Join the University of Bath as a Finance Manager for Operations & Transformation. In this pivotal role, you'll combine being part of the CLEAR Project which aims to modernise our financial operations with management of the University’s payroll and pensions team. You'll work with colleagues across the university to implement positive change and ensure efficient financial processes. 

Why You'll Thrive in This Role 

You will be part of the team driving the implementation of Agresso into the cloud. This will allow you to help shape the future of financial operations whilst guiding a collaborative payroll team. Additionally, you will build and maintain important relationships with pension providers and regulatory bodies. Engaging with diverse colleagues will enable you to influence decision-making and share standard processes. Finally, you will contribute to innovation in higher education finance.  

This role involves a hybrid working pattern with an expectation of 2 days on campus per week, although flexibility on this will be required.

Key Responsibilities

CLEAR Programme  

You will partner with the Director of Financial Operations to be part of the successful delivery of the cloud migration of Agresso. Collaborating across departments, you will be part of the team enhancing systems, processes, and controls. Ensuring that operational reporting needs are integrated into programme delivery will be a crucial part of your role. Additionally, you will collaborate with Finance colleagues and partners to ensure training resources and procedures for cloud-based solutions are updated and implemented. 

Operational Finance Management 

You will guide the Payroll and Pensions team with a focus on compliance and accuracy. Coordinating relationships with pension providers and regulatory bodies will be a key responsibility. Additionally, you will lead statutory reporting and year-end processes. Supporting finance operations during transformation to maintain service excellence will be essential to your role.  

Engagement & Collaboration 

You will represent Finance in cross-functional initiatives and committees. By creating alignment between the CLEAR Programme, finance leadership, and operational staff, you will ensure cohesive and effective operations. Additionally, you will develop networks with higher education peers to exchange innovations. Communicating complex financial changes clearly to diverse audiences will be a key part of your role.  

About You

We're looking for someone who brings: 

• Qualified accountant credentials 
• Experience with financial accounting, payroll/pension management and financial systems 
• Knowledge of cloud migrations (valuable but not required) 
• A track record of supporting collaborative teams and managing diverse collaborators 
• The ability to balance competing priorities in a complex organisation 
• A proactive approach with strong relationship-building capabilities 
• Experience with change initiatives (desirable but not essential) 

What we can offer you:

We consider ourselves to be a university where difference is celebrated, respected and encouraged. We have an excellent international reputation with staff from over 60 different nations and have made a positive commitment towards gender equality and intersectionality receiving a Silver Athena SWAN award. We truly believe that diversity of experience, perspectives, and backgrounds will lead to a better environment for our employees and students, so we encourage applications from all genders, backgrounds, and communities, particularly from under-represented groups, and value the positive impact that will have on the university. We are committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for our students, staff, and community by reinforcing our commitment. 

We are very proud to be an autism friendly university and are an accredited Disability Confident Leader; committed to building disability confidence and supporting disabled staff. 

• Free counselling services through Health Assured 
• Cycle to work scheme 
• Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme 
• Staff discount at Team Bath gym 
• Staff discounts on postgraduate tuition fees 
• Staff discount on language courses 
• Generous employer contributory pension schemes 
• Generous annual leave allowance with an additional 5 discretionary days so that you can enjoy a positive work life balance 
• A wide range of personal and professional development opportunities including Apprenticeships, LinkedIn Learning and more 
• Free entry to the Holburne Museum in Bath 
• Local discounts and more 
• A family-friendly workplace  
• An excellent reward package that recognises the talents of our diverse workforce 
• Relocation allowance 
• Visa reimbursement and Interest-Free Loan to help with the cost of some immigration expenses 

We are committed to continually expanding our benefits to better support you and enhance your experience with us. Find out more about our benefits. 

Closing Date: 11 May 2025

Department: Management, Specialist and Administration

Salary: £46,735 to £55,755

About us

The University has a turnover approaching £400m. It employs over 3,000 (fte) staff in 3 academic faculties, one school and professional and support service departments. The Finance and Procurement Office (F&PO) is responsible for managing the University’s income, expenditure, financial performance, and procurement processes ensuring value for money in its financial activities. In addition, the department provides high quality management accounting support as well as compliance with statutory and regulatory bodies.

This role reports to the Head of Financial Operations, as part of a wider financial operations team and will work closely particularly with the Financial Accounts team. We are responsible for financial reporting, taxes (including VAT and corporation tax), treasury, income, tuition fees, studentships, payroll and pensions, credit control and global mobility. 

About you

You will be a qualified Accountant with experience of working in a complex organisation. With a solid understanding of the HM Revenue & Customs rules and regulations specially in respect of VAT, you will also have:

• good communication skills including being able to effectively communicate complex financial information across the University.
• ability to develop good working relationships with colleagues, external advisors and external bodies.
• good IT and analytical skills.
• ability to work independently without needing detailed support.

You will be the primary lead for indirect taxes (VAT), corporation, international and other taxes within the University and act as a key point of contact for providing comprehensive VAT and other tax advice and guidance within both the Finance Office and the wider University community.  You will work closely with others in the Financial Accounts team, our external advisors, and line manage the Global Mobility Manager.

You will also line manage and work closely with a Global Mobility Manager and be willing to support their development and prioritisation of work.

Further information

This is a full-time role working 36.5 hours per week.

The department is based in the Virgil Building in Bath city centre and there will be a requirement to work on the main campus at times, however, hybrid working is one of the many ways we recognise the importance of achieving a positive work life balance. Whilst the exact days you can work remotely will differ between teams and departments, it should provide you with greater flexibility, provided you are based in the UK.

For an informal discussion about the role please contact Jana Whitfield, Head of Financial Operations at jw3309@bath.ac.uk, however please submit your application via the University website.

What we can offer you

We consider ourselves to be a university where difference is celebrated, respected and encouraged. We have an excellent international reputation with staff from over 60 different nations and have made a positive commitment towards gender equality and intersectionality receiving a Silver Athena SWAN award. We truly believe that diversity of experience, perspectives, and backgrounds will lead to a better environment for our employees and students, so we encourage applications from all genders, backgrounds, and communities, particularly from under-represented groups, and value the positive impact that will have on the university. We are committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for our students, staff, and community by reinforcing our  commitment.

We are very proud to be an autism friendly university and are an accredited Disability Confident Leader; committed to building disability confidence and supporting disabled staff.

• Free counselling services through Health Assured
• Cycle to work scheme
• Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme
• Staff discount at Team Bath gym
• Staff discounts on postgraduate tuition fees
• Staff discount on language courses
• Generous employer contributory pension schemes
• Generous annual leave allowance with an additional 5 discretionary days so that you can enjoy a positive work life balance
• A wide range of personal and professional development opportunities including Apprenticeships, LinkedIn Learning and more
• Free entry to the Holburne Museum in Bath
• Local discounts and more
• A family-friendly workplace 
• An excellent reward package that recognises the talents of our diverse workforce
• Relocation allowance
• Visa reimbursement and Interest-Free Loan to help with the cost of some immigration expenses

We are committed to continually expanding our benefits to better support you and enhance your experience with us. Find out more about our benefits.

Find out from our staff what makes the University of Bath a great place to work. Follow us and on X for more information.

Closing Date: 27 Apr 2025

Department: Management, Specialist and Administration

Salary: £46,735 to £55,755