Finance Operations Team - Senior Operations Assistant

Finance Operations Team - Senior Operations Assistant Apply
Post Details

*3 positions available*

Full time
Open ended
The closing date for applications is midnight on Tuesday 11 April 2023.

There is an expectation that work will be undertaken in the UK. 

This role is not eligible for sponsorship. Applicants require to have existing right to work in the UK.

The University of Stirling recognises that a diverse workforce benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers and welcome applications from those who would contribute to further diversification of our staff and ensure that equality, diversity and inclusion is woven into the substance of the role. We strongly encourage applications from people from diverse backgrounds including gender, identity, race, age, class, and ethnicity. 

The Post

This role is within the Finance Operations team, which delivers all areas of financial processing in accordance with the University’s procedures, policies and regulations, and reports to the Finance Operations Team Leader.

The postholder will primarily work on the accounts receivable ledger, ensuring timely collection of income due to the University and resolution of issues and queries, from both student and commercial clients.

Whilst the post holder will focus on specific operational processes, there should be a willingness to be flexible about the processes allocated to them as such needs arise. This will be under the direction of the Finance Operations Team leader and ensure the efficient and effective financial processing of all incoming and outgoing cash transactions across the University.

Description of Duties

Attention to detail and accuracy are paramount due to the regulatory requirements of the role.  The right candidate will be able to work on their own initiative with minimum supervision, being able to organize and prioritise their own workload.

• Maintain an accurate and up to date accounts receivable ledger with primary focus on debt recovery and reducing aged debt using a range of debt chasing methods and skills, encouraging and taking payment and/or agreement of payment plans to recover debt
• Developing processes to reduce debt and encourage prompt payment following the guidelines of the University debt management policies and standards in relation to debt recovery
• To undertake other duties and responsibilities commensurate with the grade of the post that are within the remit of the Finance Operations team. Financial Operations services include:
  • efficiently and effectively processing all purchase invoices and expenses and ensuring correct and timely payment
  • processing and recording of all income
  • ensuring all income due to the University is collected in a timely manner

The post holder will be responsible for:

• Ensuring that financial data is accurate, processed to agreed timelines and complies with policies and procedures
• Maintaining procedure manuals for all areas of responsibility in order that the team continues to comply with accepted practice and adapts to changes in business operations
• Planning and organising own workload and overseeing the workload of the Finance Transactions Assistants as required, managing any conflicting timescales to ensure deadlines are met
• Resolving more complex issues raised by the Finance Transactions Assistants
• To ensure month-end activities are completed in line with the agreed month-end close timetable highlighting any risks to the Team Leader as appropriate
• To assist the Team Leader with the provision of information to support Internal Audit and External Audit activities
• Ensure the team is aware of potential fraudulent or money laundering activities. Actively manage associated risks or potential cases, highlighting risks and issues to the Team Leader as appropriate
• The post holder may be required to suggest improvements or developments to current working practices in consultation with the Team Leader, in order to ensure the smooth running of the service they provide

Essential Criteria

• Vocational qualifications plus several years relevant work experience OR Learning gained through work experience of a number of years. Will include short courses and other formal training
• Experience of providing good customer service (internal and external)
• Communicates in a clear and professional manner
• Ability to work as part of a team
• High level of accuracy with attention to detail
• Work independently without undue supervision
• Effective working knowledge of Excel
• Proficient with Accounting software packages

Desirable Criteria

Skills & Attributes

• Ability to work as part of a team
• High level of accuracy with attention to detail
• Ability to maintain and manage accurate records and systems
• Experience of personal time management and working to tight deadlines
• Experience of providing training and advice to colleagues/others at all levels
• Work independently without undue supervision
• Effective working knowledge of Excel
• Proficient with Accounting software packages

The University

The University of Stirling is committed to providing education with a purpose and carrying out research which has a positive impact on communities across the globe – addressing real issues, providing solutions and helping to shape society. Stirling is 4th in Scotland and 43rd in the UK for research impact, with 87% of its research having an outstanding or very considerable impact on society – and more than 80% rated either world leading or internationally excellent (Research Excellence Framework 2021). Interdisciplinary in its approach, Stirling’s research informs its teaching curriculum and facilitates opportunities for knowledge exchange and collaboration between staff, students, industry partners and the wider community.

The University of Stirling is ranked among the top 30 UK universities for student satisfaction (National Student Survey) and top 10 in the UK for postgraduate student experience (Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey), and has an overall five-star rating in the QS Stars University Ratings.

More than 17,000 students study with the University of Stirling globally, with over 120 nationalities represented on its scenic central Scotland campus alone. The campus – also home to 1,700 staff – has its own loch and castle, and a recent multi-million-pound redevelopment has delivered modern, flexible, and digitally connected study and social spaces at the heart of campus, including enhanced student support and retail and catering outlets.

The University has twice been recognised with a Queen's Anniversary Prize – the first for its Institute for Social Marketing and Health (2014) and the second for its Institute of Aquaculture (2019). Stirling is Scotland's University for Sporting Excellence and its recently redeveloped world-class facilities provide the perfect training environment for the University’s sports scholars – many of whom compete at the highest level, including at the Olympics and Commonwealth Games – and for students, staff, and the wider community.

As a signatory to the £214 million Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal, the University is driving productivity and inclusive growth across the Forth Valley, and beyond. Through pioneering collaborative solutions to global challenges, researchers are putting innovation, skills, and partnership at the heart of a sustainable economic recovery.
www.stir.ac.uk @stiruni

Job number

SERV01665

Contract Type

Open Ended

Closing date

11-Apr-2023

Location:

Stirling Campus

Grade

Grade5 £24,715-£27,396 p.a.

Faculty/Service

Finance

Post Details

*3 positions available*

Full time
Open ended
The closing date for applications is midnight on Tuesday 11 April 2023.

There is an expectation that work will be undertaken in the UK. 

This role is not eligible for sponsorship. Applicants require to have existing right to work in the UK.

The University of Stirling recognises that a diverse workforce benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers and welcome applications from those who would contribute to further diversification of our staff and ensure that equality, diversity and inclusion is woven into the substance of the role. We strongly encourage applications from people from diverse backgrounds including gender, identity, race, age, class, and ethnicity. 

The Post

This role is within the Finance Operations team, which delivers all areas of financial processing in accordance with the University’s procedures, policies and regulations, and reports to the Finance Operations Team Leader.

The postholder will primarily work on the accounts receivable ledger, ensuring timely collection of income due to the University and resolution of issues and queries, from both student and commercial clients.

Whilst the post holder will focus on specific operational processes, there should be a willingness to be flexible about the processes allocated to them as such needs arise. This will be under the direction of the Finance Operations Team leader and ensure the efficient and effective financial processing of all incoming and outgoing cash transactions across the University.

Description of Duties

Attention to detail and accuracy are paramount due to the regulatory requirements of the role.  The right candidate will be able to work on their own initiative with minimum supervision, being able to organize and prioritise their own workload.

• Maintain an accurate and up to date accounts receivable ledger with primary focus on debt recovery and reducing aged debt using a range of debt chasing methods and skills, encouraging and taking payment and/or agreement of payment plans to recover debt
• Developing processes to reduce debt and encourage prompt payment following the guidelines of the University debt management policies and standards in relation to debt recovery
• To undertake other duties and responsibilities commensurate with the grade of the post that are within the remit of the Finance Operations team. Financial Operations services include:
  • efficiently and effectively processing all purchase invoices and expenses and ensuring correct and timely payment
  • processing and recording of all income
  • ensuring all income due to the University is collected in a timely manner

The post holder will be responsible for:

• Ensuring that financial data is accurate, processed to agreed timelines and complies with policies and procedures
• Maintaining procedure manuals for all areas of responsibility in order that the team continues to comply with accepted practice and adapts to changes in business operations
• Planning and organising own workload and overseeing the workload of the Finance Transactions Assistants as required, managing any conflicting timescales to ensure deadlines are met
• Resolving more complex issues raised by the Finance Transactions Assistants
• To ensure month-end activities are completed in line with the agreed month-end close timetable highlighting any risks to the Team Leader as appropriate
• To assist the Team Leader with the provision of information to support Internal Audit and External Audit activities
• Ensure the team is aware of potential fraudulent or money laundering activities. Actively manage associated risks or potential cases, highlighting risks and issues to the Team Leader as appropriate
• The post holder may be required to suggest improvements or developments to current working practices in consultation with the Team Leader, in order to ensure the smooth running of the service they provide

Essential Criteria

• Vocational qualifications plus several years relevant work experience OR Learning gained through work experience of a number of years. Will include short courses and other formal training
• Experience of providing good customer service (internal and external)
• Communicates in a clear and professional manner
• Ability to work as part of a team
• High level of accuracy with attention to detail
• Work independently without undue supervision
• Effective working knowledge of Excel
• Proficient with Accounting software packages

Desirable Criteria

Skills & Attributes

• Ability to work as part of a team
• High level of accuracy with attention to detail
• Ability to maintain and manage accurate records and systems
• Experience of personal time management and working to tight deadlines
• Experience of providing training and advice to colleagues/others at all levels
• Work independently without undue supervision
• Effective working knowledge of Excel
• Proficient with Accounting software packages

The University

The University of Stirling is committed to providing education with a purpose and carrying out research which has a positive impact on communities across the globe – addressing real issues, providing solutions and helping to shape society. Stirling is 4th in Scotland and 43rd in the UK for research impact, with 87% of its research having an outstanding or very considerable impact on society – and more than 80% rated either world leading or internationally excellent (Research Excellence Framework 2021). Interdisciplinary in its approach, Stirling’s research informs its teaching curriculum and facilitates opportunities for knowledge exchange and collaboration between staff, students, industry partners and the wider community.

The University of Stirling is ranked among the top 30 UK universities for student satisfaction (National Student Survey) and top 10 in the UK for postgraduate student experience (Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey), and has an overall five-star rating in the QS Stars University Ratings.

More than 17,000 students study with the University of Stirling globally, with over 120 nationalities represented on its scenic central Scotland campus alone. The campus – also home to 1,700 staff – has its own loch and castle, and a recent multi-million-pound redevelopment has delivered modern, flexible, and digitally connected study and social spaces at the heart of campus, including enhanced student support and retail and catering outlets.

The University has twice been recognised with a Queen's Anniversary Prize – the first for its Institute for Social Marketing and Health (2014) and the second for its Institute of Aquaculture (2019). Stirling is Scotland's University for Sporting Excellence and its recently redeveloped world-class facilities provide the perfect training environment for the University’s sports scholars – many of whom compete at the highest level, including at the Olympics and Commonwealth Games – and for students, staff, and the wider community.

As a signatory to the £214 million Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal, the University is driving productivity and inclusive growth across the Forth Valley, and beyond. Through pioneering collaborative solutions to global challenges, researchers are putting innovation, skills, and partnership at the heart of a sustainable economic recovery.
www.stir.ac.uk @stiruni

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