Finance Manager

Job Title: Finance Manager
Location: Edinburgh, EH8 area
Hours: 35 hours per week
Contract: Fixed Term (2 Years)
Salary: £48,350 to £59,421 per annum

As the Finance Manager, you will take the lead on financial planning, reporting, and management, ensuring the financial health of our client. You will be responsible for producing timely financial updates, managing competing priorities, and providing strategic financial advice to the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and Steering Board. This role demands an organised individual who can balance multiple demands while maintaining excellent attention to detail.

Key Responsibilities

• Prioritise competing demands, ensuring deadlines are met while solving problems and answering financial queries.
• Plan and organise regular financial updates for the SLT and Steering Board, ensuring that information is accurate and delivered in a timely manner.
• Participate in the annual strategic planning process, scheduling financial inputs, reviews, and adjustments as required.
• Communicate and engage with a wide range of stakeholders within the University of Edinburgh and external funders/partners to gather financial data.
• Oversee the monitoring and resolution of financial issues such as funding gaps, budget reallocations, and variances, ensuring compliance with funder conditions.
• Provide financial management information on demand, using finance systems to produce ad-hoc reports as requested by the SLT.
• Continuously adapt and improve financial processes, tools, and procedures to meet evolving financial management requirements.
• Analyse expenditure, ensuring eligibility in line with funder conditions and different financial categories.
• Bring forward ideas for improving financial systems and processes to ensure best practice within our client.

Essential Skills & Qualifications

• Vocational qualifications (N/SVQ3 or above) with at least 5 years of relevant work experience at a similar level, or school education to standard grade with 5 years of relevant experience.
• Strong accounting knowledge, supported by a full or partial UK accounting qualification (ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA, ACA).
• Experience in the higher education, public, or third sector finance management.
• Proven experience in managing an annual operating budget of £4m+.
• Demonstrated ability in preparing financial reports, implementing financial controls, and overseeing audit processes.
• Advanced IT skills, particularly in finance systems and Excel for data analysis and management reporting.
• Experience providing financial advice and guidance to non-financial staff.

If you are an experienced finance professional with a strong track record in financial management and reporting, we would love to hear from you!