General Assistant Accountant

We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.

The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region.

We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 – making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes. 

Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.

About the College/Department

The Finance team plays a crucial role in enabling the University to deliver on its strategic aims. This involves managing and maximising the University’s financial resources while providing expert financial advice and support to the wider University community. Our responsibilities encompass a wide range of essential functions, including providing strategic business partnering, delivering value from supplier relationships, managing effective working capital and cashflow and providing key financial support for our students. Additionally, we oversee all aspects of payroll and pensions management, and deliver comprehensive support for financial systems, tax compliance, and audit needs. Through these activities, we provide assurance to the University community around the financial health and efficiency of the University, supporting its mission and operations.

About the Role

We are seeking a finance professional to support the delivery of key financial processes across the University. This role plays a vital part in the preparation of month and year-end accounts, budgeting, forecasting, reconciliations, and management accounting activities. Working closely with other areas in finance to ensure accurate and timely monthly period close, preparation of accruals, ensuring Funding Council income is properly recognized and reconciled. The role requires preparation of payroll journals to general ledger, and liaison with team members to ensure accurate reporting of monthly payroll costings used for Forecasting models.

The role requires contribution to continuous improvement by championing best practice and digital solutions. There will be involvement in scheduled testing of our cloud based Finance system upgrades, and ongoing management of system controls around Budgets, General Ledger coding and hierarchy updates, helping to ensure robust financial control and compliance. There are also reconciliations to prepare for Financial Auditors.

Anticipated interview date 30/11/26.

About You

You will have experience in general accounting, including accounts receivable and/or payable. With an understanding of month-end and year-end accounting processes, you will have worked with a Finance system to pre-agreed deadlines. Attention to detail and accuracy in all areas, including Excel spreadsheets, to record and produce reconciliations for Management review. 

You have strong communication and customer service skills, building positive relationships with colleagues and stakeholders and explaining financial information clearly to non-finance staff. A collaborative team player, you enjoy contributing to a high-performing environment, adapting to change and identifying opportunities to improve processes and efficiency.

You will have GCSE Maths and English (or equivalent experience) and either hold an AAT qualification, have equivalent experience, or be willing to work towards AAT through an apprenticeship route. 

Benefits

• Generous annual leave entitlement of 38 days inclusive of bank holidays and concessionary days (pro rata)
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Suite of holistic wellbeing benefits and support including family-friendly policies, generous sick pay provision and comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to a variety of staff discounts at high street retailers
• Discounted onsite gym
• Cycle to Work scheme
• A flexible working environment
• A commitment to personal and professional development

Key Contact

For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Laura Mahal, Core Team Leader via [email removed]

For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via [email removed]

Important Information

The University is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers under the Skilled Worker route for this role; however, applications are welcome from candidates who are able to demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.

Please visit our website for more information.