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Grade: Grade 8

Organisation Name: Finance

The Finance team is one of the University\'s key Professional Services which supports the University\'s delivery of its mission, strategic priorities and business objectives. We are currently seeking a Financial Accountant to join our Dubai Team.

About our School/Directorate and Team:

The Finance team is one of the University\'s key Professional Services which supports the University\'s delivery of its mission, strategic priorities and business objectives.

On a day-to-day basis, it does this by delivering a range of financial services, including:

• routine financial transactional processing in payroll, accounts payable and accounts receivable; effective management of the University\'s financial resources
• sound management accounting, including ensuring the availability of accurate and timely financial management reporting
• effective operation of the Oracle financial system and other supporting software.
• effective and timely delivery of statutory financial reporting.

In addition, the Finance department also supports the delivery of the University\'s strategic plan through effective financial planning, including capital investment planning, project appraisal and identification of sustainable funding streams.

Purpose of Role:

Reporting to the Head of Finance, Dubai. The Financial Accountant, will be responsible for managing the month end accounting process and reporting. Working with the Finance Business Partner to obtain schools and professional services data to manage forecasts and financial planning for the University. Working with the Finance Operations Manager and Accounts Receivable Manager to ensure accurate and efficiently produced data is obtained from the operational functions. Ensuring compliance with regulatory audit requirements. Maintaining accurate financial records to support the operational and strategic decisions of the University.

Summary of Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Managing the overall month end process by ensuring that deadlines are met for all processing, review and reporting of month end accounting.
• Management of 2 Accounts Assistants, review and approval of journals to support month end, ensuring accuracy of numbers, financial coding, reporting, and compliance with accounting principles and regulations.
• Collaborating with the Accounts Receivable and Finance Operations Manager to ensure the accurate accounting of finance sub-ledgers.
• Management and review of balance sheet reconciliations, to be prepared on a monthly basis. Highlighting any inaccuracies to the Head of Finance and taking the necessary corrective action.
• Development of effective budgeting, forecasting and planning processes. Validating data accuracy from the Finance Business Partner and Accounts Assistants.
• Supporting overall campus, schools and professional services teams with ad hoc analysis as requested by the Finance Business Partner.
• Management of the external audit, ensuring accuracy and timely delivery of all requests and reports. Identification of financial discrepancies and implement corrective actions.
• Provide financial analysis and insights to support strategic decision-making and business growth.
• Assist in the preparation of corporation tax returns, ensuring compliance with tax regulations and maximizing tax efficiency.
• Assist in the development and implementation of financial policies and procedures.
• Stay updated on industry trends, changes in accounting regulations, and best practices in financial management.
• Provide financial guidance and support to Head of Finance, Dubai and key stakeholders within the Edinburgh and Malaysia campuses.

Education, Qualifications & Experience:

Essential * Educated to First Degree or equivalent practical experience in the workplace.

• Qualified Professional Accountant with 5 or more years previous experience of managing an Accounting function. Deomonstrate substantial professional expertise in Accounting.
• Experience in the ability to motivate a team, including setting objectives and managing workload.
• Well developed understanding of relevant legal, statutory and governance applications and turning them into good practice.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, influencing and presentation skills. The ability to reasearch, analyse, understand and present complex issues effectively, with good attention to detail.
• Strong IT skills including ERP type systems and Microsoft products.
• Demonstrable excellent customer service.
• Demonstrable ability to work quickly, flexibly and accurately in a dynamic, changing and pressured environment. Using high level planning and organisational skills with the ability to prioritise major developments and to function effectively in a pressured environment.
• Demonstrable professional and proactive approach. Working closely with stakeholders across all levels of the organisation.

Desirable * Experience in working in Higher Education.

• Experience of working with Oracle Fusion.

Heriot-Watt University Values

With a history dating back to 1821, Heriot-Watt University has established a reputation for world-class teaching and professionally relevant, leading-edge research, which has made it one of the top UK universities for business and industry.

We are a vibrant, forward-looking university, well known for the quality of our degrees with employers actively seeking out our graduates. Heriot-Watt is also Scotland\'s international university with an unsurpassed international in-country presence. We deliver degree programmes to circa 30,000 students in 143 countries around the world, have a further overseas campus in Dubai and boast the largest international student cohort in Scotland.

At Heriot-Watt we\'ve created an environment that nurtures innovation and leadership - where our researchers, staff and students can realise their potential and develop their ambitions.

We are proud of our collegiate atmosphere and integrated teaching and research approach which has helped to build a community of committed academics and highly motivated students. Our focus on careers delivers results and we\'ve an excellent reputation for graduate employability.

In addition to the Edinburgh campus, we currently have campuses in the Scottish Borders, Orkney, Dubai and Malaysia. For all of our campuses we aim to provide stimulating, supportive environments conducive to effective learning and research, where staff and students can excel. At Heriot-Watt, we have an established set of values that help us to nurture innovation and leadership, and show our commitment to continuous improvement and development in all our activities.

Our values describe our deeply held beliefs and our community spirit. They characterise not only how we are as a higher education institution but also frame how we want to be.

Our values are:

• Belong
• Collaborate
• Inspire
• Celebrate

As learning, living and working institution, we use our values as the building blocks of how we go about doing our work and how we each conduct ourselves as members of Heriot-Watt University. They represent what binds us together as a University community and help us to become the best at what we do.

For full details on our University, please view our website

\'How to Apply\'

Interested applicants must submit via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment system a Cover letter describing their interest and suitability for the post and an updated CV.

At Heriot Watt we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team.

Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to bring your enterprising mind and to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us and Heriot Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well-being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.

Learn more about our benefits here:

The appointment is conditional upon successful completion of all Labour and Immigration formalities.

Heriot-Watt University