Assistant Project Accountant

Coventry University Group; Coventry; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent Pension Contribution

30 days annual leave + Bank Holidays

Holiday Purchase Scheme up to 5 days

Life Assurance 4 x Salary

BUPA Cash Plan

CU Reward Scheme – Discounts

Job summary

Coventry University Group is seeking an Assistant Project Accountant to join the Research Finance and Performance team. You will help ensure accurate accounting on externally funded projects, maximise income, and maintain strong cost controls.

You will review grant claims and invoices, monitor project finances, produce financial reports, and analyse variances. A part-qualified accountant (CIMA/ACCA) or equivalent is required, with HE sector experience preferred.

Qualifications

• Part qualified accountant (CIMA/ACCA) or equivalent.
• Strong financial and accounting background with budgeting and forecast preparation, management accounting and project costing.
• Experience in financial analysis and reporting on costings.
• Experience in Higher Education sector and/or research/public funding advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Assist in ensuring accurate accounting processes for externally funded projects.
• Review grant claims and invoices; ensure expenditure eligibility and timely income recovery.
• Monitor project finances; produce financial reports; analyse variances; highlight risks and opportunities.
• Maintain strong financial controls through internal and external audit processes.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Team player

Problem solving

Numeracy

Spreadsheets

Prioritisation

Education

CIMA/ACCA or equivalent

Tools

Spreadsheets

Job description

Coventry University Group is a global education group with a mission of Creating Better Futures. We are driven by our passionate belief in the transformational power of education and research to enable and empower our students, colleagues and partners and to improve the world around them. Our people are key to our success and each role contributes to the Group’s ongoing progress in communities around the world.

The Role

As an Assistant Project Accountant within the Research Finance and Performance team you will assist in ensuring accurate accounting processes are applied whilst reviewing externally funded projects to ensure income is maximised on a timely basis and expenditure is fully supported.

You will support the financial management and governance of research and commercial projects, ensuring compliance with funder requirements and institutional policies. You will be responsible for monitoring project finances, producing financial reports, analysing variances, and highlighting risks and opportunities related to externally funded projects.

Your role will involve the preparation and review of grant claims and invoices, ensuring expenditure eligibility, accurate documentation, and timely income recovery.

A key focus of this role is to maintain strong financial controls through internal and external audit processes, managing audit evidence, and ensuring compliance with funder regulations.

Our Successful Candidate

You will be a part qualified accountant (CIMA/ACCA) or hold an equivalent qualification. You will have a strong financial and accounting background with experience in budgeting and forecast preparation, management accounting and project costing. You will also hold experience of financial analysis and reporting on financial costings.

Previous experience of working withing the Higher Education sector and/or in research/public funding would be advantageous.

You will have strong stakeholder skills with the experience of being a collaborative team player and a positive attitude to investigating and resolving complex issues beyond routine tasks.

You will be proficient in numeracy and ICT, particularly with spreadsheets. You will understand and manage a portfolio of projects independently, prioritising tasks and meeting dynamic internal and external deadlines. A commitment to delivering results and driving continuous improvement.

The Benefits

As a staff member of CU Corporate Services, you will have a access to a wide range of industry leading rewards and benefits which includes:

• Excellent Employers Pension Contribution
• 30 days Annual leave plus Bank Holidays
• New Holiday Purchase Scheme up to 5 additional days
• Life Assurance 4 x Salary
• BUPA Cash Plan
• CU Reward Scheme – Discounts across a range of High Street/ Online Retailers

Our Culture

As a global Education Group, equality, diversity, and inclusion are embedded within the fabric of our organisation and are a key focus of our core values. We harness the power and potential of the diverse cultures, backgrounds, abilities, and experiences of our students, colleagues, and partners to create opportunities for all.