Financial Accountant

Job Purpose

To work collaboratively with other team members in the delivery of the financial reporting requirements across the University whilst performing a key role in:

• Providing a high quality, professional and effective financial accounting service across the University Group in the areas of insurance, endowments, fixed assets, statutory financial statements and any other areas where subject matter expert accounting advice is required.

• Provide professional support and advice to staff and students on insurance matters, liaising with the appointed insurance broker, insurers, their appointed representatives and internal stakeholders to ensure effective running of the University's insurance arrangements.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. Annual financial statements for the University and its subsidiaries

   • Provide specialist support in the preparation of the annual financial statements for the University and its subsidiaries in accordance with applicable accounting standards (UK GAAP and US GAAP).

   • Play a key role in proactively planning and organising the external audit.

   • Manage and monitor delivery against the timetable for the financial statement close process and the assistance schedule agreed with the external auditor.

2. Financial accounting for endowments

   • Manage the accounting support in relation to endowment funds, including preparing and processing all journal entries as required, taking a lead role in providing advice and guidance on often complex financial queries and reporting on specific endowments as required.

   • Manage the accounting entries required in relation to the endowment investment assets held by the University.

3. University's fixed asset module

   Conduct and present detailed analysis and recommendations in the maintenance of the University's fixed asset module, including:

   • Assessing whether expenditure meets the criteria for capitalisation.

   • Capitalising equipment / buildings that have been completed.

   • Removing asset disposals from the fixed asset register.

   • Processing depreciation monthly for the University and UOG Utilities Supply Company Ltd.

   • Managing physical verification exercises.

4. Insurance

   • Manage the planning and delivery of the annual policy renewal, and periodic tendering exercises, ensuring that all insurance policies are renewed in a timely manner and on beneficial terms.

   • Hold regular review meetings with brokers / insurance companies and follow up on actions.

   • Liaise with brokers on insurance queries or issues and support insurance requirements (e.g. site visits or additional requests).

   • Act as subject matter expert on insurance for the University.

   • Arrange ad hoc insurance as required, including insurance for new builds, liaising with insurers and internal stakeholders as necessary.

   • Implement University-wide initiatives to identify, reduce and mitigate insurance risks.

   • Co-ordinate claims with insurance companies / brokers and ensure they are resolved in a timely manner.

   • Ensure all documents, records, analyses and logs required for insurance purposes are maintained.

   • Perform daily triage of the insurance mailbox, answering or escalating insurance related queries.

5. Month end procedures

   • Complete assigned month end tasks to a high standard in accordance with the month end timetable.

   • Prepare balance sheet reconciliations.

   • Perform key aspects of the central review of balance sheet reconciliations and design, develop and maintain KPIs for reporting.

   • Ensure that correct accruals are incorporated for services from professional advisers (e.g., auditor, actuarial and tax advisers, fund managers).

6. Bookkeeper for GU Holdings Ltd

   • Ensure the GU Holdings Ltd ledger is kept up to date for all transactions.

   • Prepare month end balance sheet reconciliations.

   • Maintain an investments schedule that reflects the current investment portfolio.

   • Prepare necessary finance papers including analysis for the GU Holdings Ltd Board meeting.

7. Other

   • Lead on the preparation and completion of the annual financial returns to OSCR and the Office for National Statistics.

   • Service ad-hoc financial queries made to the Financial Reporting mailbox, providing accurate, informed and reliable responses in a timely manner.

   • Provide company secretarial support for the UK subsidiaries of the University.

   • Review, evaluate and make recommendations to improve and optimise the service the financial reporting team provide, focusing on efficiency and reducing duplication.

   • Play a key role in supporting and delivering ad hoc projects required to drive forward the University's strategy.

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Knowledge/Qualifications

Essential

1. A1 Ability to demonstrate the competencies required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post having acquired the necessary knowledge and skills in a similar or number of different roles. Or, 9, (Ordinary Degree, Scottish Vocational Qualification level 4), or equivalent (including professional accreditation with relevant formal training), and experience of personal development in a similar or related role(s).

2. A2 Professionally qualified Accountant.

3. A3 Strong up-to-date knowledge of the technical accounting environment in the UK.

4. A4 Thorough knowledge of best practice within the Financial Reporting area.

5. A5 Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint.

Desirable

1. B1 Knowledge and experience of Agresso.

2. B2 Knowledge and experience of working in a large organisation, higher education institution, charity or insurance company.

Skills

Essential

1. C1 Excellent planning and organisational skills.

2. C2 Ability to prioritise workload to deliver to tight deadlines and manage competing demands from various stakeholders.

3. C3 Ability to identify control weaknesses, influence, make recommendations and implement solutions to resolve these areas.

4. C4 Ability to apply intellectual rigour and analytical insight to support qualitative decision-making.

5. C5 Highly effective oral and written communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to challenge assumptions and practices with diplomacy.

6. C6 An ability to demystify complex financial concepts for non-financial colleagues.

7. C7 Resilient and able to effectively deal with ambiguity and able to maintain momentum in the face of obstacles/setbacks.

8. C8 Strong attention to detail.

9. C9 Strong team working skills.

Desirable

1. D1 Ability to engage with non-finance colleagues and develop outputs aimed at generating changes in policy and practice.

Experience

Essential

1. E1 Demonstrable experience of working with financial accounting processes in a complex financial environment.

2. E2 Experience of producing statutory accounts and associated external returns.

3. E3 Experience of documenting procedures and financial controls.

4. E4 Experience of working to tight deadlines.

5. E5 Experience of building strong and effective working relationships across all levels of an organisation.

6. E6 Demonstrable experience of continued professional development.

Desirable

1. F1 Knowledge and experience in preparing statutory accounts for Charities and limited companies.

2. F2 Knowledge and experience of different types of insurance, insurance renewals and claims management.

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 7, £40,497 - £45,413 per annum.

This post is full time (35 hours p/w) and fixed term for up to 9 months.

Please Note: If you are a current employee of the University of Glasgow, please be advised that the University would consider an internal secondment opportunity for this post. University of Glasgow applicants should seek clearance for release for internal secondment from their line manager before making a formal application.

The University of Glasgow has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK. If you require a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK, you will be required to meet the eligibility requirements of the visa route to be assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship.

Please note that this post may be eligible to be sponsored under the Skilled Worker visa route if tradeable points can be used under the Skilled Worker visa rules. For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.

Closing date: 30 April 2025