The University of Warwick is one of the UK’s great success stories. Founded over fifty year ago we’ve become one of the country’s best universities, consistently in the top 10 of UK league tables, with an ambition to be one of the world’s exceptional universities by 2030.
With a reputation for entrepreneurial spirit and a group turnover in excess of £680m, the University offers exciting career opportunities for ambitious accountants. Warwick is a member of the Russell Group of research intensive Universities, and our teaching is research-led. Research income is forecasted to be over £140m in 2021 a 30% increase in the last five years.
You will be responsible for managing a small team of Senior Research Finance Assistants (qualified to at least AAT level). Reporting to the Head of Finance (Research), you will take the lead on the post award financial management (accounting and the support of project management) of research and related grants and awards across a portfolio of University departments and activities. You will contribute to the development of financial and administrative management systems with a view to ensuring the efficient operation of the team and continued high quality of service delivery.
You will be an ambitious and pro-active individual with excellent communication and organisational skills, will have experience within a Finance function and possess a sound knowledge of accounting standards and management accounting.
You will possess a recognised professional accountancy qualification.
You will have excellent IT skills, including Excel and an understanding of the structure of large scale financial information systems, e.g. SAP.
The University Finance Office works with all Departments in the University to ensure that the University maintains its reputation for financial integrity and reliability. We support business planning and innovation to maximise the financial resources available to the University and create the long-term sustainable financial platform required for future growth. See Further Particulars for more information.
Finance Office staff across the University are networked as a professional community of expertise. You will be supported to continue your professional journey through access to Continuing Professional Development training opportunities, sector networks and regular Finance Office briefings. As a member of staff at Warwick you can enjoy a wide range of competitive benefits. The University also offers a wide range of learning and development opportunities, and we will work with you to support your career development. We respect and reward achievement and recognise the importance of a flexible total reward package. Take a look at the benefits that are on offer, including an attractive pension scheme, a generous annual leave entitlement including Christmas closure, family friendly policies, and discounted Warwick Sport membership.
A £5,000 per annum market supplement (pro-rated and non-pensionable) is available for the successful applicant on provision of proof of current membership of an approved accounting body and evidence they hold the appropriate accountancy qualifications.
Job Description
You will be responsible for managing a small team of Senior Research Finance Assistants (qualified to at least AAT level). Reporting to the Head of Finance (Research), you will take the lead on the post award financial management (accounting and the support of project management) of research and related grants and awards across a portfolio of University departments and activities. You will contribute to the development of financial and administrative management systems with a view to ensuring the efficient operation of the team and continued high quality of service delivery.
Duties and Responsibilities
Contribution to the Research Finance Team:
• Lead a small team within Research Finance to focus on a portfolio of departments and activities
• Contribute to the development of financial and management systems on behalf of Research Finance in order to maximise operational effectiveness and the use of SAP and IT to improve the flow of management information
Promotion of financial control:
• Review of agreements to ensure completeness, compliance with both the University’s Financial Regulations and funders’ rules, and their commercial acceptability.
• Providing expert guidance to applicants on the interpretation of, in many cases both varied and complex, funders’ regulations
• Reviewing agreement terms and conditions for contractual risks, and raise any issues with the department and Finance Office as appropriate
• Establishment, in liaison with project staff, of appropriate systems and procedures for the recording of both financial and non-financial project data
• Establishment of appropriate systems and procedures for the recording of both financial and non-financial project data including matched funding
• Identification of the training needs of project staff in the area of project administration
• Dissemination to all project teams of best practice in project administration and of any changes in the funders’ rules or requirements
Financial management of research and related accounts:
• Creation and maintenance of appropriate project codes and budgets on the SAP Finance System in line with internal reporting requirements and funder reporting arrangements
• Regular review of project finances and progress with subsequent liaison with project staff in order to discuss contract non-performance and variations to profile, and to agree corrective action
• Regular participation in project management meetings and the presentation of financial information
• Offer constructive advice to project managers on a variety of financial matters
• Establishment and maintenance of good working relations with project funders
• To act as a central point of contact for both project teams and funders and to liaise between the two with regard to project finance and administration
• To resolve contractual disputes between the University and partners/funders
• Representing the University at meeting with funders
• The management of the grant claims process in compliance with the contracted terms and conditions – coordinating the preparation of financial and output data, plus narrative reports
• The management of obligatory project audits, liaising with external auditors, funders, project managers, and partners in order to obtain clean order certification
• On project completion ensure that all required documents and audit trail is archived and is held on file for the contracted period
Financial planning:
• Contribute to the research and related five-year planning process for a range of University departments and activities
• To work with a range of department and activity managers in establishing financial strategies that will meet the University and departmental/activities’ long term objectives
Accounting:
• To manage the quarter end accounting process for a range of departments and activities. The accounts are submitted to a range of University committees and there is also a need to support the information requirements of Finance Office’s Departmental Services Team
• To review actual performance against budget with department and activity managers and agree upon corrective action where appropriate
• The provision of management information and financial data and reports
Person Specification The Person Specification focuses on the essential and desirable knowledge, skills, experience and qualifications required to undertake the role effectively. This is measured by (a) Application Form, (b) Test/Exercise, (c) Interview, (d) Presentation. Enter (a), (b), (c) or (d) alongside each selection criterion in the ‘Measured by’ column. | ||
Essential Criterion No. | Essential Criterion Description | Measured by |
E1 | Recognised accountancy qualification (CCAB). | (a) |
E2 | Broad experience within a comparable Finance function. | (a), (c) |
E3 | Sound knowledge of accounting standards. | (a), (c) |
E4 | Substantial experience of management accounting. | (a), (c) |
E5 | Ability to effectively use financial systems (e.g. SAP) in order to extract and analyse financial information. | (a), (c) |
E6 | High level of IT skills, particularly in Microsoft Excel to analyse and communicate information. | (a), (c) |
E7 | Good communication and presentational skills. | (a), (c) |
E8 | Ability to work under own initiative, and with minimum supervision. | (a), (c) |
E9 | 9 Good interpersonal skills because of a need to effectively interact with a range of academic and administrative staff. | (a), (c) |
E10 | Approachable and personal with a strong customer focus. | (a), (c) |
E11 | Ability to be proactive and work to multiple deadlines. | (a), (c) |
Desirable Criterion No. | Desirable Criterion Description | Measured by |
D1 | Previous experience in the management of EU funds. | (a), (c) |
D2 | Previous experience in grants management. | (a), (c) |
D3 | Overview knowledge of research finance. | (a), (c) |
D4 | Sound knowledge of VAT. | (a), (c) |
D5 | Knowledge and experience of contracting. | (a), (c) |
The University of Warwick has appointed SearchHigher as their recruitment partner for this campaign, please apply below by sending your Application Form (download below), CV & Cover Letter in Word Document format to enquiries@searchhigher.com