staff within the budget centres, the ability to communicate effectively is paramount; this includes being able to communicate in an appropriate fashion to those without finance specialisms
  • Experience of complex financial computer systems
  • Excellent general IT skills, particularly in spreadsheets. Must be highly competent in Microsoft Excel
  • Ability to make the most efficient use of time and resources through rigorous prioritisation, and to work to strict deadlines. This includes the ability to adapt to changes in requirements, often with short notice or immediate turnaround times
  • Ability to listen and communicate clearly and openly with others, both verbally and in writing, and with due consideration for institutional dynamics
  • Ability to be proactive, adopting a positive approach to seek resolutions in a calm manner
  • Given the confidential nature of the information that will be handled in this role, the post-holder should have the experience and ability to act with discretion, and should be aware of data compliance regulations
  • The post-holder should be a good team player, able to contribute outside their principal area of work in a constructive and helpful manner


Dimensions

This role reports to the ARO Business Manager. It does not have any direct reports of its own, but the post-holder will be expected to work closely with the Academic Registrar's Senior Management Team (constituting around 8 people)

Planning and Organising

The post-holder will be expected to organise their work independently, particularly within the structure of the University's financial year and planning round, though advice and support will be available from their line manager and from colleagues in Finance. They will also need to respond to issues as they arise and to handle unforeseen demands, prioritising and adjusting their workload accordingly

Problem-Solving and Decision-Making

This post contains a significant element of advisory decision-making, as the post-holder will analyse information and provide advice. However, the post-holder will not have ultimate responsibility for financial decision-making, which rests with the Academic Registrar and his Senior Management Team

Internal and External Relationships

The post-holder will work closely with the Academic Services Senior Management Team, as well as contacts in HR and Finance, and Business Partners in ITS and Estates. They will build productive relationships with relevant individuals and will also challenge them where appropriate

For further information regarding this post, please contact Lynsey Hopkins who can be found on - L.A.Hopkins@bham.ac.uk

Company

Global Academy Jobs works with over 250 universities worldwide to promote academic mobility and international research collaboration. Global problems need international solutions. Our jobs board and emails reach the academics and researchers who can help.

"The globalisation of higher education continues apace, driving in turn the ongoing development of the global knowledge economy, striving for solutions to the world’s problems and educating a next generation of leaders and contributors."

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