Finance Support Team Leader

The James Hutton Institute; Aberdeen City; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading research institution in Scotland is seeking a Finance Support Team Leader to manage financial transactions and lead a small team. The successful candidate will have a robust financial background and the ability to enhance processes within the Finance Department. This role offers flexibility and a professional development opportunity within a unique organization committed to work-life balance.

Benefits

Employee Assistance Programme

Generous annual leave

Pension plan with 15% employer contribution

Flexible working hours

Qualifications

• Significant experience in managing a finance team.
• Hands-on experience in balance sheet reconciliations.
• Ability to maintain effective communication with stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of finance professionals.
• Prepare financial analysis and reports.
• Develop and streamline financial processes.

Skills

Team management

Financial transaction handling

Process improvement

Effective communication

Attention to detail

Education

Foundation Accountancy qualification (AAT)

3 higher grades or 2 A levels

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Outlook

Job description

Main purpose of job

We are seeking an experienced Finance Support Team Leader to oversee and manage our financial transactions / support team. The successful individual will have management or supervisory experience, extensive knowledge of financial processes and the ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with team members and other departments. They will have a focus on improving processes and seeking out efficiencies both within the Finance Department and for the wider organisation. A key element of this role will also be to provide hands‑on purchase ledger administration input as well as covering for team members as required. They will manage a small team of finance support administrators to help ensure the delivery of timely and accurate financial information.

As part of the senior finance management team this role will be supported by experienced colleagues. With this support they will potentially have the opportunity to be involved in larger areas of work such as the RESAS programme that James Hutton Institute undertakes on behalf of the Scottish Government and to capital project claims. Assistance to achieve professional qualifications will be considered along with the option of hybrid working and / or part time working. This role offers a great work‑life balance as well as the opportunity to be involved in this unique and ground‑breaking organisation.

Main duties of post holder

• Lead mentor and motivate a team of finance professionals covering Sales Ledger, Purchase Ledger, Payroll and Treasury. This will include setting and monitoring objectives for the team as well as ongoing training and development
• Ongoing Purchase ledger support as well as providing occasional cover for all team members as required
• Develop, improve and streamline current processes to increase efficiencies
• Assist in updating and adhering to company policies related to finance
• Support the delivery of the month‑end close and management reporting
• Balance sheet reconciliations
• Depending on experience assist with budgeting and regular forecasting
• Support senior finance colleagues and the wider organisation to improve the provision of management information
• Identify efficiencies and work with colleagues to deliver the changes that will achieve these
• Prepare financial analysis as requested
• Support tasks as advised by the Financial Accountant and Financial Controller
• Ad‑hoc duties related to the role

Person specification

Essential

Attainments

• 3 higher grades or 2 A levels
• Foundation Accountancy qualification (AAT professional bodies foundation level HND or equivalent)

Experience

• Significant hands‑on experience of handling financial transactions
• Accounting experience in balance sheet reconciliations and month‑end close
• Significant experience in managing / supervising a team handling financial transactions covering sales and purchase ledgers, banking and associated reconciliations
• Experience of managing transactions for projects
• Liaison with internal and external stakeholders
• Experience of payroll
• Experience of a complex finance function

Skills

Management

• Experience of managing, mentoring and motivating a team of finance transaction professionals
• Ability to foster a positive and collaborative environment with a focus on process improvement

Communication

• Effective written and verbal communication to external stakeholders
• Ability to organise own work effectively prioritising competing workloads and working to tight timescales

Interpersonal

• Can work effectively across all parts of Hutton and with external stakeholders
• Inquisitive and curious
• Creative, proactive, flexible and able to work to agreed deadlines

Technical

• Good attention to detail and accuracy
• Understanding of finance processes and a system‑mindled approach to making improvements
• Knowledge of accounting systems

Other skills (pleasespecify)

• Skilled in Microsoft applications software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook etc.)
• Good Excel skills

What we offer

• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) – a confidential service available to support employees and their families with work or personal problems, providing access to professional counsellors, psychologists and work‑life consultants.
• Annual Leave – generous entitlement up to 40.5 days a year with carry‑over possible and guaranteed time‑off for Christmas.
• Pension – employer contribution of 15% in a personal pension plan and employee contribution flexibility.
• Self‑managed hours and flexible working option to manage and spread your working time in line with organisational needs to create a healthy work‑life balance.

Our commitment to Equality and Diversity

We will not consider the use of 3rd party recruitment agencies for the sourcing of candidates for this position.

The James Hutton Institute is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

The James Hutton Institute is a Stonewall Diversity Champion; Athena SWAN Silver Status Holder; Disability Confident Committed Employer and a Living Wage Employer.

The James Hutton Institute is happy to talk flexible working.

The Company

The James Hutton Institute combines strengths in crops, soils and land use and environmental research and makes a major contribution to the understanding of key global issues such as food, energy and environmental security and developing and promoting effective technological and management solutions to these.

James Hutton was a leading figure of the Scottish Enlightenment – an eighteenth‑century golden age of intellectual and scientific achievements centred on Edinburgh. He is internationally regarded as the founder of modern geology and one of the first scientists to describe the Earth as a living system. His thinking on natural selection influenced Charles Darwin in developing his theory of evolution.

Our values

• We respect and value our people and the people we engage with
• We want to make a difference
• We strive to be excellent in everything we do
• We lead by example
• We foster creativity and innovation

Documents

Active Directory, Information Technology, End user, Deskstops, OS, Windows, Access Points, Asset Management, SCCM, VPN, Troubleshoot, Computer information system, hardware, Technical Support

Employment Type: Full‑Time

Experience: years

Vacancy: 1

Yearly Salary: 30,001 – 35,000