Senior Finance Assistant x2

The University of Sheffield; Rotherham; Hybrid; GBP 27,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 38 days + bank holidays

Hybrid/flexible working

Generous pension scheme

Discounts and rewards for staff

Staff networks and development

Job summary

The University of Sheffield is seeking a proactive Finance Assistant to support the AMRC in managing research grants and commercial projects. You will analyse financial information, advise stakeholders, and ensure compliance with funder requirements while delivering a high standard of customer service.

You will work closely with the Finance team to manage cost centres and project accounts, supporting audits and monthly reporting cycles within a dynamic research environment.

Qualifications

• GCSEs including Maths and English.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with customer service skills.
• Ability to analyse, interpret and communicate financial information.
• Ability to work proactively with minimum supervision and meet multiple deadlines.
• Ability to gain trust and respect amongst colleagues.
• Confident with willingness to challenge and be challenged.
• Experience with SAP ERP and related financial processes.
• Strong Excel skills for financial data interpretation.

Responsibilities

• Support financial management of research grants, commercial projects and core budgets, ensuring compliance with University policies and funder requirements.
• Provide financial analysis and reviews of externally funded projects to monitor expenditure and compliance with budgets and sponsor rules.
• Monitor project performance, identify financial risks, and propose corrective actions to mitigate issues.
• Collaborate with research and professional services to provide financial advice and guidance.
• Serve as a first point of contact for finance enquiries via the team mailbox and deliver timely, accurate assistance.
• Assist with cost centres, project accounts and supporting records in finance systems.
• Support auditors and funding bodies with required evidence and information.
• Plan workloads to meet sponsor requirements and monthly/annual reporting timetables.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of finance processes and procedures.
• Carry out other duties commensurate with the grade.

Skills

General education

Teamwork

Communication

Financial analysis

Initiative

Trust building

Challenge mindset

SAP experience

Excel skills

Education

GCSEs including Maths & English

Tools

SAP

Job description

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Overview

The Department of Finance is seeking an enthusiastic, self-motivated and customer-focused individual to join our team in supporting the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC)

The AMRC is a world-leading research centre within the University of Sheffield, working on a diverse portfolio of government-funded grants and commercial projects in partnership with leading organisations across the aerospace and advanced manufacturing sectors.

We are looking for a proactive team player with a strong work ethic, excellent communication skills, and the ability to analyse, interpret and challenge complex financial information. You will be highly organised, adaptable, and capable of responding effectively to changing priorities while delivering a high standard of customer service.

In this role, you will work closely with colleagues across the Finance team, providing primary support to the Assistant Finance Business Partners. Your responsibilities will include project financial management, supporting the development and submission of complex grant applications, and delivering responsive financial guidance to stakeholders through the team's shared mailbox. You will play a key role in ensuring projects are financially robust, compliant and effectively managed throughout their lifecycle.

This is an excellent opportunity to develop your finance business partnering skills within a dynamic and innovative environment that supports cutting-edge research and industry collaboration.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Support the financial management of research grants, commercial projects and core budgets as required, maintaining appropriate and ensuring compliance with University policies and funder requirements.

• Provide financial analysis and reviews of externally funded projects to ensure expenditure is appropriately monitored, forecasted and controlled within approved budgets and sponsor regulations. Identify potential under or overspends, escalating issues and recommending corrective actions where appropriate.

• Monitor project performance throughout the project lifecycle, identifying financial risks, compliance issues and funding shortfalls at an early stage, and contributing to solutions that minimise financial and operational risk.

• Work closely with research and professional services colleagues to provide financial advice and guidance.

• Act as a first point of contact for finance-related enquiries through the team's shared mailbox, triaging requests and providing timely, accurate and customer-focused advice to internal and external stakeholders.

• Assist the team with a range of financial and administrative activities, including the creation and maintenance of cost centres, project accounts and supporting records within the University's finance systems.

• Assist with the provision of evidence and relevant information required by internal and external auditors and funding bodies.

• Plan and prioritise workloads to meet competing deadlines, including external sponsor requirements, grant submission deadlines, and monthly and annual University reporting timetables.

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of finance processes, systems and procedures, identifying opportunities to enhance efficiency, accuracy and customer service.

• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Criteria

• A good general education, 5 GCSEs grades A-C, including Maths and English

  Essential

  Application

• Effective team player with a flexible approach

  Essential

  Application/ Interview

• Excellent written/verbal communication skills and customer service skills, with the ability to build strong working relationships

  Essential

  Application/ Interview

• The ability to analyse, interpret and effectively communicate financial information

  Essential

  Application/ Interview

• Ability to work proactively using own initiative, with minimum supervision and to multiple deadlines.

  Essential

  Application /Interview

• Ability to gain trust, confidence and respect amongst colleagues

  Essential

  Application/ Interview

• Confident with willingness to challenge and be challenged

  Essential

  Application/ Interview

• Experience with ERP systems (SAP) and the financial and accounting processes that underpin these systems.

  Desirable

  Application/ Interview

• Strong Excel skills with the ability to manipulate and interpret financial data.

  Desirable

  Application/ Interview

Further Information

• Grade

  G5

• Salary

  £27,319 - £31,236 per annum

• Work arrangement

  Full-time

• Line manager

  Assistant Finance Business Partner

• Direct reports

  None

• Right to work in the UK

  This role does not meet the criteria for Skilled Worker sponsorship under the UK Visa & Immigration points-based system. Information on alternative visa options is available on www.gov.uk.

• Our website

  www.amrc.co.uk

• For informal enquiries about this job contact Sam O'Neill, AMRC Finance Manager: [e-mail]

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place week commencing the 9th November and following this successful candidates will be invited to interview. Interviews are planned to take place on the week commencing the 16th November. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact [e-mail]

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).

What we offer

• A minimum of 38 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.

• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.

• Generous pension scheme.

• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.

• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women's and Parent's networks).

• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.

• A commitmen t to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Professional Services Shared Skills Framework

• A range of generous family-friendly policies

  • paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies

  • access to menopause support in the workplace

  • paid time off and support for fertility treatment

  • and more

We are a Disability Confident Leader (opens in a new window). If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

Baseline personnel security standard

1. This role requires the postholder to undertake a Government baseline personnel security standard (BPSS) check as a condition of employment.

2. You will also need to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role. This is usually only available to British citizens who have been living in the UK for the past 5 years.

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision ( www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision ) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.