SENIOR FINANCIAL ANALYST

at  Buckinghamshire New University

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Senior Financial Analyst
Faculty/Directorate: Finance Directorate
Grade: H
Location: High Wycombe Campus
Hours: Full time
Responsible to: Head of Financial Planning and Analysis {HoFP&A}

KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE

Delivering an excellent customer experience
I
Budget and forecast preparation
A/I
Management accounts/variance analysis
A/I
Extensive financial modelling experience in the design, development and maintenance of financial decision making models including scenario planning.
A/I
General ledger maintenance, reconciliations and reporting.
A/I

SKILLS

Digitally able and proficient in Microsoft tools
A/I
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
A/I
Ability to work effectively within teams
A/I

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Whilst based at the High Wycombe campus, this role involves may involve occasional visits to the other campuses of the University.

• To keep full and accurate management accounts in line with current best practice, “One Version of the Truth”, delivered on a timely basis. Managing and fulfilling the Universities commitments to deliver accurate financial Statutory Reporting to governing bodies on a timely basis.
• To maintain agility in management reporting to meet the continually changing needs of the University and marketplace, adding value through providing insight and delivering output to drive management action.
• To support the senior finance team in delivering an integrated, efficient, effective and comprehensive finance business partner service to the University and its senior staff as well as internally to the Finance department
• Supporting the senior finance team with the preparation of the budget and longer-term forecasting and reporting on the consolidated financial performance of the University, underpinned by a “bottom up” reconciliation with budget holder ‘owned’ targets.

Main Duties & Responsibilities of the role: (Approx 10 bullet points)

• To support the HoFP&A managing and coordinating the production of the consolidated University annual Strategic Plan and rolling Quarterly Forecast outlooks
• Establish efficient and effective upload processes to Business Connect ensuring timely consolidations robustly aligned with Directorate / Academic Schools projections, underpinned by accurate reporting at cost centre level ensuring University targets are fully owned at budget holder level.
• Maintain clear version control and tracking of scenarios
• Manage production of consolidated reporting model including integrated I&E Statement, Cashflow, Balance Sheet and Covenants reporting.
• Build financial bridges versus YOY and ‘In Year’ Targets, consolidating supporting analysis and insights built up from Academic Schools/Directorates level to secure University Executive Team {UET} understanding and ownership of the targets.
• Coordinate preparation of the presentation packs for the Strategic Plan and Quarterly Forecast sign-off processes – initially with UET and finally with Resources Committee and Council
• Functional FP&A “team” responsibilities:
• Annual Budget and Quarterly Forecasting
• Manage and maintain the University Payroll model, coordinating input from the Academic Schools and Directorates Financial Business Partners {FBP’s} and managing the consolidation and tie out to the I&E statement.
• Support the Academic Schools FBP in the development of financial modelling for Student Numbers and Tuition Fees Income, to better understand and track underlying performance trends versus ‘In Year’ Target / YOY and further develop insights
• Month-End
• I&E responsibility for the preparation and review of monthly account reconciliations:
• Tuition Fees Income {7000 Core and 12,000 Partnership students} – support the year to date reconciliation of reported income versus Invoiced Income, ensuring prudent month end accruals are maintained to cover contingent risk
• Payroll Costs {600 FTE} - coordinate input from the Academic Schools and Directorates FBP’s, managing the consolidation and tie out to the I&E statement. Develop variance analysis modelling to routinely measure the impact of Vacant Posts and New Posts
• To lead the development and delivery of an automated solution for the production of monthly management accounts reporting packs from Business Connect, for Directorate cost centre managers.
• To manage production and delivery of the monthly management accounts reporting pack through Tableau, with responsibility for the preparation and presentation of consolidated financial results at University level together with supporting commentary, analysis and insights to secure UET understanding /ownership.
• To manage and coordinate completion of annual statutory returns with financial content {outside of normal year end accounting returns} for the university, notably the preparation of data and completion of schedules for the delivery of the annual 5 Year Budget Financial Return, and the annual TRAC and TRAC-T returns, to the Office for Students.
• RESEARCH & ENTERPRISE {R&E}: To establish the financial and management reporting framework to track the future pipeline of income opportunity, monitor progress against financial targets through revenue recognition delivery and optimization. Enable delivery of contractual reporting commitments for each of the initiatives. Support and monitor bid proposals for new business areas (eg) KTP’s
• Business partnering – for supported directorate departments, R&E and Missenden Abbey hotel & conferencing centre, prepare detailed annual budgets, provide routine monthly management reports, together with regular performance review updates to establish rolling annual forecast outlooks and determine corrective action for implementation
• Keep up-to date with current accounting regulations, carry out research where necessary on the implication of new legislation.
• Be an initial point of advice and information to managers and other colleagues in relation to all aspects of project accounting, ensuring projects and new business initiatives are compliant with funding regulations.
• Comply with relevant legislative and other requirements (e.g., the Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR; Health and Safety; UKVI; and Equality and Diversity) in all working practices
• Such other duties temporarily or on a continuing basis, as may reasonably be required.