Assistant Finance Business Partner

The University of Sheffield; Sheffield; Hybrid; GBP 33,000 - 37,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave (38 days pro rata)

Flexible working opportunities

Generous pension scheme

Staff discounts

Job summary

The University of Sheffield is looking for an Assistant Finance Business Partner to provide financial support to Schools, ensuring external research and doctoral funding meets sponsor terms. The role involves analysis, reporting, accruals, and collaborating across multiple Schools.

You will work under a Finance Business Partner in the Faculty of Health, contributing to budgeting, forecasting and financial controls within a dynamic university setting.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of financial procedures gained through qualifications or work experience.
• Ability to analyse, interpret and communicate financial information to non-specialists.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with strong customer service.
• High level of computer literacy and experience with Excel/MS Office.
• Strong numerical skills and pattern recognition.
• Analytical, problem solving and attention to detail.
• Team player with flexible approach and ability to meet deadlines.
• Ability to work proactively to multiple deadlines with initiative.
• Experience in responding to enquiries with a customer focus.
• Ability to gain trust and respect among colleagues.
• Confidence to challenge and adapt to new circumstances.
• Experience with adapting skills to new tasks.

Responsibilities

• Provide financial support and advice to Principal Investigators and staff for post‑award accounts.
• Liaise with internal and external sources to provide financial information via briefings and reports.
• Assist with staff approvals and cost distributions for funded posts.
• Analyze project accounts to identify variances and take remedial action.
• Prepare financial statements for externally funded projects with school/HR teams.
• Assist in accruals for month-end reporting.
• Review procedures and controls to minimise financial risk and ensure efficiency.
• Disseminate best practice and sponsor information to Faculty/Schools.
• Provide auditors with information for audits of externally funded projects.
• Plan tasks to deadlines including sponsor and university reporting requirements.
• Lead or contribute to project teams to achieve objectives.
• Demonstrate commitment to Sheffield Professional Framework in daily work.
• Carry out other duties commensurate with the grade.

Skills

Financial procedures

Financial analysis

Excel

Communication

Numerical skills

Attention to detail

Team player

Time management

Customer service

Trust and ethics

Problem solving

Education

CCAB qualification (Desirable)

Tools

SAP

MS Office/Excel

Job description

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Overview

The Department of Finance provides a wide range of financial support across the whole University. You will be part of the Faculty Finance team within the Department of Finance, acting as an Assistant Finance Business Partner, focused on delivering excellent service.

The role will report on a day-to-day basis to a Finance Business Partner (FBP) deployed within the Faculty of Health.

The primary focus of this role is to provide sound financial support to our Schools, helping them ensure that their external research and doctoral funding achieves the research objectives specified by the sponsor's terms and conditions. The role requires a flexible and pro‑active approach and will support a variety of financial activities and colleagues across a number of Schools or business areas.

Information on the Finance department can be found at the following web link: http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/finance

Main duties and responsibilities

• Act as a recognised source of financial support and advice to Principal Investigators, their staff and other Professional Services staff in managing a complex and diverse portfolio of post award research accounts and doctoral studentship accounts.
• Initiate regular liaison and meetings with both internal and external sources in order to provide financial management information and advice via briefings and reports e.g. external sponsors, Heads of School, Principal Investigators and Human Resources.
• Supporting the Finance Business Partner with administering staff approvals and associated cost distributions for core funded or externally funded posts.
• Analysis and review of individual externally funded project accounts to identify potential under/overspends on a timely basis in order that remedial action may be taken as appropriate.
• Preparation of financial expenditure statements on externally funded projects as required, liaising with School staff and other Finance or HR teams as appropriate.
• Assist in the preparation of accruals for month end reporting.
• Assist in the review of local accounting and operational finance procedures, internal controls within the Faculty to ensure consistency across Schools (and other Faculty teams) and to minimise financial risks. Regularly review service levels to ensure excellent service is provided in the most efficient manner possible.
• Highlighting and disseminating best practice and up to date policy, procedural information as well as sponsor information to Faculty/Schools.
• Providing external auditors with relevant information necessary for completing the audit of externally funded projects.
• Plan tasks in accordance with known deadlines, including external sponsor requirements, monthly and annual University financial reporting requirements.
• Lead assigned project teams or contribute as part of a larger project team to support the achievement of a specific objective.
• As a member of our Professional staff you will be expected to demonstrate a commitment to the professional behaviours set out in the Sheffield Professional Framework. Please follow this link for further information: Sheffield Professional Framewor k.
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

• Knowledge of financial procedures and accounting concepts, gained either through relevant qualifications or relevant work experience. Essential. Application/interview
• The ability to analyse, interpret and effectively communicate financial information to diverse non-specialist audiences. Essential. Application/interview
• Excellent written/verbal communication skills and customer service skills, with the ability to build strong working relationships. Essential. Application/interview
• A high level of computer literacy and experience in the use of Excel and MS Office software. Essential. Application/interview
• Ability to resolve problems using own creative solutions, and excellent numerical skills/pattern recognition. Essential. Application/interview
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills with the ability to manipulate & interpret financial data & excellent attention to detail. Essential. Application/interview
• Effective team player with a flexible approach. Essential. Application/interview
• Ability to work proactively to multiple deadlines, using own initiative and with minimum supervision. Essential. Application/interview
• Excellent customer service skills, with experience of responding efficiently and effectively to enquiries. Approachable and personable with a strong customer focus. Essential. Application/interview
• Ability to gain trust, confidence and respect amongst colleagues. Essential. Application/interview
• Confident with a willingness to challenge and be challenged. Essential. Application/interview
• Experience of adapting own skills to new circumstances. Essential. Application/interview
• Obtained, or working towards CCAB accountancy qualification (or other relevant professional qualification/equivalent experience. Desirable. Application/interview
• Experience of using SAP or other ERP software applications. Desirable. Application/interview

Further Information

• Grade: 6
• Salary: £32,722 to £37,369 (pro rata)
• Work arrangement: Full time
• Line manager: Finance Business Partner
• Direct reports: n/a
• Our website: https://staff.sheffield.ac.uk/finance
• For informal enquiries about this job contact Ann Walker at [e-mail]

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place week commencing 16th November 2026. This will consist of a test followed by an interview. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage within a week of the closing date. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact Michelle Potts at [e-mail]

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).

What we offer

• A minimum of 38 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women's and Parent's networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A range of generous family-friendly policies
  • Paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
  • Support for those going through the menopause
  • Paid time off and support for fertility treatment and more

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

Criminal record

Baseline personnel security standard This role requires the postholder to undertake a Government baseline personnel security standard (BPSS) check as a condition of employment.

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision ( www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision ) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.