Financial Accounting Manager

SOAS University of London
Financial Accounting Manager
Salary: £50,999 - £59,809
Permanent, Full-time
Hybrid working, 1 day a week in the office
Closest stations Goodge street or Euston station

At the heart of global education and cultural understanding, SOAS University of London has long been a beacon of academic excellence, specialising in the study of Asia, Africa, and the Near and Middle East. Since its founding in 1916, SOAS has inspired generations through its unique focus on global cultures, fostering knowledge, diversity, and cross-cultural understanding.

SOAS University of London is dedicated to reimagining higher education through a bold new strategic plan that emphasises student responsiveness, research intensity, and innovative international partnerships. This vision positions SOAS to address global challenges through transnational collaboration and knowledge exchange.
This is a newly created role offering a unique opportunity for an experienced finance professional to shape the position while leading a knowledgeable and dedicated team. You will be responsible for the university’s external financial reporting, VAT and corporation tax compliance, and treasury management. Collaborating with teams across Financial Systems, Operations, and Finance Business Partnering, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring financial excellence.

In this hands-on role, you will manage year-end financial statements, coordinate with auditors, and oversee financial administration for all capital projects, monitoring and reporting on expenditure against budget. This is your opportunity to drive impactful financial leadership within one of the world’s most culturally rich and academically diverse institutions.

About the Role

Reporting directly to the Deputy Director of Finance & Procurement, the Financial Accounting Manager's key responsibilities will:

• To assist the Deputy Director of Finance and Procurement with the preparation of the School and subsidiary annual financial statements, including compliance with FE/HE SORP and Office for Students' accounts direction.
• To prepare the School's quarterly VAT and annual corporation tax returns
• To monitor the School's cash position and prepare regular cash flow statements
• To liaise, as appropriate, with the School's external auditors, tax advisors and HMRC representatives
• To contribute to the operation and development of the School's financial IT system (Agresso) and other finance systems, in particular assisting with the development of financial reports.
• To ensure the integrity and completeness of the financial ledgers for monthly, quarterly and year end accounts
• To co-ordinate the financial administration of all capital projects and monitor and report on expenditure against budget
• To assist the Deputy Director of Finance and Procurement with the appraisal of capital projects, investments and other projects.
• To assist in the preparation of the School's financial forecast, with specific responsibility for forecasting the School's structure of assets and liabilities
• To ensure that financial systems, regulations, procedures and controls are in place to safeguard assets and meet the School's internal and external reporting obligations

Who are we looking for?
We are looking for an experienced finance professional who combines strategic insight with operational expertise. You will have:

• A formally qualified accountant
• Relevant and appropriate experience in finance and management obtained in a complex organisation
• An excellent communicator who is able to influence at all levels within the organisation
• Ability to work on own initiative, assess priorities and be proactive.
• Experience working in Higher education or similar setting desirable

SOAS University of London is fully open to sector experience. As such we welcome candidates from industry, charity or practice backgrounds.

SOAS University of London are happy to partner with Allen Lane and Iain Slinn in the recruitment for this role. For a further discussion, please reach out to Iain.