Assistant Management Accountant

University of Derby; East Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 33,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Derby is seeking a proactive finance professional to support key financial processes across the University. The role focuses on non-pay expenditure and project finance, with duties spanning month-end, budgeting, forecasting, reconciliations and management accounting.

You will work with budget managers and Post-Award colleagues to manage set-up, budgets, claims, invoicing, forecasting and reporting, ensuring robust financial control and compliance.

Qualifications

• Experience with financial regulations and governance frameworks.
• Experience of month-end and year-end accounting and audit processes.
• Experience of reconciling financial information.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and post month end accruals and pre-payments with backup for audit.
• Provide non-pay variance analysis and commentary for management accounts.
• Support budget managers with ad-hoc reports and non-pay/project queries.
• Train budget managers to use budget control functions and provide ad-hoc analysis.

Skills

Excel

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Deadline driven

Teamwork

Process improvement

Flexibility

Education

Degree or equivalent experience

Part AAT qualification

GCSE Maths and English

Tools

Oracle Cloud Financials

ePBCS

Job description

£32,942 to £36,977 per annum (for exceptional performers, there is scope for further progression up to £42,523.55 per annum)

Hybrid
This role will be based on site, primarily in the named location. Currently, this role offers the opportunity to work remotely, normally 3 day/s a week in line with our Adaptive Working Framework.

We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.

The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region.

We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 – making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes.

Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.

The Finance team plays a crucial role in enabling the University to deliver on its strategic aims. This involves managing and maximising the University’s financial resources while providing expert financial advice and support to the wider University community. Our responsibilities encompass a wide range of essential functions, including providing strategic business partnering, delivering value from supplier relationships, managing effective working capital and cashflow and providing key financial support for our students. Additionally, we oversee all aspects of payroll and pensions management, and deliver comprehensive support for financial systems, tax compliance, and audit needs. Through these activities, we provide assurance to the University community around the financial health and efficiency of the University, supporting its mission and operations.

We are seeking a proactive and detail-oriented finance professional to support the delivery of key financial processes across the University. This role plays a vital part in the preparation of month and year-end accounts, budgeting, forecasting, reconciliations, and management accounting activities, with a particular focus on non-pay expenditure and project finance.

Working closely with budget managers and stakeholders across the University, you will provide financial insight, analysis, and guidance to ensure accurate financial planning and reporting. You will support the full lifecycle of projects, working with Post-Award colleagues, from set-up and budget management through to claims, invoicing, forecasting, and reporting, helping to ensure robust financial control and compliance.

The successful candidate will build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, provide training and support to budget holders, produce meaningful financial analysis, and contribute to continuous improvement by championing best practice and digital solutions. This is a varied and collaborative role that offers the opportunity to influence financial decision-making, support strategic projects, and contribute to wider University initiatives and activities.

Anticipated interview date:Wednesday 7th October 2026

You will have experience working with financial regulations and governance frameworks, ensuring compliance, accuracy, and strong financial controls across a range of activities. With a solid understanding of month-end and year-end accounting processes, you will be confident supporting financial reporting requirements, reconciliations, and audit activities.

You will possess excellent communication skills, with the ability to interpret, analyse, and present financial and numerical information clearly to non-finance colleagues. Building effective relationships with stakeholders, you will provide guidance and insight that supports informed decision-making, helping managers understand financial performance and meet their budgetary responsibilities.

• Understand and contribute to the business planning calendar (e.g. budgets, forecasts, month ends) by collating and entering accurate information within deadlines for nominated areas of responsibility such as non-pay and project information.
• Meet regularly with budget managers to ensure accurate and realistic financial positions are reflected in budget and forecast submissions.
• Prepare and post month end accruals and pre-payments ensuring appropriate backup evidence is retained for audit.
• Provide non-pay variance analysis and commentary for the management accounts.
• Work with the Business to monitor and support the set-up, preparation of claims and invoices and provide budget and forecasting information for awarded projects.
• Support budget managers with ad-hoc reports and non-pay/project queries.
• Train budget managers to use the budgetary control functions to aid their budget management and provide ad-hoc analysis to aid housekeeping of requisitions and orders, address retrospective ordering and resolve fund alerts.
• Support the Business Accountants by tracking contract funding e.g. tuition fees, placement/simulation funding, bursaries. Liaising with internal and external stakeholders to maintain and reconcile income and expenditure records with backup data for audit.
• Issue sales invoices for funding, including tuition fees and placement/simulation funding, in a timely manner.
• Reconcile balance sheet values to ensure accurate closing balances are held.
• Operate within and promote the University financial regulations in all activities.
• Engage with, and contribute to, wider University activities e.g. enrolment, graduation, clearing, VC Briefings.
• Seek and adopt best practice, challenge ways of working and champion digital approaches and developments.
• Be familiar with and demonstrate the University’s values.
• Carry out any other duties or projects commensurate with the level and skills/qualifications of this role.
• Part AAT qualified or willingness to study
• GCSE Maths and English at Grade C or above (or equivalent qualification)
• Educated to Degree standard or equivalent work experience

Experience

• Experience working with and applying financial regulations
• Experience of month and year end accounting and audit processes
• Experience of reconciling financial information

Skills, knowledge & abilities

• Strong digital skills especially Microsoft Excel
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive and supportive relationships
• Ability to communicate financial and numerical information to non-finance staff
• Ability to consistently meet deadlines
• Ability to work in a team and contribute collegiately to team goals
• Ability to identify improvements to systems and processes to improve efficiency and effectiveness adopting digital solutions wherever possible
• Flexible approach and able to adapt positively to change

Business requirements

• Evidence of recent continual professional development
• Willingness and flexibility to travel and work between University sites in a cost effective and timely manner if portfolio or meetings require it
• Willingness to provide support at University events from time to time e.g., Graduation, Clearing and Open Days, (some of these events occur outside of normal working hours, such as evenings and weekends).

Experience

• Experience of Higher or Further Education finance
• Experience of working with Oracle Cloud Financials and ePBCS
• Generous annual leave entitlement of 38 days inclusive of bank holidays and concessionary days (pro rata)
• Suite of holistic wellbeing benefits and support including family-friendly policies, generous sick pay provision and comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to a variety of staff discounts at high street retailers
• Discounted onsite gym
• Cycle to Work scheme
• A flexible working environment
• A commitment to personal and professional development

For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Louise Moss, Business Accountant via [e-mail] or Jenny Wain, Business Accountant via [e-mail]

For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via [e-mail] .

The University is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers under the Skilled Worker route for this role; however, applications are welcome from candidates who are able to demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.

Equity, diversity and inclusion

The University of Derby is committed to fostering an open, inclusive and diverse community where everyone is treated with dignity, fairness and respect. We are committed to advancing equity, diversity and inclusion regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief (or none), sex or sexual orientation.

As a Disability Confident employer, we are committed to inclusive recruitment and welcome requests for adjustments throughout the recruitment process. Applicants may choose their preferred title, including 'Mx', and may share preferred pronouns if they wish. We also use anonymised shortlisting to help reduce the potential impact of unconscious bias. For more information on equity,diversityand inclusion at the University of Derby, pleasevisitour website .

We are also committed to promoting academic freedom and freedom of speech and expression within the law, in line with our Code of Practice , and value diversity of thought alongside diversity of backgrounds and experiences.

However you identify, we welcome applications from people whose experiences, perspectives and talents will contribute to our inclusive, supportive and intellectually vibrant community.

Environmental Sustainability

At the University of Derby, we are passionate about embedding sustainability into everything that we do. We aim to bring environmental sustainability into all aspects of the University, including teaching, research and operational activities. In line with the University's strategic framework, we expect all our staff to embed sustainability into their working practices and support the University's objective to reach net zero carbon by 2050.