Finance Business Partner

Birmingham City University; England; On-site; GBP 44,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

An educational institution in the UK is seeking a qualified accountant to provide financial and management accounting support. The role involves preparing and analyzing budgets, monitoring financial performance, and supporting decision-making processes. Candidates should have experience in a management accounting role and possess strong analytical skills. This is a permanent full-time position with a salary range of £44,131 to £51,182 per annum.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with a CCAB or CIMA designation.
• Experience in management accounting within a large or complex organisation.
• Confident in using financial systems and Excel for reporting.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, manage and analyse budgets and forecasts.
• Monitor financial performance and report variances and risks.
• Support senior managers with financial planning and decision-making.

Skills

Qualified accountant (CCAB or CIMA)

Strong analytical skills

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Proficient in financial systems and Excel

Ability to work under pressure

Solution-focused

Education

Degree in a numerate subject

Job description

Overview

Department Financial Planning and Reporting Location Joseph Priestley Building Salary £44,131 to £51,182 per annum Permanent Post Type Full Time Release Date 30 January 2026 Closing Date 23.59 hours GMT on Sunday 08 February 2026 Reference F125008-R

We are looking for a qualified and experienced accountant to provide high-quality, customer-focused financial and management accounting support to a designated Faculty or portfolio of departments within the University.

Working closely with Executive Deans, Directors and senior leadership teams, you will deliver clear management information to support strategic and operational decision-making, while ensuring strong financial control and sustainability.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, manage and analyse budgets and forecasts
• Monitor financial performance and report variances and risks
• Support senior managers with financial planning, scenario analysis and decision-making
• Maintain accurate financial systems, records and reporting
• Contribute to capital budgeting, project appraisals and year-end processes
• Support statutory, corporate and regulatory returns
• Develop and improve costing, reporting and financial processes
• Supervise and support finance staff as required

About you

• Qualified accountant (CCAB or CIMA)
• Experience in management accounting within a large or complex organisation
• Strong analytical, organisational and communication skills
• Confident using financial systems and Excel to produce meaningful management information
• Able to work under pressure while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail
• Proactive, solution-focused and comfortable working with senior stakeholders
• Degree (or equivalent experience) in a numerate subject
• Experience in higher education or grant-funded environments

This is an excellent opportunity to play a key role in supporting financial strategy and decision-making in a complex and dynamic organisation.

If you would like to join a supportive and collaborative team, we would love to hear from you.

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.

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and to an environment that supports lawful free speech and academic freedom. We will continuously review and improve our policies, practices, and procedures to ensure that we are promoting these in all aspects of our operations. We believe that by working together, combining our many different backgrounds and life experiences, we will empower each other to reach our full potential.