POSITION DETAILS

Finance Office
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range £36,130 to £45,413 with potential progression once in post to £48,149
Grade: 7
Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to December 2025
Closing date: 3rd April 2025
This role is also open as an internal secondment opportunity which would need to be agreed by your current line manager.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE

• Relevant technical qualification (e.g. CIMA or ACCA) plus relevant practical experience, or significant relevant experience demonstrated through increasingly more demanding roles evidencing the experience necessary for this role.
• In-depth up-to-date specialist understanding and experience of finance and accounting principles.
• Strong technical expertise in financial reporting, modelling and data analysis - demonstrating a strong proficiency of working with data (e.g. Excel, Power Query, Power Pivot etc).
• Familiarity with reporting tools such as Power BI or other financial reporting software is an advantage.
• Strong problem-solving skills with an ability to think analytically and propose efficient solutions.
• A proactive approach to continuous improvement and a keen interest in optimising financial processes.
• Evidence of literacy and numeracy, with the ability to write clearly, and to produce and analyse information and data.
• Highly proficient IT skills, including MS Office and working with software. You should be confident and able to quickly learn new IT skills and software packages as required.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, relationship building and influencing skills with the ability to deal confidently with a range of internal and external stakeholders/contacts.
• Excellent organisational and multi-tasking skills with a methodical approach to work and the ability to prioritise workloads in order to meet deadlines.
• 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.

ROLE SUMMARY

We are seeking a qualified accountant to join our team as a Finance Specialist, focusing on the ongoing development and maintenance of our financial reporting, models, and templates. This role helps ensure the smooth operation of the team’s BAU activities, while contributing to structured development on projects in close collaboration with the Finance Project Manager.
The Finance Specialist will be responsible for running, maintaining, and enhancing our suite of financial reports and templates, ensuring they remain fit for purpose and aligned with evolving business needs. They will also contribute to new development initiatives, working within a structured framework where tasks are assigned, reviewed at key stages, and iteratively refined to maintain high standards and consistency.
The role will work closely with the Finance Project Manager, who will oversee project timelines and priorities, while also collaborating with the Senior Finance Analyst, who will provide technical guidance on solution design, architecture, and best practices.
This role is a good opportunity for a finance professional with strong technical skills who thrives in a dynamic environment, adapting to change and tackling inefficiencies head-on. The ideal candidate will have a keen eye for spotting improvements and the drive to implement practical and sustainable solutions, ensuring our financial reporting and modelling remain effective and fit for purpose.

MAIN DUTIES

• Maintain and enhance financial reports, dashboards, and models to support BAU activities, ensuring they remain accurate, efficient, and relevant to evolving business needs.
• Take ownership of existing financial templates and ensure they continue to meet stakeholder needs, making improvements where necessary.
• Contribute to development projects by completing assigned tasks, refining outputs through structured feedback, and ensuring consistency with project goals.
• Work closely with the Finance Project Manager to ensure deliverables align with project goals and are completed in a structured and iterative manner.
• Collaborate with the Senior Finance Analyst on the design and architecture of reporting and modelling solutions, ensuring consistency and adherence to best practice.
• Develop and maintain clear documentation for all reports, models, and processes to ensure sustainability and knowledge transfer within the team.
• Provide technical support and troubleshooting for Finance users, resolving issues related to the team’s reporting.
• Continuously seek opportunities to refine reporting and modelling techniques, incorporating automation and efficiency improvements where possible.
• Work alongside stakeholders across Finance and other departments to understand reporting requirements and ensure outputs align with business needs.
• Support training initiatives by developing guides and materials, and helping deliver direct training where needed, to help users interact effectively with finance reports and templates.