Finance Communications Officer - Finance OfficeGrade 7
Finance Communications Officer - Finance OfficeGrade 7
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£ 36130 - 45413
1 Vacancy
Job Description
Position Details
Finance Office
Location: University of Birmingham Edgbaston Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range 36130 to 45413 with potential progression once in post to 48149
Grade: 7
Full Time (Part time applications will also be considered)
Fixed Term contract up to May 2026
Closing date: 28th May 2025
This role is also open as an internal secondment opportunity which would need to be agreed by your current line manager.
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 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 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 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 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 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
Role Summary
Finance is on a transformational journey; were working towards the objectives of our Finance 2030 strategy aligning with and supporting the overall Birmingham 2030 Strategic Framework. Our strategy comprises 5 themes underpinning our activity:Team culture (including equality diversity and inclusion) communication and engagement reporting people development and service.
- The post holder for this role will support the vision and delivery of the communication and engagement strategic theme.
- The successful candidate must be able to work independently to drive strategic change.
- They will lead on the communications strategy for Finance both internally within the Finance team and externally across the University and with external stakeholders.
- The role will provide professional expert communications advice and support across the Finance function and will deliver innovative ideas to create and enhance Finance communications.
- The role will lead the development of policies processes and templates to build and continuously improve the experience of internal and external stakeholder groups and embed this through effective communication and engagement.
This role reports into the Finance Department and will liaise with staff across Finance and the wider University to drive delivery of the Finance Communication and Engagement strategic objectives.
The role will be supported by the University communication teams to ensure alignment to University policies and procedures as well as enabling access to wider University communication developments and initiatives.
Main Duties
- Provide communication advice and guidance to the whole Finance team including the Finance Leadership Group (FLG) and the Finance strategic theme groups. This includes support at team meetings design of standard templates guidance on format style and media and ensuring consistency and alignment with brand guidelines and digital accessibility where appropriate.
- Development and continuous improvement of the current internal and external communications and engagement strategies. This includes: continued engagement with key stakeholders (both internal and external); active participation on the Universitys Internal Communication Operations group; clarification and establishment of appropriate communication channels; developing key narrative and messaging; and coordinating across Finance and the wider University.
- Continued development delivery and maintenance of an appropriate set of communication and engagement performance indicators to measure effectiveness and engagement and drive continuous improvement. This includes supporting senior leaders with analysis and presentation of staff survey results and development of action plans to improve engagement levels.
- Implement and embed University brand guidelines.
- Take editorial responsibility for all Finance information on the staff intranet student intranet and externalfacing website(s)and any other relevant channels developing innovative high quality and creative content in alignment with digital accessibility requirements.
- Develop and deliver training to empower colleagues as effective communicators.
- Maintain an uptodate knowledge of internal communication methodologies. Lead on the introduction and embedding of digital channels; champion and support digital skills in the department.
- As required lead and manage Finance communication and engagement events including All Staff emails and teams messaging and monthly All Staff Meetings.
- Participate as an active member of the Finance Social Committee with a view to driving engagement through actively encouraging social events.
- Promote equality diversity and inclusion acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.
- Lead on crisis communications; develop crisis comms plan alongside key Finance stakeholders.
- Any other duties agreed with the Deputy Director of Finance or Chief Financial Officer from time to time.
Required Knowledge Skills Qualifications Experience
Qualification knowledge and experience
- Educated to Degree level (or equivalent qualifications) plus relevant practical experience. Where no equivalent qualification is held significant practical relevant experience and expertise in a series of progressively more demanding roles will be required.
- Relevant communications or Public Relations certification e.g. Foundation degree CIPR IOIC or equivalent.
- Substantial practical experience of communication and engagement methodologies and techniques and how these operate in a complex organisation.
- Experience of leading events and awaydays with proficient project management and organisation skills.
- Digital accessibility experience in ensuring documents and content digitally accessible so they can be published on University websites.
Skills abilities competencies
- Excellent communication skills and copywriting ability and confident and creative presentation style.
- Excellent IT skills confident in using innovating with and influencing use of digital communication and engagement including content management and development tools such as Adobe Creative Cloud and the Microsoft 365 suite.
- Welldeveloped organisational skills excellent attention to detail and timemanagement skills.
- The ability to work effectively both autonomously and collaboratively is essential.
- Ability to influence people in senior positions.
- The ability to lead small project teams providing training and development as needed to enable them to support with delivery of key objectives.
- 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.
Role context
Roles at this level will require a broad understanding and practical experience of an administrative or professional field which will be used to plan the running and development of services and/or lead shorter term projects or contribute to larger projects. You will work with information which needs interpretation and analysis; you will use your judgement to identify the best solution to differing problems and issues offering recommendations for managing more complex situations. You may also need to liaise and/or coordinate activities across a number of different sections within the department or possibly with wider department or external bodies as appropriate.
Core competencies/transferable skills
Working at this level you will be able to develop and successfully demonstrate the core competencies/transferable skills outlined in each of the areas shown below. As appropriate for the level our Birmingham Professionals will take ownership for getting things done. You will be expected to be flexible as required in supporting your department and wider University.
Planning and organising
- plan the running and development of service(s) overseeing resources and inputting into resource planning as appropriate;
- develop agree and implement standards for delivery for own area;
- to plan relevant training and development;
- provide professional advice guidance and support to others within and outside their immediate work area;
- oversee resources and make recommendations about future resource requirements.
Problem solving and decision making
- review develop and propose solutions for problems with (for example) staff budgets services and/or systems;
- deal effectively with unexpected issues such as changing priorities;
- deal with sensitive people matters/issues;
- provide specialist advice and recommendations to support decisionmaking of others.
Organisational understanding
- understand their own and closelyrelated working areas and how they contribute to the success of the University;
- has an understanding of how the University operates; actively seeks to share this knowledge with others;
- developing empathy with the academic endeavour.
Relationships and communication
- influence decision makers and win support for proposals;
- develop excellent working relationships within and outside of own area and potentially with external stakeholders;
- coordinate activities across a number of areas.
Internal and external relationships
The role is a key communication and engagement role for Finance and therefore will have a range of internal and external stakeholders.
- Internal members of Finance (including senior Finance Leadership) and University communication teams.
- Universitywide stakeholders at all levels including academic staff Professional Services staff and students.
- Some external stakeholders.
Informal enquiries to Nicholas Banks 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:
Unclear Seniority
Employment Type
Full-Time
