Senior Finance Assistant

School/Department:
Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre

Work Arrangement:
Full Time (Hybrid)

Contract Type:
Permanent

Closing Date: 05/11/2026

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

The Department of Finance is seeking an enthusiastic, self-motivated and customer-focused individual to join our team in supporting the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC)

The AMRC is a world-leading research centre within the University of Sheffield, working on a diverse portfolio of government-funded grants and commercial projects in partnership with leading organisations across the aerospace and advanced manufacturing sectors.

We are looking for a proactive team player with a strong work ethic, excellent communication skills, and the ability to analyse, interpret and challenge complex financial information. You will be highly organised, adaptable, and capable of responding effectively to changing priorities while delivering a high standard of customer service.

In this role, you will work closely with colleagues across the Finance team, providing primary support to the Assistant Finance Business Partners. Your responsibilities will include project financial management, supporting the development and submission of complex grant applications, and delivering responsive financial guidance to stakeholders through the team's shared mailbox. You will play a key role in ensuring projects are financially robust, compliant and effectively managed throughout their lifecycle.

This is an excellent opportunity to develop your finance business partnering skills within a dynamic and innovative environment that supports cutting-edge research and industry collaboration.

Support the financial management of research grants, commercial projects and core budgets as required, maintaining appropriate and ensuring compliance with University policies and funder requirements.

Provide financial analysis and reviews of externally funded projects to ensure expenditure is appropriately monitored, forecasted and controlled within approved budgets and sponsor regulations. Identify potential under or overspends, escalating issues and recommending corrective actions where appropriate.

Monitor project performance throughout the project lifecycle, identifying financial risks, compliance issues and funding shortfalls at an early stage, and contributing to solutions that minimise financial and operational risk.

Work closely with research and professional services colleagues to provide financial advice and guidance.

Act as a first point of contact for finance-related enquiries through the team's shared mailbox, triaging requests and providing timely, accurate and customer-focused advice to internal and external stakeholders.

Assist the team with a range of financial and administrative activities, including the creation and maintenance of cost centres, project accounts and supporting records within the University's finance systems.

Assist with the provision of evidence and relevant information required by internal and external auditors and funding bodies.

Plan and prioritise workloads to meet competing deadlines, including external sponsor requirements, grant submission deadlines, and monthly and annual University reporting timetables.

Contribute to the continuous improvement of finance processes, systems and procedures, identifying opportunities to enhance efficiency, accuracy and customer service.

Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when…