Job Description
JOB SUMMARY
Job Purpose
Working closely with the Head of Finance, Estates, Programme Office, and Project Managers, as well as reporting to the Head of Project Accounting, is critical to provide complete, effective, and efficient project financial management support. To provide excellent technical support through smart analysis and problem resolution. To question and enhance existing processes and procedures, as well as to promote project financial governance.
Main duties and responsibilities
1. Provide professional financial advice, guidance, and challenge to project managers, including the development of robust financial appraisals, leading regular project forecast activity, and producing robust project financial reports and analyses, as well as specialist recommendations on key areas of focus.
2. As a prominent part of the financial team, you will set an example and drive others, ensuring that behaviours and attitudes reflect University principles. Promoting a continuous improvement strategy, guaranteeing proper professional standards, and demonstrating a culture of ownership and accountability will ensure the delivery of good services.
3. Provide timely management information for strategic and operational decisions, such as strategic financial planning, financial governance and control, budgeting, forecasting, monitoring, and reporting.
4. Collaborate with the Senior Project Accountant and Head of Project Accounting to oversee the Capital Plan’s non-strategic projects, ensuring early detection of any deviation from budget, preparing impact analyses and reports on revenue/capital cash-flow planning, and providing specialist support on appropriate risk management plans.
5. Assist the Head of Project Accounting and Senior Project Accountant in developing and implementing a capital project financial governance structure, as well as associated processes and procedures, to ensure alignment with the University’s corporate financial processes and to meet the evolving needs of a campus estate that is constantly growing and developing.
6. Collaborate with the Head of Project Accounting to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of financial reports, management information, and the financial tools and templates used for costing, business appraisal, cash flow planning, and financial risk management.
7. Assist in the development of options appraisals and business plans/business cases for estate development and redevelopment strategies, as well as a multi-million pound capital programme, by providing strong financial challenge and ensuring that all business cases progressed withstand scrutiny and contain measurable delivery criteria.
8. Attend project boards as needed, providing detailed business cases and other analyses for senior management, challenging and analysing the facts presented, and ensuring that reports are accurate and timely. Actively participate in all relevant project meetings and working groups.
9. Contribute appropriately to the monthly management accounts, commentary, and financial performance indicators, promoting a “no surprises” culture.
10. Assist the Senior Project Accountant and the Head of Project Accounting in the ongoing evaluation of capital project financial management, reporting, and governance systems, ensuring that recommendations for continuous improvement are reported, examined, implemented, and quantified.
11. Increase financial understanding and foster a culture of financial accountability throughout the Estates department to ensure that financial sustainability is key to all company operations.
12. Serve as a point of contact for internal audit and procurement matters, ensuring compliance with all regulatory, best practices, and University corporate financial standards and procedures.
13. Work with the University’s Procurement staff to ensure compliance with all regulatory standards for contractor procurement.
14. Actively participate in the work and activities of the University-wide finance community, as well as contribute to the development of University-wide finance solutions, in collaboration with the Head of Finance, University Services, and finance colleagues in the corporate finance department and Colleges.
15. Collaborate closely with the central university finance function to ensure that all policies and procedures are followed, transactional support is delivered in an effective and efficient manner using the appropriate corporate system and process, and all staff adhere to the internal financial controls.
Knowledge, qualifications, skills, and experience.
Knowledge/Qualifications
Essential:
A1 Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 9 (Ordinary Degree, Scottish Vocational Qualification level 4), or an equivalent.
A2 Membership in/progress with a recognised CCAB accounting professional body.
A3 Demonstrated ongoing professional development relevant to the role.
A4 Solid understanding of budgeting, forecasting, and strategic planning.
A5 Solid understanding of VAT and its use in capital projects.
Desirable:
B1 Postgraduate qualification in a relevant field.
B2 Understanding of financial governance and regulations in the higher education industry.
B3 Understanding of the financial governance and administration related with NEC3 contracts.
Skills
Essential:
C1 Excellent verbal and writing communication abilities, including the ability to develop and present financial management reports and analysis.
C2 Demonstrates excellent interpersonal skills, the ability to swiftly establish productive working relationships at all levels, and the confidence and capability to question assumptions and procedures.
C3 Demonstrated customer service skills, including the ability to demonstrate a strategic solution-focused approach that is adaptive to the demands of the client and the department’s ongoing success.
C4 Self-motivated with the capacity to effectively plan, organise, and organise tasks in response to business needs, working well under pressure to meet competing deadlines.
C5 A logical and analytical thinker with strong decision-making, problem-solving, and conflict-resolution abilities.
C6 Excellent IT abilities, including the ability to create and improve computerised management systems, analyse and modify data, and present meaningful management information utilising a variety of industry standard and accounting tools such as Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
C7 The ability to explain complex financial topics to non-financial colleagues.
Experience
Essential:
E1 Experience in a similar or related role(s) within a large and complex financial environment, including a track record of capital project reporting and governance.
E2 Experience working with non-financial managers to improve financial analysis, resulting in more insight and better decision-making.
E3 Experience working with non-financial professionals to prepare business cases.
E4 Demonstrates success in influencing top management.
E5 Proven expertise presenting and interpreting financial data to both financial and non-financial colleagues, ensuring that it is thoroughly understood.
E6 Experience successfully leading continual financial process improvement and transformation, resulting in demonstrated operational and financial efficiencies.
Desirable:
F1 Experience working in the finance department of a large property/FM organisation/division.
Terms & Conditions.
The annual salary for Grade 7 will range between £39,347 and £44,263.
This position is full-time (35 hours per week) and open-ended. Relocation aid will be provided where applicable.
As a member of Team UofG, you will be part of a globally changing, inclusive community that values ambition, excellence, integrity, and curiosity.
The University of Glasgow is responsible for ensuring that all personnel are eligible to reside and work in the UK. If you need a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK, you must first complete the visa route’s eligibility conditions before being awarded a Certificate of Sponsorship.
Please keep in mind that if tradeable points are allowed under the Skilled Worker visa criteria, this post may be eligible for sponsorship. For further information, go to https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.
As a respected part of our team, you should expect:
1 A friendly and engaging organisational culture in which your skills are fostered and cultivated, and success is celebrated and shared.
2 An good employment package with generous terms and conditions, including 41 days of leave for full-time employees, a pension (pension handbook: https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/), benefits, and discount packages.
3. A flexible approach to employment.
4 A commitment to your health and well-being, including a complimentary 6-month UofG Sport membership for all incoming University personnel (https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/).
We think that we can only attain our greatest potential by combining the talents of everyone. Our ideals prioritise equality, diversity, and inclusion. Applications are encouraged from all members of our communities, particularly those from the Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups, as well as those with other protected characteristics who are underrepresented at the University. Read more about how the University encourages and integrates all aspects of equality and diversity into our community at https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.
We support the concepts of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and have bronze, silver, and gold awards throughout the University.
We are investing in our company, and we will also invest in you. More information can be found on our website at https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs.