General Assistant Accountant

University of Derby; United States; Remote; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave 38 days incl. BH

Local Government Pension Scheme

Wellbeing benefits and support

Staff discounts

Onsite gym

Cycle to Work scheme

Flexible working

Personal and professional development

Job summary

The University of Derby's Finance team supports strategic aims by managing financial resources and providing expert financial advice across the university community. The role contributes to month- and year-end processes, budgeting, forecasting, reconciliations and management accounting, ensuring accurate reporting and robust financial controls.

You will work with accounts receivable/payable, payroll journals, and a cloud-based finance system, delivering timely period closings and continuous

Qualifications

• Experience in general accounting, including accounts receivable and/or payable.
• Understanding of month-end and year-end accounting processes.
• Experience with a Finance system to pre-agreed deadlines.
• Attention to detail and accuracy in Excel for reconciliations.

Responsibilities

• Prepare month and year-end accounts, budgeting, forecasting, reconciliations and management accounting activities.
• Contribute to continuous improvement and digital solutions within the finance function.
• Prepare payroll journals to the general ledger and liaise with payroll for reporting.
• Support accurate reporting of monthly payroll costings for forecasting models.

Skills

General accounting

Accounts receivable

Accounts payable

Month-end close

Excel proficiency

Payroll journals

Education

GCSE Maths and English

AAT qualification or equivalent experience

Tools

Cloud-based Finance System

Excel

Job description

The Finance team plays a crucial role in enabling the University to deliver on its strategic aims. This involves managing and maximising the University's financial resources while providing expert financial advice and support to the wider University community. Our responsibilities encompass a wide range of essential functions, including providing strategic business partnering, delivering value from supplier relationships, managing effective working capital and cashflow and providing key financial support for our students. Additionally, we oversee all aspects of payroll and pensions management, and deliver comprehensive support for financial systems, tax compliance, and audit needs. Through these activities, we provide assurance to the University community around the financial health and efficiency of the University, supporting its mission and operations., We are seeking a finance professional to support the delivery of key financial processes across the University. This role plays a vital part in the preparation of month and year-end accounts, budgeting, forecasting, reconciliations, and management accounting activities. Working closely with other areas in finance to ensure accurate and timely monthly period close, preparation of accruals, ensuring Funding Council income is properly recognized and reconciled. The role requires preparation of payroll journals to general ledger, and liaison with team members to ensure accurate reporting of monthly payroll costings used for Forecasting models.

The role requires contribution to continuous improvement by championing best practice and digital solutions. There will be involvement in scheduled testing of our cloud based Finance system upgrades, and ongoing management of system controls around Budgets, General Ledger coding and hierarchy updates, helping to ensure robust financial control and compliance. There are also reconciliations to prepare for Financial Auditors.

You will have experience in general accounting, including accounts receivable and/or payable. With an understanding of month-end and year-end accounting processes, you will have worked with a Finance system to pre-agreed deadlines. Attention to detail and accuracy in all areas, including Excel spreadsheets, to record and produce reconciliations for Management review.

You have strong communication and customer service skills, building positive relationships with colleagues and stakeholders and explaining financial information clearly to non-finance staff. A collaborative team player, you enjoy contributing to a high-performing environment, adapting to change and identifying opportunities to improve processes and efficiency.

You will have GCSE Maths and English (or equivalent experience) and either hold an AAT qualification, have equivalent experience, or be willing to work towards AAT through an apprenticeship route.

Benefits

• Generous annual leave entitlement of 38 days inclusive of bank holidays and concessionary days (pro rata)
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Suite of holistic wellbeing benefits and support including family-friendly policies, generous sick pay provision and comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to a variety of staff discounts at high street retailers
• Discounted onsite gym
• Cycle to Work scheme
• A flexible working environment
• A commitment to personal and professional development