Finance Manager

Advert

Finance Manager
School of Earth & Environmental Sciences
College of Physical Sciences and Engineering

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a temporary Finance Manager to join the School of Earth & Environmental Sciences. You will be a proactive and collegial member of the School’s Professional Service staff, and work closely with finance colleagues located in the College of Physical Sciences and Engineering.

The School of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Cardiff University is a dynamic and successful multi-disciplinary centre devoted to research in the disciplines of Earth and Environmental Sciences.

This role is eligible to be offered on a blended working basis, meaning that as well as spending time working on campus you can also choose to spend some time working from another location, e.g. your home. The University is committed to offering this flexibility, wherever the role and business need allows, supporting work-life balance.

The successful candidate will have the ability and enthusiasm to provide an expert and quality driven support service to the School, providing leadership to the Finance team and senior support on School financial planning and management. You will be required to work as part of a team, which includes within the School and the wider College. You will need to be comfortable in escalating finance matters on behalf of the team where required.

This position is full-time (35 hours per week). The post is available from 22nd April 2024 and is fixed term for 13 months to provide cover for a period of maternity leave.

For an informal discussion about the role please contact Allyson Smith – [email protected] or John Evans, School Manager – [email protected]

Informal enquiries in relation to the recruitment/application process can be sent to HR Administrator Claudia Berraca – [email protected]

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

Applications from internal candidates will be welcomed.

More information is available about the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences at: 

https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/earth-environmental-sciences 

HOW WE WILL SUPPORT YOU IN PERFORMING THIS ROLE  

We want to support and develop you in the role, using a combination of the following to help you reach your full potential. 

Regular one-to-one meetings with your team leader. 

An experienced and supportive team around you. 

Support to undertake job-relevant training and development, as identified by your Line Manager.

A staff mentoring scheme. 

Support to learn Welsh or to update language skills. 

Date Advertised: Monday, 26 February 2024

Closing date: Thursday, 28 March 2024

Please be aware that Cardiff University reserves the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received.

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

Job Purpose

The Finance Manager will be expected to provide high-level professional financial advice and support to the ongoing development and implementation of School's Academic strategies within the College of Physical Sciences & Education, overseeing and supporting the School of Earth & Environmental Sciences

• To lead and manage the delivery of financial accounting and procurement activities within the School, ensuring that each School complies continuously with University financial regulations and procedures, with relevant sponsor or regulatory body requirements and with best practice in financial stewardship.
• To provide high quality financial management information and advice to assist the Head of School, School Manager, College Head of Finance, College Management Accountant and other senior staff in strategic and operational planning and management activities.
• To be a senior member of each School’s professional services, working closely with the School Manager and other colleagues to ensure effective and efficient support to the School’s core academic activities.

Key Duties

Planning

• To provide expert financial support and advice to the Head of School, School Manager and other senior staff, providing input to help inform the management and strategy of the School.
• Working with the Head of School and School Manager, play an active role in the School’s annual budget setting and planning process and monitoring performance against agreed budgets, including preparing periodic financial statements for the Head of Schools and other budget-holders, providing variance analyses and commentaries and proposing appropriate corrective actions where required.
• Contribute to the long-term financial management of the School, interpreting School strategies into work priorities to ensure that all financial services are delivered and working to enhance the working environment.

Reporting

• Maintain a full financial reporting suite for the School, which will be used to inform Senior School and College Management of Financial Performance, which will include historical, current year and future time frames
• Gather and analyse data to inform decisions, establishing basic trends and patterns in data and creating reports as appropriate. e.g. profiling student fee income, research awards and support and develop School mechanisms for regular reporting and monitoring in these areas. Ensuring the management and analysis of data as required for internal and external reporting.
• Provide financial management information for various Schools committees on a monthly basis, across all the Schools activities (Teaching, Research, Services etc..)
• To take lead responsibility for the good management of financial accounting and procurement activities undertaken within the School and for the effective and efficient functioning of associated business processes
• To ensure that the School’s financial practices and processes comply with the University’s financial regulations and procedures at all times, and to support staff across the School in their implementation
• To develop a thorough understanding of the School’s income and expenditure and to maintain the integrity and currency of the School’s financial records using the University’s financial management package (currently Oracle EBS).
• To carry out costing exercises, value-for-money investigations and other ad hoc financial review exercises as required
• Prepare and maintain salary reconciliations for budgetary control/forecasting purposes, accounting for planned and approved changes in staffing establishments.
• Oversee the maintenance of the School’s asset inventory, including periodical audits to ensure accuracy and year end reporting.
• To act as an authorised signatory within the School.

Please continue in the Additional Information 

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

Qualifications and Education

Part – Qualified or Qualified Accountant (CCAB or equivalent) or equivalent work related experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Able to demonstrate professional knowledge within the areas of finance and research and the policies and procedures around these areas, to give advice and guidance to internal and external customers.

Substantial experience of overseeing financial operations within in a financial environment.

Proven experience of designing, reviewing, adapting and implementing business processes and systems that are responsive, efficient and cost effective.

Excellent IT skills including advanced knowledge of excel (pivots, v lookup etc.) and all-round knowledge of using Microsoft Office.

Customer Service, Communication and Team Working

Ability to communicate detailed financial information to a non-financial audience and complex information effectively and professionally to a wide range of people.

Proven ability to interact with stakeholders, and within multiple networks, in order to contribute to long term developments.

Experience of managing a team and dealing with performance and welfare issues and Evidence of ability to plan the work of a team, over extended time periods, reacting to changes in workload and priority.

Evidence of ability to explore customers’ needs and adapt the service accordingly to ensure a quality service is delivered.

Planning, Analysis and Problem solving

Evidence of ability to solve problems using initiative and creativity; using detailed understanding of methodologies to select the right approach.

Desirable Criteria

Experience of working in a Higher Education environment.

Fluency in Welsh, written and oral.

IMPORTANT: Evidencing Criteria

It is Cardiff University's policy to use the person specification as a key tool for shortlisting. Therefore, candidates must evidence they meet  ALL the essential criteria and, where relevant, the desirable.

As part of the application process, you are asked to provide this evidence via a supporting statement. Please ensure that the evidence you are providing corresponds with the numbered criteria outlined in the person specification. Your application will be considered based on the information you provide for each criterion.

Additional Information

• To support the College Accountant on financially related periodic tasks including fee setting, annual returns (TRAC/HESA), and year end ensuring all staff involved are fully aware of their responsibilities and set deadlines are achieved;

Management

• To manage, lead and motivate a team of staff, supporting them in the effective execution of their roles and taking overall responsibility for their induction, workload, performance review and training/ development needs.
• To promote within the Finance Team a commitment to delivering high quality services and a culture of continuous improvement
• To liaise closely and collaboratively with colleagues in central University and College professional services to resolve any issues that may arise in a timely manner and to ensure that the School is fulfilling its role in respect of those functions devolved to it and is contributing effectively to those activities undertaken outside the School
• Manage the operation of the finance team. Planning, organising and delegating work, monitoring progress and intervening as required.
• Ensure the delivery of the team’s service level agreements, adapting these according to changes in workload and customer requirements as required.
• Develop networks across the Schools, Colleges and University to ensure the success of the team’s objectives and long-term plans, sharing best practice within financial management.
• Make recommendations for developments of established processes and procedures and ensure implementation of these where required.
• Manage the performance, induction and development of the finance teams within the schools and the setting key objectives via the Personal Development Review.
• Support and guide team members in welfare issues, escalating as necessary to specialist support areas.
• 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.

General Duties

• Make recommendations for developments of established processes and procedures
• Manage the performance, induction and development of the team and setting key objectives.
• Support and guide team members in welfare issues, escalating as necessary to specialist support areas.
• 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 which are not included above, but which will be consistent with the role

Job Category

Accountancy & Finance