Our Mission
Coventry University Group is a global education group with a mission of Creating Better Futures. We are driven by our passionate belief in the transformational power of education and research to enable and empower our students, colleagues and partners and to improve the world around them. Our people are key to our success and each role contributes to the Group’s ongoing progress in communities around the world.
The Role
As a Senior Finance Project Assistant, you will be part of a dynamic research-focused accounting team, assisting with financial accounting and funder compliance of research and income generating contracts.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Preparing timely claims and invoices for funded projects, ensuring compliance with funder requirements and deadlines.
- Reconciling claims and invoices against finance systems and maintaining accurate evidence to support submissions.
- Managing project accounting for a portfolio of research projects, including recharges, accruals, deferrals, and timesheet submissions.
- Setting up new projects promptly, verifying documentation, and ensuring budgets align with funder and centre requirements.
- Advising Principal Investigators on financial matters and escalating issues where necessary.
- Maintaining accurate documentation and working papers.
This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a detail-oriented environment and enjoys working collaboratively to ensure financial accuracy and compliance.
Our Successful Candidate
The ideal candidate will demonstrate:
- Qualifications: An accounting qualification such as AAT (or equivalent), with A-levels or similar. Progress towards further accounting qualifications or a degree is advantageous.
- Experience: Strong background in project accounting and general ledger work, ideally with knowledge of the higher education sector and research/public funding.
- Skills: Ablility to manage an independent portfolio of projects, prioritising tasks to meet dynamic deadlines, and quickly interpret contractual terms and their financial impact. Strong analytical and reporting skills for budgetary control, with excellent numeracy and ICT proficiency, particularly in spreadsheets.
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Attributes: Highly organised, self-motivated, and capable of working independently. Flexible and adaptable, culturally aware, and committed to maintaining high professional standards.
The Benefits
As a staff member of Coventry University, you will have a access to a wide range of industry leading rewards and benefits which includes:
- Excellent Employers Pension Contribution
- 30 days Annual leave plus Bank Holidays
- New Holiday Purchase Scheme up to 5 additional days
- Life Assurance 4 x Salary
- BUPA Cash Plan
- 50% off Tuition Fees for staff dependants
- CU Reward Scheme – Discounts across a range of High Street/ Online Retailers
- Cycle To work scheme
Our Culture
As a global Education Group, equality, diversity, and inclusion are embedded within the fabric of our organisation and are a key focus of our core values. We harness the power and potential of the diverse cultures, backgrounds, abilities, and experiences of our students, colleagues, and partners to create opportunities for all.
Full Job Description & Person Specification
We look forward to hearing from you!
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