Assistant Accountant

Assistant Accountant

Job Number

This role will be located on campus at Bangor. Through our Dynamic Working framework, there will also be the option to spend some time working remotely (although remaining in the UK) to support work life balance, which will be discussed further with candidates at interview.

Applications will also be considered to carry out this role on a part-time or job share basis.

Applications will only be accepted via our on-line recruitment website, jobs.bangor.ac.uk. However, in cases of access issues due to disability, paper application forms are available by emailing hrassistants@bangor.ac.uk

Informal enquiries can be made by contacting: Natalia Dennis, Treasury Accountant,
e-mail: n.dennis@bangor.ac.uk

Committed to Equal Opportunities.

Purpose of the Job

To provide financial support to the staff and managers in University Subsidiary Companies. The role will be responsible for all operational financial matters including the functions of accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll support and assistance with the management/financial accounts.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Generic Duties (appropriate to Grade)

• Work closely with the University Financial Accountant and other team members to undertake a variety of financial processing, monitoring and reporting tasks relating to the collection of income.
• Provide administrative support to Senior Management.
• Maintenance and development of administrative systems, records, archives, stationery, travel bookings and room bookings.
• Completes work in an accurate and timely manner and financial data is processed and reported on in accordance with statutory and University requirements.
• Provide cover for other sections within the Service.

 Specific Functional duties

• Manage accounts payable function by collecting invoices, undertake invoices checking, then coding and processing for payment through Bangor University Finance Service.
• Manage monthly credit card statement by collecting invoices, undertake invoices checking and approval, then coding and entering into Agresso.
• Liaise with suppliers, maintain paperwork and electronic records, raise and dispatch purchase orders for the organisation.
• Setting up, managing supplier accounts on Agresso system, and checking contracts.
• Deal with any payment queries and maintain relationships with external suppliers.
• Managing the account receivable function. Entering daily receipts logged with the bank into Agresso, reconciling to the subsidiary systems.
• Liaise with customers, maintain paperwork and electronic records, raise and dispatch sales orders for the organisation.
• Producing weekly debtor reports and passing to the Director. Provide any support required in collecting debt.
• Dealing with customers queries and provide statements when required.
• Posting Monthly journals for any direct debits and standing orders paid directly from the account.
• Produce a monthly bank reconciliation.
• Responsibility to support the accountant for preparing grant claims.
• Responsibility to support the accountant for producing monthly management accounts.
• Provide any ad hoc assistance to the accountant and all members of the organisation by helping with any financial queries or by directing to the relevant person.
• Assist in the year-end final accounts process including overseeing the accruals process and returns for fixed asset verification, operating leases, related parties, and any others as required.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• The post holder will be expected to participate in performance review and developmental activities.
• The post holder will be expected to comply with the University equal opportunities policies, Dignity at Work and Study Policy and the University’s Welsh Language
  Policy and the Welsh Language Standards.
• The post holder has a general and legal duty of care in relation to health, safety and wellbeing and must take all reasonable steps to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for themselves and for other members of staff, students and visitors affected by their actions or inactions. The post holder is also required to comply with all applicable health and safety policies, procedures and risk assessments.
• The post holder must comply with relevant legal and financial policies and procedures and be aware of their responsibilities in terms of the legal requirements of their post.

Person Specification

Qualifications/Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• 2 AS Levels or 1 A Level or NVQ level 3 in a relevant subject area or possess equivalent experience.
• Evidence of high level of expertise in the use of Microsoft Excel and computer-based accounting systems.
• Experience of working in a busy finance office and meeting operational deadlines.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.

Desirable

• Educated to AAT or close to completing the qualification.
• Ability to analyse data and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage a large workload and maintain a high degree of accuracy.

Communication

Essential

• Responds appropriately to queries and requests ensuring that information is conveyed accurately and promptly.

Desirable

• Checks on recipient's understanding and takes action to remedy any miscommunications.
• Can understand, use and explain technical terms commonly used in own area of work.
• Written material is well structured, clear and concise and provided in a suitable format.
• The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this role.

Service Delivery

Essential

• Adapts the service to customer need (where possible) and identifies ways of improving standards.
• Ensures that the experience of each customer is positive and satisfactory.

Desirable

• Has accurate and up to date knowledge of own and related areas of work.

Team Work

Essential

• Provides support, assistance and cover to other members of the team.

Desirable

• Contributes to the work of the team.

Decision Making

Desirable

• Makes timely and considered decisions by gathering sufficient data.
• Helps others understand complex or ambiguous data to enable decisions to be made.

General

The University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We strive to develop a workforce from all sections of the community regardless of sex, gender identity, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. We promote and facilitate the use of the Welsh language through our progressive Welsh Language Policy. We comply with the Welsh Language Standards and are committed to equality of opportunity. You are welcome to apply for any job in English or Welsh and all applications submitted will be treated equally.

We are a member of Advance HE's Athena SWAN Gender Equality charter and hold a Silver award in recognition of our commitment to and progress towards gender equality within the University's policies, practices, and culture. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.

All members of staff have a duty to ensure their actions are in line with the overall environmental aims of the University and minimise their environmental impact.

All offers are made subject to proof of eligibility to work in the UK and receipt of satisfactory references.

We have a legal responsibility to ensure that you have the right to work in the UK before you can start working for us.  When you apply for this post you will be required to explain the basis upon which you believe you will able to live and work in the UK legally on the commencement date of the role should your application be successful.   If you do not have the right to work freely in any position in the UK already, any offer of employment we will make to you will be subject to you obtaining a right to work visa.   The following link provides information on the various visa routes into employment and the eligibility requirements (including switching visa status where permissible) https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas.   If you are successful in your application we will discuss visa options with you at the time of making the offer of employment.  

Please note that, in the event of applications being received from candidates on the University's Redeployment Register with a reasonable skills match to the post specification, these applicants will be given prior consideration.