Assistant Project Accountant

Coventry; Coventry; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent Employers Pension Coverage

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 in the Research Finance and Performance team for a 12-month fixed-term maternity cover.

You will assist in ensuring accurate accounting processes, review externally funded projects to maximise income and support expenditure remains fully supported. You will monitor finances, produce reports, analyse variances and manage audit evidence and funder compliance.

Qualifications

• Part-qualified accountant (CIMA/ACCA) or equivalent qualification.
• Strong financial background with budgeting and forecast preparation.
• Experience in management accounting and project costing.
• Experience in financial analysis and reporting on costings.

Responsibilities

• Monitor project finances and maintain strong financial controls.
• Prepare and review grant claims and invoices with accurate documentation.
• Produce financial reports and analyse variances; highlight risks and opportunities.
• Ensure compliance with funder requirements and institutional policies.

Skills

Budgeting

Forecasting

Management accounting

Project costing

Financial analysis

Financial reporting

Stakeholder management

Education

Part-qualified in CIMA/ACCA

Tools

Spreadsheets

Job description

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CUCS Finance (FIN),GFPM Financial Performance - Research & Enterprise

Competitive starting salary range from £33,403 up to £37,606 per annum (dependent upon experience) with the potential to progress. A discretionary range for candidates with exceptional experience can be discussed/considered

Mode

Full Time, Fixed Term Maternity Cover

Our Mission

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

12 month fixed-term maternity cover

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 within 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.

Full Job Description & Person Specification

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