Senior Finance Assistant

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.

Overview

The Department of Finance is seeking enthusiastic, self-motivated, flexible, and proactive team players with excellent customer service skills.

The primary focus of this role is to provide sound financial support to our Schools, helping them ensure that their external research and other external and internal funding achieve the objectives specified by the funders or the institution. The role requires a flexible and proactive approach and will support a variety of financial activities and colleagues across a number of Schools or business areas.

In this role you will liaise directly with both internal and external stakeholders and work with the University’s financial systems to process a wide range of financial transactions and other financial administrative processes, with the objective of maximising financial administration efficiency and effectiveness.

Main Duties And Responsibilities

• Support the financial management of research grants, other external projects, and core budgets as required, maintaining appropriate records covering staffing, studentships, and other expenditure as required
• Provide analysis and review of individual externally funded project accounts to ensure that accounts are monitored and controlled within the constraints of the budget and in accordance with external funder guidelines. To identify potential under/overspends on a timely basis in order that remedial action may be taken as appropriate. To examine, identify, and assess potential or impending areas of risk and contribute to recommendations to minimize risk.
• Prepare financial expenditure statements (claims) on externally funded projects as required, liaising with Academic, School, and other Professional Services colleagues as required.
• Liaise with external partners and/or collaborators to satisfy funder requirements in terms of reporting expenditure.
• Assist with the provision of evidence & relevant information to external auditors necessary for completing the audit of externally funded projects.
• Contribute to financial housekeeping in respect of external accounts: closures, data validation, and other tasks as appropriate.
• Assist the team with a range of financial administrative activities such as the creation of cost centres and external project accounts using the finance system.
• Plan tasks in accordance with known deadlines, including external funder requirements, monthly, and annual University financial reporting requirements.
• As a member of staff, you will be encouraged to make ethical decisions in your role, embedding the University sustainability strategy into your working activities wherever possible.
• Any other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.