Finance Business Partner

Join to apply for the Finance Business Partner role at The University of Sheffield. The University's Department of Finance develops dynamic financial strategies to support the University's aims while maintaining sound financial oversight and administration. Finance Business Partners provide dedicated financial support to faculties and central service departments. Overview As a Finance Business Partner aligned to the Faculty of Social Sciences, you will provide sound financial advice and support to departments, ensuring effective management and monitoring of departmental funds, including operational budgets, research projects and other external activities. You will manage budgeting, monitoring, reporting and forecasting routines, oversee a portfolio of complex activities and lead a small team within the faculty finance team. Responsibilities Work with academic schools and the Faculty to provide finance support and information, ensuring that the Faculty’s financial plan is sustainable and financial risks are identified, understood and managed. Provision of expert financial support, guidance and management information, with responsibility for excellent customer service across the Faculty. Prepare accurate income and expenditure forecasts on a monthly and quarterly basis and as required, including analysis explanation of variances against budget/forecast with recommendations for action or mitigation where appropriate. Prepare quarterly and year-end reconciliations as required, including reserves and other provisions. Co-ordinate year-end procedures, ensuring these are communicated and effectively implemented across departments. Provide information and advice regarding budgetary control and activity forecasting across all types of external income (both research and other external funding), identify and offering solutions to minimise areas of potential risk or conflict with University financial regulations. Review and/or prepare financial expenditure statements or award claims for all types of external funding (for example, research) as required in conjunction with relevant departmental staff. Co-ordinate the external audit of financial returns prior to submission to funders as required, providing auditors with relevant information and being the point of contact throughout the audit process. Support and enable Finance staff to work to the highest professional standards and encouraging a culture of continuous professional development. Leading colleagues in the continual challenge to activities and processes, and identification and delivery of improvement in order to maximise effectiveness. Have oversight of and plan, in collaboration with other Finance Business Partners and the Faculty Finance Manager, workload allocations across the team, ensuring all objectives and deadlines are achieved and that productivity is optimised. Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post. Person Specification 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 reference the application criteria in your application statement when you apply. Essential Criteria Demonstrate sound working knowledge of the key principles of financial management. Skills and experience in financial forecasting, budget monitoring and control and month end routines. Excellent interpersonal, communication, relationship building and influencing skills. Leadership skills in managing, motivating and developing a team and the ability to motivate high performance in others in line with the department’s vision and values. Excellent analytical and problem solving skills with the ability to interpret and evaluate financial and business information to inform business decisions with a clear view of the financial implications. Qualified or part qualified accountant (e.g. CIMA, ACCA or other equivalent qualification). Proven ability to communicate complex financial information to a non-financial audience, including the production of high-quality financial reports. Excellent IT skills particularly with Microsoft Excel and experience of using finance systems as well as reporting solutions in an operational environment. Proactive with the ability to work to multiple deadlines, organising team resources and prioritising workloads. An awareness and interest in the issues facing the Higher Education Sector and experience in the financial management of funding from external bodies. Desirable Criteria Further information and the full criteria are available on the University’s website. Salary and Working Arrangements Salary: £38,784 - £47,389 per annum. Work arrangement: Full time, 35 hours per week. Line manager: Head of Faculty Finance. Direct reports: Assistant Finance Business Partner. Website: https://sheffield.ac.uk/finance. For informal enquiries about this job contact joanne.brown@sheffield.ac.uk. Next Steps in the Recruitment Process The selection process will take place week commencing 8th December 2025. It will consist of a short presentation followed by an interview. Candidates will be notified if they have progressed to the selection stage on the week commencing 1st December 2025. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact Joanne Brown at joanne.brown@sheffield.ac.uk. Benefits A minimum of 41 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more. Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles. Generous pension scheme. Wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel. Various staff networks providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (e.g., Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks). Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role. Commitment to development access to learning and mentoring schemes; Professional Services Shared Skills. A range of generous family‑friendly policies, including paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies, support for those going through menopause, paid time off and support for fertility treatment, and more. EEO Statement We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process. #J-18808-Ljbffr