Job Description
Job title:
Department/School:
Grade:
Location:
Management Accountant
Finance & Procurement- Commercial Operations
7
3W2.7d, Claverton Down Campus, Bath
Job purpose
The Commercial Finance team provides financial operation services to Accommodation
& Hospitality Services (AHS) & Institute of Contemporary Interdisciplinary Arts (ICIA) on
a daily basis and provides general advice to Sports Development and Recreation
(DSDR) and Campus Retail & Commercial Operations (CRCO). The overall turnover is
approaching £40M in 15/16. With the growth of demand on prompt management
information, accurate forecasting and the urgent requirement to apply process change
so as to increase efficiency, it is believed that the introduction of the management
accountant role can assist to achieve these.
The post-holder will be responsible for reviewing the current processes so as to improve
efficiency. He/she will be working closely with the Commercial Operations Finance
Manager and the Financial Accountant in delivering group projects or finance focused
projects and at the same time liaising with the stakeholders to ensure their financial
needs are met.
The post-holder will provide technical advice to senior staff within operation with
budgetary responsibility on ongoing financial matters, including the budgetary position
for departments. The post-holder will influence the senior staff within the departments
to apply good financial practice and planning.
Source and nature of management provided
Commercial Operations Finance Manager
Staff management responsibility
Line management of the Revenue Coordinator
Special conditions
During peak seasons in the year, eg summer conference season, intake weekend and
yearend closing, the post holder is required to work in the weekend/unsociable hours
during the period with prior notice to catch up with the expected heavy workload. Time
off in lieu will be given accordingly.
Main duties and responsibilities
1
Staff Management & Training

To line manage the Revenue Coordinator. To lead him/her by giving clear instructions
and to develop his/her skills both individually and as a team. This will include the
induction, appraisal (SDPR) and if required the management of sickness, absence and
discipline etc.

2
3
4
To provide support and training to staff within the finance team.
Process Change Management & Forecasting

To review existing processes in all commercial operations and explore the potential
efficiency improvement areas for direct or indirect financial gain.

To work with the Commercial Operations Finance Manager to deliver finance related
projects to agreed time, budget and quality.

To develop a robust income forecasting model with the Sales Team and manage the
commercial costing model.

To monitor the finance configurations of all softwares used in the AHS & ICIA outlets.
This may include configuration of third party systems eg external booking agencies

To provide additional financial support for summer commercial businesses. This will
include working with the operation team to achieve quality and financial targets within
set time.

To perform regular testing on the departmental working manual stored in the system
and provide feedback to the Financial Accountant in order to improve the system
efficiency within Commercial Finance team.
Budgets and Management Information

To review income/expenditure analysis and produce monthly variance reports for
submission.

To meet with Stakeholders regularly so as to ensure they understand the financial
target they are responsible for. This may include running bespoke finance workshop,
one to one meeting and focused training to a group of non-finance staff.

To review reports available to end users, collate feedbacks from stakeholders and
work with the Financial Accountant to regularly modify the reports so as to meet
customers’ needs.

To manage the PI desktop and Agresso projects set up and closing.

To work with the Commercial Operations Finance Manager to prepare
estimates/annual budget within time frame.

To consolidate information collected for the preparation of the year end accounts
Other finance processing roles





Being one of the budget holders to authorise significant out of tolerance transactions
in Agresso.
Being one of the authorisers for material refunds/credit notes.
Being one of the purchasing card holders.
Under the supervision of the Commercial Operations Finance Manager, being the
cover of the Financial Accountant in his/her absence.
Attend training courses as requested by line managers

Ensure that as part of your duties, you minimise our environmental impact
i.e. by reducing energy and water use, minimising waste and increasing
recycling. To encourage staff, student and visitor awareness
of the impact of their actions on the environment
You will from time to time be required to undertake other duties of a similar nature relevant to
your grade as reasonably required by your line manager.
Person Specification
Criteria: Qualifications and Training
With AAT full membership or above
accountancy professional qualification.
in
Essential
Y
Desirable
Educated to degree Level (or equivalent) or above
Y
Further specialist finance training
Y
Criteria: Knowledge and Experience
Essential
Significant experience in costing analysis,
managing variances and income forecasting
Significant experience of managing and
developing an effective professional team in a
complex work area
Evidence of effective team working, engaging and
motivating others and problems solving.
Experience of teaching/training other staff
Y
Experience of developing and implementing
systems and processes
Working
experience
in
hotel
management/performing arts will be beneficial but
not essential
Experience of working in a higher education
environment
Y
Criteria: Skills and Aptitudes
Able to provide clear, practical and accurate
advice to staff at all levels on financial procedures
and requirements
Ability
to
communicate
effectively
and
professionally in writing and in delivering
presentation.
Good IT skills especially in Microsoft Excel.
Intermediate to advance level is expected.
Able to utilise Agresso and report on financial
activity within the departments
Essential
Y
Desirable
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Desirable
Y
Y
Y
Excellent organisational skills
Y
Good team worker and has ability to lead, motivate
and develop individuals through changes.
Y
Capacity for autonomous working as well as the
ability to contribute as an active member of the
team
Y
Effective Behaviours Framework
The University has identified a set of effective behaviours which we value and have found
to be consistent with high performance across the organisation. Part of the selection
process for this post will be to assess whether candidates have demonstrably exhibited
these behaviours previously.
Managing self and personal skills:
Willing and able to assess and apply own skills, abilities and experience. Being aware of
own behaviour and how it impacts on others.
Delivering excellent service:
Providing the best quality service to all students and staff and to external customers e.g.
clients, suppliers. Building genuine and open long-term relationships in order to drive up
service standards.
Finding innovative solutions:
Taking a holistic view and working enthusiastically and with creativity to analyse problems
and develop innovative and workable solutions. Identifying opportunities for innovation.
Embracing change:
Adjusting to unfamiliar situations, demands and changing roles. Seeing change as an
opportunity and being receptive to new ideas.
Using resources:
Making effective use of available resources including people, information, networks and
budgets. Being aware of the financial and commercial aspects of the University.
Engaging with the big picture:
Seeing the work that you do in the context of the bigger picture e.g. in the context of what
the University/other departments are striving to achieve and taking a long-term view.
Communicating vision clearly and enthusiastically to inspire and motivate others.
Developing self and others:
Showing commitment to own development and supporting and encouraging others to
develop their knowledge, skills and behaviours to enable them to reach their full potential
for the wider benefit of the University.
Working with people:
Working co-operatively with others in order to achieve objectives. Demonstrating a
commitment to diversity and applying a wider range of interpersonal skills.
Achieving results:
Planning and organising workloads to ensure that deadlines are met within resource
constraints. Consistently meeting objectives and success criteria.