Financial Accountant – Treasury & Cash Management at Durham University

Durham, England, United Kingdom -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

20 Jul, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

21 Apr, 26

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Yes

Skills

Treasury management, Cash management, Financial accounting, Financial reporting, Cashflow forecasting, Balance sheet reconciliation, Financial controls, Oracle Fusion, Team leadership, Analytical skills, Problem-solving, Communication skills, Regulatory compliance, Stakeholder management, Risk management, Audit support

Industry

Higher Education

Description

The University At Durham University we are proud of our people. A globally outstanding centre of educational excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting – Durham is a university like no other. We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things professionally and personally. Across the University we have a huge variety of roles and career opportunities, which together make us a large and successful community, which is a key hub of activity within our region and nationally. We would be thrilled if you would consider joining our thriving University. Further information about the University can be found here. Find out more about the benefits of working at the University and what it is like to live and work in the Durham area on our Why Join Us? - Information Page. The Role and the Department The Financial Accountant (Treasury & Cash Management) is part of the Financial Accounting team which incorporates Treasury/ Cash Management, Financial Reporting, External Audit, Balance Sheet ownership and provides technical financial guidance to the institution. The Financial Accountant (Treasury & Cash Management) is a key role within the team and reports to the Senior Financial Accounting Manager. The role is responsible for the efficient management of the University’s cash, short term investments and treasury operations. The postholder ensures robust financial controls around cashflow, oversees the Cash Management team, and provides accurate short term cashflow forecasting, planning and modelling to support strategic financial decision making. The role is key to maintaining liquidity, safeguarding assets, optimising investment returns within risk appetite and ensuring compliance with financial regulations along with the internal Treasury Management Policy and associated policies. The Financial Accountant will lead a team of 4 with 1 direct report and ensure the day-to-day cash management operations take place efficiently and effectively to meet current service levels, including oversight and review of complex balance sheet reconciliations. The role will include identifying improvements and optimisation in Oracle Fusion and working cross functionally to drive efficiencies and collaboration through a programme of continuous improvements. The role offers hybrid working with a minimum of 40%25 office based per week however may increase to meet business needs, eg month end, audit etc. The base location for this role is Boldon House, our exciting new professional services hub. Boldon House is situated on the outskirts of Durham near the Arnison Centre in Pity Me. Boldon House brings a number of professional services teams together in a vibrant office environment which supports collaborative working and is designed to embrace hybrid working. To find out more, visit the project webpage: Boldon House – Durham University. Further information about the role and the responsibilities is at the bottom of this job description. Working at Durham A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University: • You’ll receive 30 days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year – a total of 42 days per year. The University closes between Christmas and New Year. • We offer a generous pension scheme, and as a new member of staff you will be automatically enrolled into the University Superannuation Scheme (USS). • No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered. We have ample parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies. You can also take advantage of our cost-effective and environmentally friendly Tusker Car Benefit Scheme, allowing you to lease a brand-new electric or hybrid vehicle with savings on tax and National Insurance. • We have a genuine commitment to developing our colleagues professionally and personally. There is a comprehensive range of development courses, apprenticeships and access to qualifications and routes to develop your career in the University. All staff have dedicated annual time to concentrate on their personal development opportunities. • We provide wide-ranging health and wellbeing support including discounted membership for our state-of-the-art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme. • Our on-site nursery is rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and you can access holiday camps for children aged 5-16. • Our family-friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers). • We offer all staff the opportunity to take part in volunteering activities to make a difference in the local community. • You can access exclusive discounts via our benefits portal including money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, eating out and days out at various attractions. • Various salary sacrifice schemes are also available to help you take advantage of tax savings on benefits. • If you are moving to Durham, you may be eligible for help with removal costs, and we have a dedicated team who can help you with the practicalities such as house hunting and schools. If you need a visa, we cover most visa costs and offer an interest-free loan scheme to pay for dependant visas. Discover more about our total rewards and benefits package here. Durham University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion Our collective aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can reach their full potential and we believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the global community in which we work. As a University equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are a key part of the University’s Strategy and a central part of everything we do. We also live by our values and our Staff Code of Conduct. At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive. We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under-represented in our work force including people with disabilities, women and black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. If you have taken time out of your career, and you feel it relevant, let us know about it in your application. If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role. What you need to demonstrate when you apply/Person Specification When you apply it is important that you let us know what skills/experience you have from a similar role and/or what skills/experience you have which would make you right for this role. Further information about the role and responsibilities is at the end of this job description. Where a criteria has an asterisk* next to it, it may be given additional weighting when your application is considered. Your application should cover the following criteria: Essential Criteria Qualifications/Experience 1. Qualified accountant (ACCA, ACA, CIMA, CIPFA) or qualified by experience of 5+ years in a similar role. 2. Experience of providing specialist treasury, cash management and financial accounting advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues, including more senior colleagues to influence service delivery. 3. Experience of participating in internal or external networks to share and discuss good practice, develop strong and productive working relationships and positively influence the University’s reputation. 4. Strong understanding of financial controls, banking operations and cashflow forecasting including cash scenario modelling. 5. Experience of implementing policies and procedures and supporting change and service improvements. 6. Experience of preparing complex balance sheet reconciliations and demonstrable excellent analytical and problem-solving skills. 7. Experience of leading, coaching and motivating a team to develop skills and competencies within the team. 8. Experience of working with external auditors and supporting with year end close. Skills/Abilities/Knowledge 9. Excellent spoken and written communication skills and the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally 10. Advanced digital competency (Microsoft 365, ERP finance systems, reporting tools, analytics) with demonstrable experience of how digital skills have brought efficiency improvements and detailed insights to stakeholders. 11. Committed to continuing professional development to maintain professional recognition. 12. Knowledge and experience of ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines. 13. Ability to solve problems and decide on and plan appropriate solutions. Desirable Criteria · Experience of high volume of transactions in a large organisation. · Familiarity with FRS102, HE SORP, and statutory reporting requirements. · Knowledge of treasury risk management frameworks. How to Apply To progress to the assessment stage, candidates must evidence each of the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification above. It will be at the discretion of the recruiting panel as to whether they will also consider any desirable criteria, but we would urge candidates to provide evidence for all criteria. Please don’t forget to check if there is any weighted criteria (see above). While some criteria will be considered at the shortlisting stage, other criteria may be considered later in the assessment process, such as questions at interview. Submitting your application We prefer to receive applications online. We will update you about your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to make sure you have not missed any of our updates. What you need to submit • A CV: and • A supporting statement or covering letter which outlines how you meet all of the criteria within the Person Specification. Contact details For a chat about the role or any further information please contact Susan Gowdie - susan.b.gowdie@durham.ac.uk. Typical Role Requirements Core Responsibilities · Manage day‑to‑day treasury operations, including bank account administration, payments, receipts, and internal transfers. · Monitor cash balances across multiple accounts to ensure optimal liquidity. · Execute short-term investment decisions in line with approval controls and the Treasury Management Policy. · Maintain strong relationships with external banking partners and investment institutions. · Support the development and ongoing review of treasury policies, procedures, and controls. · Produce accurate and timely daily, weekly, and monthly cashflow forecasts. · Monitor and report on compliance covenants including sensitivity analysis and identifying options to optimise covenant performance. · Analyse variances between forecast and actual performance, providing insights and recommendations. · Work closely with Finance Business Partners, Management Accounting, and Financial Transactional Services and other stakeholders to ensure accurate forward visibility of major cash movements and drive a culture of cashflow knowledge and accountability. · Provide treasury reporting for senior leadership, committees, and external stakeholders. · Line-manage the Cash Management Team, including workload management, performance reviews, coaching, and development. · Embed a culture of strong financial controls relating to Anti-Money laundering, Know Your Customer and other relevant legislation, including supporting the training of finance and other university staff. · Develop and embed a continuous improvement culture across the team by introducing a framework and delivery plan that identifies opportunities to streamline cash-related processes and enhance automation. · Champion improvements in treasury systems (e.g., banking platforms, finance systems such as Oracle Fusion). · Oversee all cash receipting, reconciliations, and banking activities undertaken by the team. · Ensure treasury activities comply with the University’s Financial Regulations, Treasury Management Policy, and relevant external standards. · Oversee daily and monthly bank reconciliations to ensure completeness and accuracy. · Develop KPI reporting in line with the Treasury Management Policy and to monitor workload and performance in the Cash Management team. · Maintain robust segregation of duties, fraud prevention, and control processes. · Support internal and external audit activities related to treasury and cashflow. · Ensure high standards of data quality and reporting accuracy. · Support year‑end processes relating to cash, investments, borrowings, and related notes/disclosures under FRS102 and HE SORP. · Prepare working papers and reconciliations for audit. · Provide treasury-related inputs to management accounts and statutory accounts with cashflow variance analysis compared to budgets and forecasts. · Support the Senior Financial Accounting Manager with other duties within the wider Financial Accounting team. · Oversee the internal audit of staff expenses undertaken by the team Service Delivery/Development · Contribute to equality, diversity and inclusion, and the University’s values. · Review and look for ways to improve systems and procedures that are relevant to your area of work in line with the University’s frameworks and regulations. · Manage the delivery of Treasury and Cash Management Services across the University to a high standard. · Provide the best possible service by continually reviewing what is required from staff and others who you work with and contribute to ideas and service improvements. · Work with your team to look for ways to improve processes, techniques and outputs/results across all areas of your work. Planning and Organisation · Manage the delivery of operational activities carried out by the Treasury and Cash Management team which you are responsible for. · Contribute to progressing the strategic and operational priorities of your Department. · Review data on the level of service provided by your area to recommend areas for future improvement. · Manage budgets and expenditure including buying (and returning) goods and services. Team Development · Manage and monitor the performance, workload and expected outcomes of the Treasury and Cash Management team and take action to respond to anything that impacts the service level provided. · Ensure that your team can deliver the required services by devolving and delegating responsibilities to appropriate team members. · Carry out regular performance reviews to provide feedback on objectives and expectations and to identify any development needs. · Ensure that your team continues to develop by coaching and mentoring team members and responding to any training or development needs, as appropriate. · Support the welfare and wellbeing of your team referring more complex issues to specialist services. Communication/Liaison · Provide advice and share guidance with your stakeholders to ensure that the University’s policies, procedures and regulations are complied with. · Use your operational expertise to participate in business meetings, working groups and sub-committees. · Coordinate and oversee committees and other business meetings, dealing with any related complaints. · Update policies and procedures in response to any internal or external changes. · Create positive working relationships, including internal and external networks, using your networks to increase your knowledge and skills and swap information with peers. · Any other reasonable duties. When appointing to this role the University must ensure that it meets any applicable immigration requirements, including salary thresholds which are applicable to some visas. Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement Privacy Notices - Durham University which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.

Responsibilities

The Financial Accountant manages the University's treasury operations, including cash management, short-term investments, and liquidity planning. They also lead a team to ensure robust financial controls, accurate reporting, and continuous process improvement within the finance department.