Description
Reporting to the Head of Finance and working closely with the Accountant, this role involves the preparation of monthly reporting information to the business to assist in the effective management of budgets. As well as the preparation of accruals and prepayments and the posting of journals in the general ledger system, the role will also involve providing tailored reports to budget holders, assisting with quarterly VAT reporting, daily cashflow, fixed assets, budget production, contributing to the annual statutory accounts and the compilation and provision of information to the annual external audit.
We would accept applications from candidates who are part qualified or working towards a recognised accountancy qualification, with the potential for a salary uplift upon completion.
Key Responsibilities
- To support the Head of Finance in production of management accounts in line with month end timetable.
- Preparation, posting and reconciliation of monthly accruals and prepayments.
- Produce relevant and timely balance sheet reconciliations, clearly showing an understanding of why movements have occurred.
- Attend to queries and issues raised for the Finance Team.
- Ensuring intercompany transactions and recharges are carried out in a timely fashion and reconciling the intercompany accounts monthly to ensure timely close at month end.
- Ensuring monthly and annual returns to our external stakeholders are completed in a timely and accurate manner.
- Supporting the Head of Finance in a group treasury approach and cash management by maintaining daily cash flow reviews, monthly bank reconciliations and monitoring cash performance to forecast to alert management of significant variances.
- Understanding the capital programs for the Group, monitoring to agreed budgets and maintaining records for audit purpose especially where grant funding is being used.
- Supporting the Head of Finance and Accountant in the VAT management and submission of Group VAT returns.
- Providing technical accounting support to the Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable team.
- Maintain the financial accounting system in support of the accounting process.
- Ensure compliance with and effective implementation of strategies, systems, policies and procedures.
- Actively seek, develop and manage any possible opportunities for development of systems and processes that will directly benefit the College.
- To take a proactive approach and responsibility for personal professional development, Health & Safety, and meeting other regulatory compliances (e.g. GDPR, DPA, Safeguarding), thereby enabling safe and professional working practices to be observed at all times.
- To support cross college actives as required, particularly during key enrolment and invigilation periods.
- To undertake any other relevant duties appropriate to the grade of this post that might be required.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
Essential Criteria
- Working towards a recognised accountancy qualification (e.g. ACA, ACCA, CIMA) with experience of working in a similar role.
- Innovative, creative, able to identify problems and possible solutions
- An excellent team player
- Good working knowledge of EXCEL
- Ability to effectively manage complex information
- Excellent computer literacy – ability to learn and exploit group software systems and to develop and effectively utilise financial models.
- Excellent numerical and analytical skills and an ability to work methodically to deadlines with a high level of attention to detail
- Ability to work to tight deadlines and manage conflicting priorities
- Commitment to work flexibly to support business need at peak periods of activity and co-operatively and positively with all internal departments and external contacts, providing excellent service, support and advice.
- Effective interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal
- Committed to own personal development/CPD
Desirable Criteria
- Experienced user of an integrated financial accounting system or equivalent
Benefits
We really care about our people. As a member of College staff, you will have access to a wide range of benefits, wellbeing services and opportunities for professional development.
These include:
- Generous annual leave - We offer the highest holiday entitlement in the City Region
- Competitive salary - Our salaries are the highest within FE in the City Region
- Access to our Employee Benefits Platform, offering hundreds of discounts and savings
- Wellbeing support - Access to a free, independent and confidential 24 hour counselling support, as well as general wellbeing and lifestyle support through our platform and app
- Pension Scheme - Excellent pension provision, with memberships of Local Government Scheme, Teachers Pension Scheme and Aviva, depending on the role.