Financial Accounting Business Partner

The Scottish Association for Marine Science; Oban; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 51,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Hybrid work options

Annual leave purchase

Cycle to Work scheme

Technology salary sacrifice

Job summary

The Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) in Oban is seeking a Financial Accounting Business Partner who will partner with senior stakeholders to deliver accurate, timely financial information and insights for strategic planning. You will own key financial processes, strengthen controls, and drive performance across multiple entities.

This role requires a recognised qualification (CA/CIMA/ACCA), post-qualification experience, strong Excel skills, and the ability to prepare management

Qualifications

• Recognised accountancy qualification - CA, CIMA, ACCA.
• Demonstrable post-qualification experience in a relevant financial accounting role.
• Strong understanding of financial accounting and month-end processes.
• Ability to prepare management accounts and support audit readiness.
• Advanced Excel skills and data analysis capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide financial insight and guidance to support decision-making and strategic planning.
• Own key financial processes and drive performance across multiple entities.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, strengthen financial controls and reporting.
• Ensure compliance with policies, accounting standards and regulatory requirements while delivering timely financial information.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Stakeholder engagement

Financial accounting

Month-end processes

Financial reporting

Education

CA/CIMA/ACCA

Job description

Location

SAMS, Oban

Contract Type

Permanent

Working Pattern

Full Time

Salary

£45,413 - £51,039 per annum

Closing date

Monday 26th October 2026

The Role

The Financial Accounting Business Partner will work closely with the Associate Director of Finance and play a key role in supporting the organisation through the delivery of high-quality, accurate, timely and insightful financial information. The role will work closely with senior stakeholders to provide financial insight and guidance and support informed decision-making and strategic planning, while taking ownership of key financial processes and driving performance across multiple entities.

The Financial Accounting Business Partner will identify opportunities to improve processes, strengthen financial controls and enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of financial reporting. Acting as a trusted finance business partner, the role will ensure compliance with relevant financial policies, accounting standards and regulatory requirements, while providing accurate and timely financial information to internal and external stakeholders, funders and regulatory bodies. The successful candidate will combine strong technical accounting knowledge with excellent communication and relationship-building skills to provide effective financial support and challenge across the organisation.

Our Ideal Candidate

• You will hold a recognised accountancy qualification - CA, CIMA, ACCA
• Demonstrable post-qualification experience in a relevant financial accounting role.
• Strong understanding of financial accounting and month-end processes.
• Ability to prepare management accounts and support audit readiness.
• Advanced Excel skills
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills

This role is suited to someone with early post-qualification experience in industry looking to progress their career or someone experienced looking for a change in role/company and more variety in their role. The successful candidate will be ambitious, analytical, and eager to contribute to a fast-paced, purpose-driven environment.

You will bring energy, enthusiasm and integrity and create a positive and inclusive culture within the department.

Employee Benefits

Our relatively small, caring community is an ideal environment for making friends, forming collaborations, and supporting each other to do the work that we really care about. Oban and surrounding areas provide a fantastic base to live and work, and we offer a wide range of employee benefits, support and inclusive culture, making SAMS a great place to work.

Our employees are the heart of our business. Recruiting and retaining the right people is the key to our success. Rewarding our employees is therefore an important component of our employment package and we have a wide range of benefits on offer to staff to support your work and lifestyle.

We are proud to provide a wide variety of benefits year-round, offering options to best support our staff, such as:

• flexible & hybrid working options
• purchase of additional annual leave
• shopping discounts
• Cycle 2 Work scheme
• purchases of technology through salary sacrifice
• Payroll Giving
• Pensions Plus
• access to portals to support health and wellbeing
• a sabbatical scheme
• free car parking with access to electronic charging points
• access to a number of training & development courses

Additionally, SAMS encourages and recognises excellence among staff through various recognition and reward arrangements. We are striving to constantly develop and expand the benefits and offers for our colleagues.

Applicant Support & Guidance

We are a Disability Confident Employer. Where a candidate requires reasonable adjustments as part of the application process, we encourage you to let us know. Where applicants with a disability meet the essential criteria for the job, you will be given the opportunity to demonstrate your skills, talent and abilities at interview.

SAMS' commitment to gender equality has been recognised, as our institute was presented with an Athena SWAN (Scientific Women's Academic Network) Bronze Award and is currently working towards Investors in Diversity accreditation.

SAMS follows Fair Work Practices.

SAMS Group is committed to being an equal and open organisation. Diversity and inclusion are important to us, and we strive to remove any barriers that may prevent people from applying to join us. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, and from all who share our values and can help us to broaden our knowledge and range of ideas.