FINANCIAL ACCOUNTANT (6 MONTH FIXED TERM CONTRACT) - HIGHER EDUCATION STEP INTO A ROLE WITH REAL IMPACT

A well-established university in Yorkshire is seeking an exceptional Financial Accountant for a 6-month fixed term contract to provide crucial support to their financial reporting function during a period of transition.

Picture this: You’re working on a vibrant campus buzzing with students, academics shaping the brains of the future, and colleagues who genuinely care about what they do. Yes, you’ll be preparing statutory accounts and managing tax compliance - but you’ll be doing it in an environment where your work directly supports education, innovation, and opportunity.

You’ll be a fully qualified accountant who gets a kick out of technical excellence and loves solving complex financial puzzles. You’ll support statutory reporting, contribute to tax strategy, assist with subsidiary company oversight, and be a trusted expert colleagues turn to when things get complicated.

This 6-month contract offers an excellent opportunity to gain or expand your higher education experience, work with a dedicated finance team, and make a genuine impact during a critical period. You’ll be partnering with external auditors, advising colleagues across the institution, and playing an important role in financial governance.

WHAT YOU’LL ACTUALLY BE DOING *Support statutory reporting - Contribute to annual Financial Statements under UK GAAP (FRS 102), OfS Accounts Direction and FEHE SORP
*Provide tax expertise - Support VAT, Corporation Tax and employment tax management while providing guidance across the organisation
*Assist with audit process - Work with external auditors, help coordinate year-end working papers, and support smooth audit delivery
*Support subsidiary oversight - Assist with reporting and governance across subsidiary companies and joint ventures
*Contribute to treasury operations - Support cash management, forecasting, and banking relationships
*Maintain compliance - Ensure regulatory requirements are met while identifying improvement opportunities
*Work collaboratively - Partner with the Assistant Financial Accountant and Treasury Accountant
*Drive improvements - Spot opportunities to enhance systems, controls and ways of working
WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU *A competitive salary circa £46,000 - £59,000 (depending on experience) that reflects the expertise this role demands
*Excellent annual leave entitlement (pro-rata)
*Work on a lively campus with genuine energy (not a soulless office park)
*Access to university facilities including sports centre and campus amenities
*Season ticket loans and travel benefits
*Affordable on-site parking
*A modern working environment with excellent transport links
*Gain valuable higher education sector experience
*Hybrid working with expectation of 3 days onsite
WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING *The qualifications -fully qualified accountant - ACCA, ACA or similar, with current technical knowledge
*Real experience - Substantial financial accounting background in large/complex organisations, ideally with group structures
*Technical know-how - Strong FRS 102 knowledge; FEHE SORP and OfS Accounts Direction experience highly desirable
*Tax expertise - Solid working knowledge of VAT and Corporation Tax
*Audit experience - You’ve worked closely with external auditors and understand the process
*Stakeholder skills - You can work effectively with senior colleagues and build strong relationships
*Communication skills - You can explain complex financial matters to non-finance colleagues clearly
*Digital mindset - Strong IT skills and enthusiasm for a "digital first" approach
*The right values - Commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and excellent service
*Availability - Ready to start in April / May (notice periods can be accommodated), but ideally will be available for year end in August and early September (save your big holidays until after the start of the new academic year please!)
You’ll be working somewhere with purpose. Students achieving their potential. Research solving real problems. A community that believes in education as a force for good. That’s the backdrop to your balance sheets.

WHAT TO DO NEXT

Get in touch with Lucy Rider at Broster Buchanan for a confidential conversation about the role, the institution, and whether this could be your next career move.