Accountancy Assistant

University of South Hampton; Southampton; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid/ flexible working

Job summary

University of Southampton is seeking an Accountancy Assistant to join a professional services team supporting the research and non-research funding portfolio. The role focuses on delivering finance administration for externally funded projects, providing costings and post‑award support, and ensuring timely budget reporting.

You will work across disciplines with internal and external stakeholders, carrying out due diligence, build relationships with Schools, and maximise cost recovery.

Qualifications

• Substantial finance administration experience.
• Strong Excel skills for budgeting and costings.
• Ability to interpret financial data and communicate with stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Deliver research finance administration for externally funded projects.
• Provide financial advice on project costings and post‑award management.
• Coordinate budgets, prepare costing reports and due diligence checks.
• Support audit queries and liaise with academics and external partners.

Skills

Excel

Finance administration

Budgeting

Communication

Education

Accounting qualification (studying towards)

Job description

Be a part of the University of Southampton, a founding member of the Russell Group, an institution which has an international reputation for research and is one of the UK’s leading research-intensive universities in addition to a strong educational offering, renowned for our innovation and enterprise. It is among the top 20 in the UK and with over £1 Billion in applying for research activity spread across a wide range of disciplines.

An exciting time for the University of Southampton, with a clear vision and goal to increase our income and grow our global reputation. Wanting to take this to the next step we are seeking to appoint an Accountancy Assistant to work as part of a professional service team responsible for the research/non-research funding portfolio for the University.

The Role:

The primary responsibility of the post will be to deliver research finance administration to externally funded projects, following complex legal and financial guidelines. To support the team, other professional service departments and academic community, with providing financial advice on project costings and enable post award management. It will involve coordination of budgetary requirements, preparation of costing reports, statements, due diligence checks, support audit queries, build relationships across the academic disciplines/Schools, communicating with both internal and external stakeholders and working with academics to maximise cost recovery.

About You:

You bring substantial, relevant finance administration experience, strong Excel skills with the ability of effectively managing a wide range of simultaneous projects/activities and competing priorities. The successful candidate will be self-motivated, well organised, with excellent analytical and numeracy skills, confident with interpreting information, communicating clearly with stakeholders, demonstrate initiative when problem solving and plan workload to meet deadlines in a highly deadline driven environment. Good communication, IT and customer service skills are essential to the role.

This role is offered on a hybrid basis between home and at Highfield Campus with a minimum of 1 days (per week) on site. We are open to applications requesting flexible working, subject to operational requirements. Further details can be explored at interview.

If you are a person with relevant experience, studying towards an accountancy qualification or someone with a keen interest in costing/project finance management then we want to hear from you.

About the University:

We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse culture at the University and creating an environment where people can balance successful careers with their commitments and interests outside of work. Our flexible working practices, including a hybrid working model, where employees can split their working time between the office and home, support our belief that this balance brings long-lasting benefits for our institution as well as our people.

We are nationally recognised for our commitment to equality, and for embedding inclusive practices across the institution. We are proud to be an Athena Swan Silver award holder at an institutional level, a Race Equality Charter bronze award holder, a Disability Confident Leader, and a University Mental Health Charter award holder. A diverse workforce, with people from different racial, educational and social backgrounds and a range of ages, opens up a wealth of possibilities for Southampton. We believe equality and diversity are fundamental to making the University of Southampton a vibrant, proud, and successful organisation.

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applicants who support our mission of inclusivity.

This role does not qualify for Skilled Worker Visa sponsorship. To explore alternative UK visa options, see gov.uk .