Deputy Head of Reporting

Birmingham City University; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

Birmingham City University seeks a Deputy Head of Reporting to lead financial operations, enhance reporting accuracy, and support strategic oversight across multiple teams. The position demands a qualified accountant with substantial experience, poised to drive financial compliance and efficiency in a dynamic environment. Join a vibrant institution dedicated to excellence in education and innovation while enjoying competitive benefits and career progression opportunities.

Benefits

Generous annual leave entitlement of 40 days

Attractive direct contribution pension scheme

Wellbeing advice and support

Cycle to Work Scheme

Qualifications

• Significant post-qualification experience in financial management.
• Proven track record of managing teams and projects.
• Ability to engage with senior management and Board-level.

Responsibilities

• Lead Corporate, Statutory, Regulatory Reporting, and Tax teams.
• Oversee preparation of statutory accounts and compliance.
• Ensure timely preparation of financial statements.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical Skills

Communication

Budget Management

Financial Reporting

Stakeholder Engagement

Education

Fully qualified accountant (CCAB or CIMA)

Tools

Excel

Financial Systems

Job description

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Job Description

Salary: £52,462.00 per annum (with progression up to £60,842.00 per annum)

Grade: H

Contract: Full-Time, Fixed term until 31 December 2025

Interview Date: Week commencing 23/06/25

Birmingham City University is a vibrant and diverse institution located in the heart of the city. As we continue to develop our ERP systems and enhance the delivery of high-quality financial information, we are expanding our finance team through several key appointments. One of these is the role of Deputy Head of Reporting, which provides leadership and strategic oversight to the Management Reporting, Statutory and Regulatory Reporting, Research, and Tax teams. This role is central to delivering robust corporate financial management that meets statutory, regulatory, and operational requirements.

The successful candidate will be responsible for maintaining accurate financial records, ensuring statutory compliance, and supporting financial planning across the University, including cash flow forecasting and oversight of the capital programme. You will be a qualified accountant with substantial post-qualification experience in a leadership role, with a strong track record of managing teams and leveraging IT solutions to streamline processes and enhance efficiency.

You must also demonstrate the ability to analyse complex information, engage with a wide range of stakeholders, and drive continuous improvement across financial operations.

Role Overview

The purpose of this role is to ensure the timely preparation and submission of consolidated and subsidiary financial statements to the Finance Committee for approval. It involves producing VAT returns and overseeing their submission to HMRC following internal review. The role also supports the preparation of Corporation Tax returns by providing relevant data to the University's tax partner. A key responsibility is ensuring that all external audit evidence requirements are met in accordance with university policies and procedures. The role contributes to achieving University goals by ensuring resources are appropriately allocated and perform to the required standards. It includes leading the Statutory and Regulatory Reporting, Capital Accounting, and Tax teams, while delivering high-quality corporate financial management that meets all statutory, regulatory, and business requirements. Additionally, the role supports the Head of Reporting in maintaining a strong and effective finance team.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop Corporate, Statutory, Regulatory Reporting, and Tax teams to ensure compliance and accurate reporting.
• Serve as the primary Finance contact for external auditors.
• Oversee the preparation of statutory accounts and ensure compliance with accounting standards and audit requirements.
• Manage the preparation and submission of VAT and corporation tax returns with supporting schedules.
• Analyse financial data to resolve queries and assist with audits.
• Provide technical accounting guidance and ensure adherence to HE SORP and relevant standards.
• Ensure timely balance sheet reconciliations and financial reporting.
• Deliver statutory and management reports within deadlines.
• Ensure full tax compliance and communicate financial information to non-financial stakeholders.
• Continuously improve financial systems and processes.
• Act as Deputy to the Head of Reporting and take on additional duties as assigned by the Director of Finance.

Supervision

• Line manages up to two staff, setting objectives and ensuring high service standards.
• Conduct one-to-ones, provide feedback, and manage annual performance reviews.
• Allocate workloads, monitor progress, and ensure deadlines are met.
• Support staff development through training and qualifications.
• Contribute to team improvements and performance planning.

Essential Requirements

• Fully qualified accountant (CCAB or CIMA) with significant post-qualification experience and management expertise in complex organisations.
• Experience in an audit firm is a plus.
• Proven track record of working with and influencing senior management, including Board-level.
• Strong background in strategic financial planning and producing statutory accounts.
• Expertise in managing budgets, resources, and funding.
• Advanced IT skills, particularly in Excel and financial systems, to produce accurate management information.
• Exceptional organisational skills with a keen eye for detail and the ability to thrive under pressure.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to present and report complex financial information clearly.
• Strong analytical abilities to assimilate and solve strategic and operational issues.
• In-depth knowledge of financial management procedures and compliance.
• Proven ability to lead and develop teams, manage change, and drive performance improvements.
• Strong customer service orientation with a commitment to high performance.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to negotiate, influence, and build relationships across all levels of the organisation.
• Flexible, solution-focused approach to adapting to changing needs.

What is in it for you?

• Generous annual leave entitlement of 40 days (including bank holidays and closure periods) per annum pro rata.
• An attractive direct contribution pension scheme, or the option to retain LGPS for existing and previous members.
• Wellbeing advice and support through our Employee Assistance Programme.
• Cycle to Work Scheme.

Why not take a look on the interactive map that shows the facilities across campus.

Join us in making a difference at Birmingham City University.

Birmingham City University is deeply committed to equality, diversity, and inclusivity at all levels in the organisation, and to addressing underrepresentation in our workforce to ensure we are truly representative of the community we serve. We welcome applications from applicants from all backgrounds and communities for this role, and particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic applicants.

The University is proudly Disability Confident. This means amongst other things that we commit to offering a guaranteed interview to disabled applicants who fully meet the essential criteria for each role.

Please download the Job Description below for further information:

Job Description

The appointed candidate will normally be employed through our subsidiary company BCU Support Services Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Birmingham City University. Appointees with prior LGPS membership who wish to enter the LGPS scheme will be able to do so and will be employed by Birmingham City University directly.

About Us

At the heart of our Strategy for 2030 and Beyond, it is our mission to enable our students to transform their lives and to achieve their potential. Through our education and research, and the roles our graduates go on to play in the world, we not only support individuals to transform their lives, but we also play a part in transforming society.

Located in the centre of the UK's second city, we are a university with a long heritage of innovation and of making, dating back to our origins in 1843 when we were founded as the Birmingham Government School of Design.

Our heritage of making through innovation and its application through knowledge exchange, and of creative research and practice, today finds it expression in our STEAM agenda, in our research and enterprise, and in our commitment to challenge-based learning. Working across disciplines, and delivering impactful research and enterprise, interdisciplinarity is at the heart of the continuing transformation of our academic portfolio.