Management Accountant/ Finance Manager
University of Bradford
Total years of experience :16 years, 3 months
Having completed studying and gained the necessary experience, the need for more responsibility was required and an opportunity arrived in the current role that entails:
>Management accounts for newly amalgamated area made up of 10 individual departments, including month-end accounts, budgeting, quarterly forecasting and 5-year plans in line with the Vice Chancellor’s targets.
>Providing variance reports and analysis on all activity within the remit of the directorate, presenting information at meetings with recommendations on potential issues and assisting in decision-making.
>Building relationships with stakeholders including Directors, managers and HR Business partners, developing the directorate in line with the workforce plan and planning cycle.
>Development of income streams and exposure of services throughout the University, internally and externally.
>Developing and monitoring KPI’s to ensure the directorate is in line with the Universities strategic initiative.
>Taking full ownership and implementation of Corporate Planner within finance and providing advice and significant suggestions to other directorates on its functionality and use.
>Continue involvement with the finance system necessary upgrade, liaising with suppliers to find solution to existing problems and business continuity.
>Statutory reporting to external bodies both government and private as part of University regulations.
>Assist in recruitment and supervision of staff within the financial management team, whilst covering finance managers in their absence.
Providing volunteer work for a local charity to ensure easy start up in its initial phase.
With the need for experience and exposure having proven my ability, the role was enhanced as
>Producing the management accounts for 4 key areas, 2 new areas Student Registry Services and the Offices of the Vice Chancellor in addition to the 2 existing areas HR and Finance, including forecasting, budgeting, variance reporting as well as providing key information for strategic decisions.
>Assist in the tender and set up of a new finance system, including the general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, purchase management as well as the forecast and budget system (all separate).
>Full implementation and maintenance of Corporate Planner, as a salary database for forecasting.
>Liaising with external suppliers to ensure relationships are established and systems maintained.
>Creation and amending complex Business Objects reports for financial managers and finance for recurrent use and creating ad-hoc financial reports for finance managers, directors and council.
>Covering the Finance system queries across the organisation, including liaising with IT & suppliers to organise fixes to faults and general maintenance queries.
>Reporting on E-strategy projects as part of an investment scheme to the board, with reconciliation of depreciation and variances to budget.
>Continuing with project costings and working simultaneously with the department of Research & Knowledge transfer and the projects office overseeing project applications and awards.
>Producing the management accounts for Human Resources and taking over Finance later in the year.
>Providing an effective support to the management accounts team as a key member, using HE knowledge for reporting and investigating.
>Providing direct support to the School of Management finance manager in particular collaborative partnerships.
>Covering Academic Administration management accounts for 6 months.
>Downloading, reconciling and maintenance of the salary-forecasting database.
>Production of month end and ad-hoc reports from a variety of software packages and continually looking for innovative ways to deliver reports and information.
>Interrogation of general ledger system to analyse the variances and producing reports to finance managers.
>Preparation of project costings using UoB PFact software with finance sign off.
>Assist in the preparation of data returns to HEFCE (Governing body) and complying with audit requirements.
>Continually look for innovative ways to deliver reporting and information.
• Full reconciliation of bank statements and investigating anomalies including coordinating payments and cash from cash receipts, money market and sales ledger.
• Updating cash flow figures with a daily deadline report to group secretariat and treasury for cash management.
• Investigation and interrogation of anomalies of store banking and sales figures liaising with all areas of finance.
• Liaising with multiple bank representatives to resolve key issues with queries and key stakeholders.
• Maintaining service level agreements with cash offices and G4S, calculating penalty invoices monthly.
• Reconcile PHH fuel payments and ensure invoices are correct and timely according to service level agreements.
• Working closely with stores as well as petrol logistics and operations to monitor and correct anomalies in systems.
• Monitoring card expenses and reconciliation of statements with reports to the board of directors monthly.
• Management of pharmaceutical sales account and invoicing the NHS on a monthly basis for reimbursement.
Bradford (family business) - Management Assistant
• Undertaking any role required to facilitate the day-to-day running of the business.
• Preparing accounts monthly and necessary information for tax & VAT purposes.
• Daily cash flow and cash management including banking.
• Assistance in retail and decision-making including stock checks and organising the budget for procurement.
• Ensuring regulations and laws adhered to in a dynamic environment.
• Being able to effectively communicate and maintain good relationships.
• Despite the short time in post, admin duties including cover for phone calls and first point of contact for queries.
• Knowledge of systems and processes to ensure adequate service is effective.
• Reviewing and advising on tax regulations and statutory requirements.
• Focus on excellent customer service through various means of communication.
Work Experience
CIMA - Passed Finalist - Advanced Diploma in Accounting. All Exams complete with first time passes and currently submitting practical experience requirement for full CIMA membership. All study at BPP Professional College
B.Sc (HONS) in Economics: Second Class Honours, First Division. Honours examined included modules (full transcript available): Modules include: Accounting 1 (88%), Accounting 2 (91%), Financial Management (72%), Management Accounting (78%), Mathematics for Economists (64%), Statistics (64%), Financial Accounting (50%)
A level’s: Geography, Biology, Economics and General Studies.
10 GCSE’s: Grades A-C including English, Maths and Science