Business Accountant

derby.ac.uk; East Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent educational institution in East Midlands seeks a qualified Accountant to join its Business Accounting Support team. The role involves managing financial planning and monitoring, providing high-level financial information, and contributing to strategic plans. Candidates should have significant experience in financial management, strong analytical skills, and proficiency in financial systems. The position offers opportunities for professional development in a supportive environment with a focus on sustainability.

Benefits

Generous annual leave entitlement of 42 days

Employee Assistance Programme

Discounted onsite gym

Flexible working environment

Access to employer-funded Private Health Insurance

Qualifications

• Significant experience in a complex financial environment.
• Proven experience of delivering financial plans and management accounts.
• Good understanding of financial techniques including costing and risk analysis.

Responsibilities

• Provide management information for financial planning and monitoring.
• Lead the preparation of the annual budget and periodic forecasts.
• Prepare reports on financial performance, detailing key results and analysis.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

IT skills

Negotiation skills

Education

CCAB or CIMA accounting qualification

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Teams

Job description

Hybrid
This role will be based on site, primarily in the named location with the opportunity to work remotely available in line with our Adaptive Working Framework.

We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.

The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region.

We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 – making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes.

Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.

The Finance and Procurement teams plays a crucial role in enabling the University to deliver on its strategic aims. This involves managing and maximising the University’s financial resources while providing expert financial advice and support to the wider University community. Our responsibilities encompass a wide range of essential functions, including providing strategic business partnering, delivering value from supplier relationships, managing effective working capital and cashflow and providing key financial support for our students. Additionally, we oversee all aspects of payroll and pensions management, and deliver comprehensive support for financial systems, tax compliance, and audit needs. Through these activities, we provide assurance to the University community around the financial health and efficiency of the University, supporting its mission and operations.

The Finance Department act as business partners, working collaboratively to provide an exceptional service to stakeholders within Colleges and Professional Services departments, in support of the University’s strategic objectives.

We produce, analyse and disseminate financial and business information and provide advice to support and improve the financial performance of the University.

The team oversee and influence the smooth operation of all financial transactions within the University and are responsible for the production of annual statutory accounts.

This is a pivotal role to the financial management of University activity. Reporting into the Head of Financial Performance Management you will be responsible for providing management information for the financial planning and monitoring of diverse activities within Colleges/Departments. For specified areas you will lead the monthly Management Accounting cycle, Budget preparation and Forecast submissions, providing analysis and commentary to enhance the decision making of budget holders and a range of University managers, looking to drive sustainable financial performance.

The role will require the provision of high level financial and business information, direction and advice to a range of internal customers, the ability to identify and manage risk, and to ensure the financial integrity of business operations. The post holder who will manage a small team will also work closely with designated College/Professional Service Departments to deliver the above.

The University is looking to appoint a qualified Accountant to join the Business Accounting Support team.

The role will require a pro-active approach to work, and demonstrable interpersonal skills to enable the post holder to build strong and effective working relationships with colleagues at all levels, including senior managers.

Experience of Higher Education Experience and/or Further Education Funding and Accounting, including Research, Innovation and Commercial funding, costing and reporting, is highly desirable.

• To be an integral member of the College/Department SLT/SMT, fully contributing to the development and implementation of complex College/Department strategic plans, and to the monitoring and control of business performance.
• To understand & interpret financial & business intelligence and financial & business Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) to inform and influence business decision-making. Then prepare and present College/Departmental Financial Performance Reports / Key Indicators as required.
• To be an integral member of the Finance Team, making a significant contribution to the development and implementation of the University financial strategy.
• To work proactively with all senior managers including Pro Vice-Chancellors, PVC Deans, Deans, Directors and SMTs to contribute to the University’s corporate objectives.
• To lead the preparation of the annual budget and periodic forecasts, for consideration, agreement and submission by specified PVC Deans, Dean or Director, ensuring an integration of business plans with financial budgets and forecasts.
• To interpret Financial Guidelines and advise PVC Deans, Deans, Directors and SMT’s of their impact on the business area.
• To establish and maintain a business ethos within the College/Department, challenging and negotiating with relevant budget managers to ensure delivery of a budget submission in line with university sustainability, and a forecast submission in line with budget.
• To take a proactive role in the identification of financial & business risks and in the identification and recommendation of options to mitigate any adverse effects of income shortfalls or cost overruns.
• To produce, analyse and interpret management accounts to inform and influence business decisions, meeting with PVC Deans, Deans, Directors, SMT members & budget holders to provide financial and business advice and direction.
• To prepare reports on financial and business performance, detailing key results, analysis and explanations of major variances.
• To extrapolate the impact of underlying drivers and advise on future actions to ensure budget achievement.
• To provide a significant professional point of contact for all managers on matters relating to financial policies and practices, offering advice guidance, support and information as required.
• To authorise all staff recruitment forms, evaluating the business case for any new posts and ensuring that all recruitment is consistent with College/Department strategy & financial plans.
• To inform and influence the business direction of the College/Department, working with SMTs to develop strategies for improvements in financial return at an acceptable level of risk.
• To establish and maintain a business planning approach for all activities and projects within the College/Department.
• To evaluate the financial impact of alternative scenarios for Business Development in order to maximise use of resources and financial returns.
• To prepare, analyse and interpret profitability of different business segments/income streams.
• To evaluate and authorise complex business development proposals, ensuring benefits are clearly identified and that proposals are financially and commercially robust. This will include the utilisation of financial investment appraisal techniques together with the provision of costing and pricing advice and support.
• To undertake post investment appraisal, evaluating and reporting on benefits realised (both financial and business) and ensuring such benefits are fully reflected in future financial plans.
• To provide financial and commercial analysis, advice and support on contract negotiations (including pricing) and contract management.
• To play a significant role in enhancing the levels of financial knowledge and financial management skills throughout the organisation.
• To ensure all duties are carried out in a manner consistent with University Core Values and with due regard to Health & Safety and Equality & Diversity legislation.
• To undertake any other duties or projects, consistent with the role and level of the post, as may be required from time to time.
• Hold a recognised CCAB or CIMA accounting qualification

Experience

• Significant experience in a complex financial environment across a breadth of financial disciplines
• Significant experience in the preparation of financial plans and management accounts, together with the provision of financial and business advice to management
• A good understanding of specialist financial techniques, including project investment appraisal, costing and risk analysis
• A good understanding of the key financial and business processes in an organisation
• In depth experience of working with financial and business systems
• Proven experience of delivering high quality outputs to tight deadlines

Skills, knowledge & abilities

• Strong inter-personal skills, with the key ability to establish highly effective cross-functional working relationships at all levels in an organisation
• Strong communications skills, both written and verbal, and, in particular, the ability to communicate financial information to non-financial managers
• Strong analytical skills with the key ability to interpret data and provide meaningful management information and advice
• Good influencing and negotiating skills, and, in particular, the ability to influence the development of a financial and business ethos within the organisation, whilst appreciating its academic mission
• Advanced, hands-on, IT skills, to include all Microsoft Office applications, with particular proficiency in Excel and Teams
• Ability to consistently achieve deadlines and timetables to a high-quality standard
• Ability to work within and beyond the immediate team, adopt a quality service ethos, and contribute collegiately to the achievement of team goals
• Ability to summarise key points and drivers on subject matters in a manner that is easily understood
• Ability to ensure the provision of a high-quality accounting service with quality and timely accounting information, advice, and direction
• Ability to identify improvements in systems and processes to maximise the efficiency and effectiveness of the University

Business requirements

• Willingness and flexibility to travel and work between the University and external sites in a cost-effective and timely manner as relevant to support staff, attend events, meetings, or for presence
• Able to recognise the need and be willing to work outside of normal hours at times as relevant to achieving service delivery, targets, and deadlines, including evenings and weekends when occasion demands
• Flexibility to undertake work across the broader Business Accounting team, in line with knowledge experience
• Willingness to provide support at University events from time to time e.g., Graduation, Clearing and Open Days, (some of these events occur outside of normal working hours, such as evenings and weekends).

Qualifications

Experience

• Experience of Higher Education Experience and/or Further Education Funding and Accounting, including Research, Innovation and Commercial funding, costing and reporting
• A proven track record of influencing business decisions and of delivering solutions to financial and business problems
• Generous annual leave entitlement of 42 days inclusive of bank holidays and concessionary days (pro rata)
• Suite of holistic wellbeing benefits and support including family-friendly policies, generous sick pay provision and comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to a variety of staff discounts at high street retailers
• Discounted onsite gym
• Access to employer-funded Private Health Insurance
• Holiday purchase
• Cycle to Work scheme
• A flexible working environment
• A commitment to personal and professional development

For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Estelle Long, Head of Financial Performance Management via [e-mail]

For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via [e-mail] .

This role may be eligible for sponsorship by the University.

The offered salary for this role is less than the going rate for the occupation and the minimum salary threshold for the Skilled Worker route (£41,700 per annum, as of 22nd July 2025). Therefore you will only be eligible to apply for a Skilled Worker visa subject to your individual circumstances which must meet one of the following criteria set out by UKVI :

• Your job is on the Immigration Skills List
• You’re under 26, studying or a recent graduate, or in professional training
• You have a PhD level qualification that’s relevant to your job
• You have a postdoctoral position in science or higher education

Please note that the University will assess your individual eligibility for sponsorship at the shortlisting stage.

The University of Derby is committed to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion, regardless of age, disability, trans status, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief (or none), sex and sexual orientation.

We are Disability Confident Employers, demonstrating our commitment to disability inclusion, and invite applicants to highlight adjustments they may require to ensure equitable participation in our recruitment processes.

Further, we are committed to ensuring an environment which is trans and non-binary-inclusive for all our staff, students, partners, and visitors, and continuously review our policies, guidance and training.

When applying to join the University, you can choose your preferred title, including the gender-neutral title 'Mx'. We also ask our candidates if they would like to share their preferred pronouns.This is voluntary but demonstrates our commitment to inclusivity for trans and non-binary candidates.Once employed, you can add pronouns and preferred names onto our system.

The University of Derby undertakes anonymised shortlisting during the staff recruitment process. This means that, when shortlisting, panel members will not be able to see an applicant’s name and will see an applicant number instead. This demonstrates the practical steps we are taking to remove barriers to recruitment by minimising the possible impact of our unconscious bias.

However you identify, we actively celebrate the knowledge, experience and talents each person brings. Our students come from a wide range of backgrounds; therefore we are particularly interested to hear from applicants who will help our leaders and teams be more reflective of our student population.

At the University of Derby, we are passionate about embedding sustainability into everything that we do. We aim to bring environmental sustainability into all aspects of the University, including teaching, research and operational activities. In line with the University's strategic framework, we expect all our staff to embed sustainability into their working practices and support the University's objective to reach net zero carbon by 2050.

Don’t miss your chance – join the team and make a difference today!

How to apply

You can apply by submitting an online application. Once you have signed in or registered with us you will be able to begin your application. If you are creating an account for the first time, please ensure you provide an email address that you access regularly as this will be our main means of contacting you regarding your application.

The University reserves the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

If you require any assistance, including the provision of any documentation in an alternative format, please contact the Recruitment team at [e-mail] .

Please note all applications must be submitted online by Midnight GMT on the closing date of the vacancy.

The University of Derby is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our staff, students and children. At the University of Derby, safeguarding is everybody's concern.