Deputy Head of Management Accounts

Advert

Deputy Head of Management Accounts

Cardiff University is recruiting to the role of Deputy Head of Management Accounts, working within the central Finance Department.

Reporting to the Head of Management Accounts and in turn the Head of Financial Reporting, the Deputy Head of Management Accounts supports the key financial accounting processes of the University. These include month end and year end processes, as well as playing a key role in accounting for one of the University’s subsidiaries, UC3.

The post is full time, 35 hours per week, and fixed term until 1st April 2024 to 30th June 2025 to cover for a member of staff on maternity leave.

Salary: £39,347 to £44,263 per annum (Grade 6)

Standard shift pattern: Monday to Friday

Cardiff University offers many excellent benefits, including 37 days’ annual leave (plus bank holidays) pro-rata for part-time hours, pension scheme with employer’s contribution, blended working (meaning you will be able to work from home for some of your time), a cycle to work scheme and other travel initiatives, annual increments up the pay scale, and more. It is an exciting and vibrant place to work and is a proud Living Wage supporter.

Date Advertised: 21 February 2024
Closing date: 8 March 2024

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds who have the ambition to create a University which seeks to fulfil our social, cultural and economic obligation to Cardiff, Wales, and the world.  In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.

Job Description

Key Duties

Management Accounting

• Responsible for a range of monthly management accounting processes, which must be undertaken in a timely manner and in accordance with relevant accounting standards to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the monthly result
• Responsible for the accounting for University College Cardiff Consultants Ltd (UC3), including:
  • Overseeing the day-to-day book-keeping and ensuring that the distribution of royalties is properly made and accounted for
  • Assist in the preparation of VAT and tax returns
  • Prepare Finance reports as necessary
  • Draft the Annual Report & Financial Statements for the company
• Support the UC3 Company Secretary with the preparation of minutes from UC3 Board meetings
• Day-to-day management of the Chart of Accounts
• Overseeing the Accounts Helpdesk and Management Accounts journals request processes
• Play a key role in Management Reporting, running existing FSG Oracle reports and supporting the development of new reports as and when required
• Continuous improvement of relevant management accounting policies, processes and procedures
• Reconciliation, review and resolution of matters relating to specified Balance Sheet accounts, including control accounts
• Assist with preparation of the Annual Report & Financial Statements of the University, where relevant
• The provision of information to and liaison with external auditors as part of the annual external audit
• Document and maintain standard operating procedures for relevant management accounting activities, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and University policies, and maintaining a cycle of review
• Continually strive to improve the quality and timeliness of financial information and processes to all stakeholders
• Respond to reporting and account queries from colleagues across the University
• Instruct and guide other employees across the University in the application of Management Accounting policies as required
• Provide professional advice and guidance on management accounting processes and procedures to internal and external customers that will have institute wide impacts, using judgement and creativity to suggest the most appropriate course of action where appropriate, and ensuring complex and conceptual issues are understood
• Take responsibility for resolving Management Accounting issues independently where they fall within set role objectives and providing guidance and support to University colleagues
• Investigate and analyse specific issues within Management Accounting, creating recommendation reports, supported by advances within Management Accounting
• Ensure that the provision of Management Accounting is delivered to the institution, proactively changing the delivery according to customer requirements where appropriate
• Establish working relationships with key contacts, developing appropriate communication links across Finance and with the University’s Schools/Directorates and outside bodies as required to ensure the success of the Team’s objectives and long term plans
• Create specific working groups from colleagues across the University to achieve Management Accounting objectives
• Plan and deliver specific small scale projects, co-ordinating and supervising project teams created as needed
• Develop and deliver training and mentoring to finance staff as necessary
• Perform other duties as assigned by Head of Management Accounts and Head of Financial Reporting
• Undertake a variety of administrative duties to support the department

Continued in Additional Information...

Person Specification

Your application will be assessed against the following essential and desirable criteria for the role. Please copy and paste this section into a new document and give clear examples of how you can evidence meeting each criteria by writing under each one. You can draw on elements from any aspect of your life (e.g. work, home, education/qualifications or community life) as long as you focus on their relevance to the role.

Please save your supporting statement in a separate document with the title [YOURNAME - 18239BR - JOB TITLE] and attach it to your application in the recruitment system.

Please note that these are also the criteria shortlisted applicants will be assessed against at interview and/or by other means (e.g. a skills test) where applicable.

Essential Criteria

Additional Information

Continued from Job Description...

Team Management

• Play a key role in managing the operation of the Management Accounting Team, planning, organising and delegating work to the Accounting Assistants, monitoring progress and intervening as required
• Contribute to the long term management of Finance, interpreting strategies into work priorities
• Manage the performance, induction and development of the Accounting Assistants
• Support and guide team members in welfare issues, escalating as necessary to specialist support areas
• Ensure the delivery of the Team’s services, adapting these according to changes in workload and customer requirements
• Undertake the training of others in areas relating to the Team’s work
• Undergo personal and professional development that is appropriate to and which will enhance performance

• Ensure that an understanding of the importance of confidentiality is applied when undertaking all duties
• Abide by University policies on Health and Safety and Equality and Diversity
• Perform other duties occasionally which are not included above, but which will be consistent with the role

Job Category

Accountancy & Finance, Management & Executive