Finance Officer

We are seeking a detail-oriented and proactive Finance Officer to join our team. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys supporting research and departmental projects through accurate financial management, budgeting and forecasting, coordinating funding applications and reporting, and ensuring compliance with University and funder requirements.

The position is set to commence asap and will be from 37.5 hours per week for 12 weeks
(with a pay rate of £18.80 per hour + holiday pay
).

• Support Academics in preparing budgets for inclusion in the Department's funding application process for new Departmental Projects, ensuring compliance with sponsor rules.
• Coordinate the process for internal funding applications, maintaining accurate records of applications and awards to support budgeting, forecasting and reporting as required. Advise on funding proposals and related documentation, including leading on X5 costings and working with Grants, Finance and Scientific Officer colleagues.
• Support Academics in project initiation and internal funding set-up, amendment, monitoring and closure, effectively communicating sponsor terms and conditions and University policies and procedures; act as a main point of contact for related queries.
• Maintain and monitor the departmental projects portfolio and project tracker, ensuring reporting deadlines, key milestones, outstanding actions and project documentation are accurate and up to date, and identify and
• Coordinate project administration between Principal Investigators, Finance, Grants, HR, Contracts and external funders to ensure projects progress efficiently, proactively following up outstanding actions and escalating issues where appropriate.
• Prepare monthly financial reporting for Academics and coordinate financial reports and claims for funders, monitoring reporting deadlines and escalating any issues, risks or delays in a timely manner.
• Monitor spend against budgets to ensure only eligible expenditure is posted, manage corrections and develop a thorough understanding of the relevant rules and requirements for each project.
• Validate coding, budget availability, cost eligibility and supporting documentation, ensuring compliance with funder terms and conditions, appropriate contracting and auditable utilisation records.
• Oversee the processing of financial expenditure as required, including purchase orders, expense claims, journals and transfers using Oracle Financials.
• Support the Finance and Business Manager with monthly accounting tasks relating to student payments, fee invoices and other activities as required.
• Support the Finance and Business Manager with quarterly forecasting and budgeting on nominated accounts.
• Support the financial closure of departmental projects, ensuring reporting requirements, residual balances and outstanding expenditure are resolved.
• Follow Standard Operating Procedures for research administrative processes and highlight where improvements can be made.
• Input and maintain data in relevant information systems to ensure project information is accurately recorded and details on status can be quickly obtained.
• Assist with audit queries by providing appropriate records and information and maintaining accurate records to support reporting and audit requirements and minimise disallowed costs.

• Qualified AAT or equivalent financial accountancy qualification
• Suitable experience of working in a relevant financial administration role, including experience of working with computerised financial systems
• Experience supporting financial administration for projects, grants or internal funding processes, including set-up, monitoring, amendment and/or closure
• Experience supporting funding applications or proposals…