Accounts Assistant at Newcastle University

Key Accountabilities

• Creating research projects in the SAP financial management system in order to facilitate the most effective structure to ensure appropriate controls
• Preparing and submit starting certificates to ensure grants start within the required timescales.
• Producing research invoices/financial statements to specific deadlines and with regard to funder regulations and University policies.
• Preparing audit files to ensure that funder, University and statutory regulations are fulfilled.
• Providing comprehensive budgetary information and advice to researchers on the financial aspects of their funding to enable them to discharge their financial responsibilities.
• Reviewing and correct research project financial data in order to ensure funder conditions are met and to advise on the maximisation of cost recovery within the appropriate regulations.
• Maintaining and update data on the SAP financial management system relating to research projects (e.g. structure, budget, and timescale).
• Calculating and check salary award increases and update the salary budgets in projects.  To apply to funders for extension in funds where applicable or advising researchers to do so.
• Ensuring the timely closure of completed research projects in SAP and the completion of final reconciliations.

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• High degree of literacy, numeracy and IT skills and experience
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal
• Experience in the reconciliation of financial ledgers
• Experience of working effectively in a large and complex organisation
• Experience of SAP financial systems is desirable
• Recent relevant experience of the set up and financial management of projects, and Research Funder financial knowledge is desirable.

Attributes and Behaviour

• Embraces change, reviewing and revising plans to meet with changing circumstances, changing ways and policies in light of new information.
• Communicates effectively, using appropriate tools and methods tailoring content of communication to the audience, changing style, tone and format appropriately.
• Plans workload and tasks in a systematic way, ensuring all activities are completed on time using systems and tools to ensure records and audit trails are clear and up to date.
• Works collaboratively with others, plays a positive role in teams and establishes and builds good working relationships.
• Delivers a high quality service to both colleagues and customers, demonstrating attention to detail and a positive attitude.

Qualifications

• Education to at least A level standard (minimum 3 x grades A-C) or equivalent standard by experience.
• It is desirable that you are AAT qualified (Association of Accounting Technicians) or equivalent.