Financial Accountant
WORLD CHANGERS TOGETHER
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 & 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.
• Process, update and reconcile University financial records with respect to a broad range of insurance matters using specialist knowledge to ensure records are maintained in line with University procedures, regulations and legislation.
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 and qualifications
Essential
- 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).
- Professionally qualified Accountant.
- Strong up-to-date knowledge of the technical accounting environment in the UK.
- Thorough knowledge of best practice within the Financial Reporting area.
- Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
Desirable
- Knowledge and experience of Agresso.
- Knowledge and experience of working in a large organisation, higher education institution, charity or insurance company.
Skills
Essential
- Excellent planning and organisational skills.
- Ability to prioritise workload to deliver to tight deadlines and manage competing demands from various stakeholders.
- Ability to identify control weaknesses, influence, make recommendations and implement solutions to resolve these areas.
- Ability to apply intellectual rigour and analytical insight to support qualitative decision – making.
- Highly effective oral and written communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to challenge assumptions and practices with diplomacy.
- An ability to demystify complex financial concepts for non-financial colleagues.
- Resilient and able to effectively deal with ambiguity and able to maintain momentum in the face of obstacles/setbacks.
- Strong attention to detail.
- Strong team working skills.
Desirable
- Ability to engage with non-finance colleagues and develop outputs aimed at generating changes in policy and practice.
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable experience of working with financial accounting processes in a complex financial environment.
- Experience of producing statutory accounts and associated external returns.
- Experience of documenting procedures and financial controls.
- Experience of working to tight deadlines.
- Experience of building strong and effective working relationships across all levels of an organisation.
- Demonstrable experience of continued professional development.
Desirable
- Knowledge and experience in preparing statutory accounts for Charities and limited companies.
- Knowledge and experience of different types of insurance, insurance renewals and claims management.
World-Changing Campus
We have delivered one of the most significant expansions of a UK university city campus for over a century.
Over the last decade, the University of Glasgow has invested in its estate to expand its world-class campus and facilities.
An area covering 14 acres of land next to our magnificent Gilmorehill campus has been redeveloped to build a mix of modern research, teaching and public spaces.
Our new buildings will mean the University remains a centre for world-changing research, as well as a vibrant community hub and centre for public engagement.
The development will transform our teaching, learning and research spaces. It will allow us to bring together the best minds of today and tomorrow within world-class interdisciplinary research spaces that offer flexibility and stimulate collaboration, and modern study spaces that will combine study and social learning space with technology enabled teaching.
- The Mazumdar-Shaw Advanced Research Centre (ARC) is changing the way research is conducted at Glasgow. The ARC is the creative and collaborative heart of research at the University of Glasgow, bridging the boundaries between research, cross-subject collaboration and true societal impact . The ARC brings more than 500 world-leading researchers from a range of disciplines together in a building specifically designed to break down organisational structure and facilitate collaboration and interdisciplinary work.
- The James McCune Smith Learning Hub is an inspirational and diverse learning space. The flagship building was the first to be completed as part of our campus development, and provides a creative environment, combining flexible study and social learning space with multi-styled and technology-enabled teaching. It can accommodate more than 2,500 students, and includes a lecture theatre with capacity for 500 students. State-of-the-art teaching facilities, with flexible study spaces and interactive teaching for students, help to create a more immersive learning experience.
Find out more
Living in Glasgow
A UNESCO City of Music, a vibrant arts and culture scene, a food-lover’s delight, and a shopper’s paradise. Just some of the highlights of the ‘friendliest city in the world’. As well as that accolade by the Rough Guides poll, Glasgow has also been named a must visit destination by publications including the New York Times, The Guardian, and Wanderlust.
Music
The city hosts an average of 130 music events a week catering for every taste; from rock to rap, and classical to country. Glasgow also has a world class club scene playing host to some of the world’s top DJs.
Shopping
Outside of London’s West End, Glasgow is frequently voted the best place for shopping in the UK. A must-visit destination for any shop-a-holic, it houses high street chains, international designers, and independent retailers. The West End, home to the University of Glasgow, is bustling with vintage fashion, vinyl stores, and second-hand bookshops.
Arts and Culture
Glasgow’s arts scene has gone from strength to strength, and is the base for five internationally renowned performing arts companies including the National Theatre of Scotland and Scottish Ballet. The city has several world-class museums, which are free to the public, and the city’s architecture is a work of art in itself.
Food and drink
You can be in Glasgow and taste the world with its many diverse restaurants, cafes, and bars. And if you’ve yet to sample the delights of haggis and whisky, Glasgow is the place to be.
The City and Beyond
Glasgow has all the opportunities and excitement of a big city but its compact size means you can quickly travel from one vibrant district to the next. You could be relaxing in one of its many parks, before shopping in the quirky West End, and then dancing until the wee small hours in the Merchant City.
And when you fancy getting out of the city you can reach the stunning Loch Lomond in just 30 minutes, climb one of our many breath-taking Munros, play golf at one of Scotland’s many world-class courses, visit one of our ancient castles, or go further North and search for Nessie! Scotland has also just been named the world’s most beautiful country by Rough Guides.
Relocating to Glasgow
Choosing to relocate to Glasgow is a big decision. There are numerous things to be considered, such as the costs of moving, the cost of living, and where exactly to relocate to. We have created a guide to aide you in the decision making process.
Find out more on relocating to Glasgow at the below link:
WORLD CHANGERS TOGETHER
WORLD CHANGING GLASGOW 2025
Our outstanding disciplinary breadth and expertise has enabled us to make world-changing advances in fields as diverse as medicine, physics, linguistics, public policy and global development.
The key to our success is our talented staff and students pushing back at the boundaries of knowledge and understanding together.
Our World Changers Together strategy recognises the fundamental importance of a culture of open cooperation: not just as colleagues and mentors or students and teachers, but as a community of discovery that reaches beyond its walls and draws inspiration and strength from its connections and partnerships worldwide: excellence that's part of something bigger. The strategy is articulated across three themes:
COMMUNITY
- People centred, globally engaged
CONNECTIVITY
- Collaboratively minded, digitally enhanced
CHALLENGES
- Solution focused, impact oriented
Find out more
How to apply
Full details of the role and how to apply can be found by visiting our website:
The closing date for applications is 30 April 2025
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.
It is the University of Glasgow’s mission to foster an inclusive climate, which ensures equality in our working, learning, research and teaching environment. We strongly endorse the principles of Athena SWAN, including a supportive and flexible working environment, with commitment from all levels of the organisation in promoting gender equity.
Our values
The future holds innumerable challenges for our sector, our society, and our world. We will have to adapt and change what we do and what we offer if we are to navigate these successfully. Our strategy and approach may evolve as the landscape changes, but our values will remain constant: a fixed point of certainty in uncertain times.
We have identified our values in consultation and partnership with our staff and student community. Living and upholding these values will ensure that we remain true to the spirit of our community and ourselves:
Ambition and Excellence
- We strive for excellence through our work
- We defend academic freedom globally
- We recognise and celebrate shared success
- We have an unrelenting focus on development
Curiosity and Discovery
- We innovate and solve problems together
- We lead by influence and example
- We engage with lifelong learning and personal development
- We learn from our mistakes
Integrity and Truth
- We uphold honesty, integrity and fairness
- We share our work widely and generously
- We do the right thing, not the easy thing - or we don’t do it
- We take responsibility
An Inclusive Community
- We are one Glasgow team, and we care for and respect one another
- We advocate for diversity and believe in variety as a vital part of a healthy university
- We champion education as an engine for social progress
- We practise and advance sustainability