Corporate Accounting Manager - Finance OfficeGrade 8
Corporate Accounting Manager - Finance OfficeGrade 8
Employer Active
Job Alert
You will be updated with latest job alerts via email
Share
Job Alert
You will be updated with latest job alerts via email
£ 46735 - 55755
1 Vacancy
Job Description
Position Details
Finance Office
Location: University of Birmingham Edgbaston Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range 46735 to 55755 with potential progression once in post to 62728
Grade: 8
Full Time Permanent
Closing date: 15th April 2025
Our offer to you
People are at the heart of what we are and do.
The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years andweare equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university.We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond support them to succeed and celebrate their success.
We are committed to helping the people who work here todevelopthrough our sectorleading Birmingham Professional programmewhichprovides allprofessionalservices staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential.With almost 5000professionalservices jobs in a widerange of functionsin Edgbaston andin our campus inDubai there are plenty of opportunities foryou to be able to develop yourcareer at the University.
We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas innovation and debate.We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we areand how we work.
Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees andtothe success of the University and depending on the role we offer avarietyof flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on all forms of flexible working addition you will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 dayspaid holidaya year one paid day a year for volunteering occupational sick pay and a pension scheme. We also have three high quality subsidised day nurseries.
The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus including main bus routes and a train station on site.On campus we have a stateoftheart sports centre with pool shopsplaces to eat and drinkour own art gallery museum and botanical gardens.
Find out more about thebenefits of working for the Universityof Birmingham
Background
The Corporate Finance team sits within the Financial Services department which also includes the Business Partnering and Management Accounting teams. Alongside Transaction Services these teams work closely together to support and advise the wider business.
The Corporate Accounting team are responsible for managing the statutory financial audit process for the University and its subsidiary companies as well as preparing the consolidated Annual Report & Accounts in accordance with UK GAAP OfS requirements and all other relevant accounting regulations. The teams are also responsible for coordinating other financial regulatory submissions including those for OfS and HESA building robust internal financial controls across the University and advising more broadly on technical accounting issues.
Role Summary
Reporting to the Financial Controller the Corporate Accounting Managerwill oversee the accounting for the Universitys capital programme as well as actively managing the external audit programme for the main University.
The role will coordinate the efforts of various teams during the preparation phase interim audit yearend buildup and final audit. Working closely with other members of the Corporate Accounting team Management Accounting Business Partnering Transaction Services Estates IT/CSOT and HR/Payroll the role will ensure that the responsible person is working towards the given deadline and that they understand what is required and what constitutes good audit evidence. The role will utilise agreed escalation points where necessary and flag any delays to the Financial Controller so mitigating actions can be taken.
During the course of the external audit the post holder will monitor the audit portal (from the Statutory external auditor) for audit requests and contact the relevant individuals within UoB to ensure they understand what is required and by when. The post holder will work very closely with the Assistant Manager/Manager in the external audit team and provide regular updates to the senior finance teams. The role will monitor feedback and progress on each section of the audit and document feedback from the auditors/UoB staff.
In addition this role will oversee the accounting for the Universitys capital programme including the maintenance of the fixed asset register and the preparation of all information required for audit. The Corporate Accounting Manager will ensure all monthly management reporting and quarterly committee reporting is done in an accurate and timely manner. They will also oversee the annual budgeting process for capital and the quarterly reforecasts.
Main Duties
- Responsible for the Universitys capital accounting process and procedure ensuing the accuracy of the fixed asset register and all capital projects in progress (including revenue projects funded from the capital allocation).
- Responsible for all capital programme reporting budgeting and forecasting.
- Line management responsibility for the Capital Accountant and Financial Accountant.
- Ensuring readiness for audit issuing preclose advice to teams setting materiality limits in coordination with the senior financial team and ensuring the appropriateness of review procedures prior to audit.
- Identifying areas of significant risk and helping the appropriate teams to develop plans to mitigate those risks.
- Project managing the annual external audit process for the University and its subsidiary companies which will include:
- developing plans identifying (as appropriate) key performance indicators and milestones;
- reviewing progress and identifying improvements to effectiveness efficiency and delivery;
- reporting on progress including the development of reporting mechanisms and presenting to appropriate meetings such as senior management or to other key stakeholders;
- assessing and escalating issues and risks;
- Stakeholder management ensuring effective liaison with external auditors.
- Develop and implement the plan for Information Provided by the Entity (IPE) testing and ensure all preclose/close testing is arranged with the audit team.
- Communicating with third parties with regards to audit requirements and managing the return of data within the agreed timelines.
- Managing the external auditors audit portal and providing status updates to senior staff on progress in providing required documentation.
- Attending briefing sessions with the audit team to understand progress and to ensure all departments are working to schedule.
- Attend weekly senior briefings to provide status updates on the progress of the audit.
- To work with teams across the University to ensure they are engaged in the audit and working to provide good quality audit evidence in a timely manner.Notifying internal teams/individuals of upcoming deadlines.
- Assisting members of the Finance team in chasing up the required audit support from other departments/third parties where necessary. For example chasing external investment managers for asset valuations.
- Ensuring referencing guidelines issued by Corporate Accounts are followed through communicating and training colleagues on the guidelines.
- Taking note of any issues arising during the audit (for example missed deadlines information provided in the incorrect format poor quality audit evidence etc. in order to facilitate the debrief and to aid future planning.
- Documenting any agreed overruns and causes working with the statutory auditors.
- Working with the auditors to understand the nature of the request and what is being tested and relaying that information to individuals. Dealing with any duplicate requests and signposting the auditors to relevant submissions.
- To identify where requests are outside of the agreed methodology and flagging issues to the audit team for resolution.
- Meeting with subject area specialists/department managers and the audit team to facilitate discussion and seek resolutions to issues.
- Carrying out training/briefing sessions to relay guidance from the audit team and to disseminate best practice.
- Ensuring regular communications across all relevant areas of the university of audit requirements and progress.
- Working with Creative Media to ensure clarity of timescales and requirements for preparation of the Annual report document.
- Ensuring retention of audit evidence for future use.
- Implementation of the plans arising from the debrief process.
- Develop implement and monitor a plan for a monthly audit routine.
- Manage the audit planning of the ITT US Loans and Land Covenants audit ensuring completion and review in line with the audit deadlines.
- Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.
- Supports the Universitys sustainability agenda through resource efficient working.
- Any other duties commensurate with the grade.
Required Knowledge Skills Qualifications Experience
- Educated to Degree level and a qualified Accountant (ACCA or ACA).
- Audit experience preferably from a big four firm.
- Evidence of literacy and numeracy.
- Authoritative knowledge of the work practices processes and procedures relevant to the role including broader sector/commercial awareness.
- Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010 and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly. Ability to monitor and evaluate the extent to which equality and diversity legislation policies procedures are applied.
- Ability to identify issues with the potential to impact on protected groups and take appropriate action.
- Substantial experience of engaging and collaborating with a range of stakeholders.
- Excellent people interpersonal and management skills with proven experience of leading motivating and managing teams including engaging with peers and staff who are not direct reports.
- Excellent analytical skills with an ability to analyse complex financial information and present conclusions clearly and concisely.
- Proven problemsolving skills that will help to identify and implement improvements and efficiencies across the service area and beyond.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence and negotiate effectively with a range of stakeholders.
Core competencies/transferable skills
Working at this level you will be able to develop and successfully use the following core competencies/transferable skills in each of the areas shown below. You will be expected to take ownership for getting things done including calling on or joining others to assist. You will be expected to be flexible as required in supporting your department and wider University.
Planning and organising
- provide professional expertise and manage resources and/or a diverse team;
- integrate and coordinate work across different parts of the department/university;
- lead and manage staff who are likely to be carrying out diverse duties and ensure collaborative working to deliver a successful service;
- project manage activities to facilitate major changes;
- develop policy within functional guidelines and contribute to strategic development within own area;
- be accountable for the quality and professionalism of service delivery with an appreciation of longer term issues.
Problem solving and decision making
- anticipate interpret and assess customer needs identifying trends generating original ideas and testing innovative solutions;
- deal with significant people management issues such as change programmes;
- resolve issues which may not have arisen before through use of experience and judgement.
Organisational understanding
- has an excellent understanding of their own working area and a broad understanding of the contribution other areas make to the success of the University;
- has an excellent understanding of how the University operates together with an understanding of how academia operates in the UK;
- demonstrates empathy with the academic endeavour and seeks to encourage others to do so.
Relationships and communication
- use coaching skills to motivate and develop staff;
- proactively and sensitively manage the performance of their team and create a motivating environment;
- influence others (including across the University) to follow a particular course of action;
- represent the department at internal and external meetings/events/network with colleagues in other institutions to share best practice.
Informal enquiries to Russell Brown email:
View our staff values and behaviourshere
We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyoneon our website.
Required Experience:
Manager
Employment Type
Full-Time
