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LONDON’S

EVENING

UNIVERSITY

Systems Accountant

Finance

November 2017

Birkbeck / Systems Accountant

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1. About Birkbeck Thank you for your interest in the role of

Systems Accountant at Birkbeck, University of London.

In 1823 George Birkbeck founded the London Mechanics’ Institute with a vision for opening up university education to working Londoners. By 1920 Birkbeck was incorporated in to the University of London and today, almost 200 years later, George’s mission remains undimmed. Birkbeck, University of

London, is a world-class research and teaching institution, a vibrant centre of academic engagement and excellence and London's only specialist provider of evening higher education.

Where once we were known solely for our part-time courses and mature students, today

we have a wider mix; our cohort of full-time undergraduates has grown from zero to almost 3,000 over the

past six years. Undergraduate students can study for a degree at a pace that suits them,

across three, four or six years, while we are the sixth largest provider of postgraduate programmes in the UK.

We have 14,000 students studying for over 130

Masters Degrees, nearly 80 BA/BSc/LLB degrees and 40 Certificates of Higher Education in Arts;

Business, Economics and Informatics; Law; Science; Social Sciences, History and Philosophy. We also have over 800 PhD students. But while Birkbeck has its roots firmly in London, we are recognised on a global stage. The Times Higher Education (THE) World University rankings 2015-16 placed Birkbeck

among the world’s top 250 universities and

ranked us the 50th most international university,

taking in to account both the international students and international academic collaborations.

Birkbeck’s reputation as a world-class research intensive institution was cemented by the Research Excellence Framework in 2014. Birkbeck was 30th in the UK for research (THE rankings ‘with intensity’), with 73% of our research rated ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’. We are home to 44

research and specialist institutes.


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Arts and Humanities

courses at Birkbeck were

recently placed 52nd in

the world, third best in

London and 11th in the

UK by the THE 2015-

2016 World University

Subject Rankings. This

included SSHP’s

archaeology, classics,

history, linguistics and

philosophy programmes

plus the School of Arts’

literature, theatre and

cultural studies

programmes. And we are

in the top 100 worldwide

for English Literature,

History, Philosophy and

Psychology, according to

the QS World University

Rankings by subject

2015.

This unique combination of ground-breaking research and innovative

teaching provides an inspirational learning experience for our students; we have consistently ranked

number one in London for student satisfaction in the National Student Survey.

Birkbeck’s main Bloomsbury campus is in the heart of academic London, home to a number of other universities and colleges of the University of London, including University College London and the School of Oriental and African Studies.

We are situated among beautiful, leafy squares in one of the world’s

greatest concentrations of libraries, including the British Library and Senate House Library. The British Museum is next door and we are a just short stroll from the West End. Across the city in east London, we offer courses at University Square in Stratford. Both our campuses are well-served by public transport.

2. About the Department


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3. Job Description

JOB TITLE: Systems Accountant

SCHOOL/ DEPARTMENT: Finance

REPORTS TO: Deputy Director of Finance

SUPERVISES: N/A

POST REFERENCE: 3164109

GRADE: 9 DATE November 2017

Principle Accountabilities

To work in close consultation with the senior executive community to implement, develop

and maintain corporate financial systems to ensure that they effectively and efficiently

support the needs of all users across the College. To take the lead on behalf of Finance for

the sourcing and implementation of new corporate financial systems and software which

will often work in tandem with other corporate systems and with processes cutting across a

number of professional services. This is a new role which will require an experienced

individual with the self-motivation to drive through financial process and system

improvements with tact and diplomacy.

Key Responsibilities

To work with colleagues across the institution including, but not limited to, Executive Deans,

Professional Service Directors, Directors of Operations and staff directly involved in

processing financial information, with a view to:

Understanding the business needs of users and providing systems and reports which

support those needs;

Developing more effective and efficient financial processes;

Recommending changes to financial business practices leading to improved value for

money;

Developing reports in the corporate finance systems for users to access or analyse

data on an ad hoc basis to meet information needs.

To take the lead on behalf of Finance for the continuous development and maintenance of

the College corporate financial systems:

Our current finance system is BluQube by Symmetry but we are planning to go live

with Business World by Unit4 in August 2018 (HR and Payroll is already live in

Business World). The role holder will be expected to play a lead part in completing


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the implementation of the system, training users, monitoring performance and

continuously developing functionality;

The role holder will identify the need for, develop business cases and implement

additional modules to enhance the corporate finance system;

To take the Finance lead on supporting other system initiatives which rely on, or

provide data to, the finance corporate system.

To proactively analyse finance data across systems with a view to identifying errors and

discrepancies, improving processes (manual and automated) and providing information to

enhance strategic and operational decision making (in conjunction with using Business World

for HR/Payroll and Finance the College uses SITS for student income/debt management);

To act as the main point of contact within Finance for finance corporate system queries and

to liaise with IT and others to ensure that systems are robust, efficient and fit for purpose;

As an experienced user of finance systems, to be responsible for ensuring that all finance

systems and process are developed with appropriate financial controls and meet both

internal and external reporting requirements;

To contribute to the development of a customer focused service which is fully supported by

the finance corporate systems and processes. This will include taking responsibility for co-

ordinating the development and implementation of processes across the College which rely

on, or impact on, financial data;

Responsible for the creation and maintenance of common processes to improve the

efficiency and effectiveness of the College Finance function;

To lead and manage project teams to ensure that project objectives and deadlines are met;

To lead or contribute to ad hoc exercises and projects as required.

Working Relationships and Contacts

Regular discussions with senior staff across the College to ensure that finance systems are

understood and meet the needs of all users. Patience, diplomacy and an ability to

understand the needs of non-finance staff will be essential;

Daily contact with colleagues within the Finance team to ensure that finance data is

accurate, timely and efficiently managed;


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To negotiate and engage with external software providers on an ad hoc basis during

implementation, maintenance and development phases;

To meet with auditors and other external funders as required to provide information on

data accuracy etc;

To proactively generate contact with stakeholders as well as reactively respond to

enquiries.

Dimensions

The College is a complex business entity with an annual turnover of c£100 million, in

excess of £10 million in income from externally funded research grants and around

14,000 students. The finance corporate systems must be flexible, effective and

efficient in order to meet the needs of a wide range of internal and external

stakeholders.

General Responsibilities

These are standard to all Birkbeck Job Descriptions

To adhere to the College’s Equal Opportunities policy in all activities and to actively

promote equality of opportunity wherever possible;

To be responsible for your own health and safety and that of your colleagues in

accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) and relevant EC

directives;

To work in accordance with the Data Protection Act and to ensure that all new systems

are reported to your Data Protection Controller;

To undertake such other duties as may be reasonably expected;


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4. Person Specification

JOB TITLE: Systems Accountant

DEPARTMENT: Finance

POST REFERENCE: 3164109

Birkbeck is a member of the ‘positive about disability’ Disability Confident scheme and guarantees to interview all candidates who meet the minimum essential criteria for the post.

ATTRIBUTES

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

DESIRABLE CRITERIA

METHOD OF ASSESSMENT

Knowledge Technical/Work-

based Skills

Up-to-date knowledge of accounting standards

A detailed understanding of the effective

development and management of

databases and processes to facilitate the efficient and accurate collection of a significant volume of data

Ability to use software to manipulate and analyse a range of data from various corporate systems to ensure the integrity of the data and to provide management information.

Strong technical accounting skills. Ability to develop efficient and effective

An understanding of funding within Higher Education in England, in particular how this

affects students and HE institutions

An understanding of the technical aspects of

system implementation such as security, version control, disaster recovery etc.

Application Interview

Test


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workflow processes (manual and system).

Ability to identify, develop, implement and maintain process improvements which impact on a range of stakeholders.

Ability to develop and deliver training to

individuals or larger groups, including the effective use of Powerpoint presentations.

Possess demonstrable project

management skills and an innovative style.

General Skills/Attributes

Ability to work unsupervised.

Ability to meet deadlines, prioritizing conflicting workloads of self and others as

appropriate. Excellent interpersonal and oral and written

communication skills to engage colleagues at all levels, including those without financial expertise.

Commitment to providing a high-level of

customer service. Ability to assimilate a wide range of

information and requirements quickly and to develop efficient and effective processes to

meet often disparate objectives.

Possess the motivation to streamline

processes and identify and implement continuous improvements.



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Strong ability to use own initiative.

A flexible approach to process development to ensure the best outcome.

A willingness to become involved in a range of activities including supporting others to achieve their objectives.

Tact, patience and diplomacy and an ability to persuade colleagues at all levels within the College.

Experience Taken a lead role in the implementation of a new finance system.

Management of a team of people including development of the team

members through training, encouragement and coaching.

Held a senior role which required collaboration with a range of other senior staff across an institution to implement a strategically important process improvement.

Experienced business analyst with a

history of identifying weaknesses in a service provided to a group of customers, sourcing a solution,

developing a business plan for approval and successful implementation.

Experience of using and developing corporate finance systems.

Involved in system development in the area of finance, IT or student administration within a Higher Education institution.

Experience of using a student records

database or payroll system.



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Qualifications Educated to degree level or equivalent.

CCAB qualified accountant (with current membership) or equivalent experience.

CCAB qualified accountant (with current membership) or equivalent experience.

.

Application


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5. Further Information

Salary: Grade 9 of the College's London Pay Scale which is £54,268 rising to £60,600 per annum. The salary quoted is on the College's London Pay Scale which includes a consolidated Weighting/Allowance which applies only to staff whose normal contractual place of work is in the Greater London area.

Probation: The appointment may be subject to a probationary period of 6 months.

Duration of post: Open-ended

Hours: 35 hours per week (0.1 FTE)

Annual leave entitlement: 25 days per year, plus an additional six days when the College is closed during the spring and winter breaks. This is in addition to the eight bank holidays.

Superannuation: The post is superannuable under the USS (Universities Superannuation Scheme). This is a defined benefit scheme which will pay retirement benefits based on the number of years (and days) you have been a member of the scheme and the salary upon which you have paid contributions in each of those years.

Closing date: Midnight on Tuesday 28th November

Interview date: Week commencing 4th December

Start date: To be confirmed following interview

Informal enquiries can be made to: Eleanor De Nardo, Business Manager at Hays 0207 259 8745 or [email protected]

www.hays.co.uk/jobs/birkbeck-university/index.htm

http://www.hays.co.uk/jobs/birkbeck-university/index.htm


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The College’s commitment to Equality and Diversity

The College is committed to providing the highest quality academic and working environment where all staff, students, visitors and contractors are welcomed, respected and treated in a fair, consistent and non-discriminatory manner. The College is proud of its diversity and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. No one will be treated unfairly because of their sex, race, di sability, sexual orientation, age, religion or belief, carer status, political belief, pregnancy/maternity, social class, gender identity or marital/civil partnership.

Birkbeck is a member of the ‘positive about disability’ Disability Confident scheme and guarantees to interview all candidates who meet the minimum essential criteria for the post. Birkbeck is a member of the Equality Challenge Unit, holds a Bronze level Athena SWAN award, a

Mindful Employers Charter signatory and subscribes to Stonewall’s Diversity Champions.

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