The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Overview

The University’s Department of Finance develops and implements dynamic and future-focused financial strategies to support the University’s aims, whilst maintaining sound financial oversight and administration in managing the University’s financial affairs.

We have specialist finance teams providing dedicated support in functional areas and business partnering teams aligned to faculties and central professional service departments.

As Finance Business Partner, aligned to the Faculty of Social Sciences, you will be directly involved in the provision of sound financial advice and support to departments, ensuring the effective management and monitoring of a range of departmental funds including operational budgets, research projects and other external activities. This will include budgeting, monitoring, reporting and forecasting routines to both internal and external stakeholders as well as month end, quarter end and year end routines. You will have oversight of a portfolio of large, complex activities and will need to be comfortable in making decisions and reacting to changing and conflicting priorities. You will manage a small group within the faculty team and will also regularly engage with other finance and non-finance teams.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Work with academic schools and the Faculty to provide finance support and information, ensuring that the Faculty’s financial plan is sustainable and financial risks are identified, understood and managed.

• Provision of expert financial support, guidance and management information, with responsibility for excellent customer service across the Faculty.

• Prepare accurate income and expenditure forecasts on a monthly and quarterly basis and as required, including analysis and explanation of variances against budget/forecast with recommendations for action or mitigation where appropriate.

• Prepare quarterly and year-end reconciliations as required, including reserves and other provisions. Co-ordinate year-end procedures, ensuring these are communicated and effectively implemented across departments.

• Provide information and advice regarding budgetary control and activity forecasting across all types of external income (both research and other external funding), identify and offering solutions to minimise areas of potential risk or conflict with University financial regulations.

• Review and/or prepare financial expenditure statements or award claims for all types of external funding (for example, research) as required in conjunction with relevant departmental staff.  Co-ordinate the external audit of financial returns prior to submission to funders as required, providing auditors with relevant information and being the point of contact throughout the audit process.        
  
  

• Support and enable Finance staff to work to the highest professional standards and encouraging a culture of continuous professional development.    
  
  
• Leading colleagues in the continual challenge to activities and processes, and identification and delivery of improvement in order to maximise effectiveness.    
  
  

• Have oversight of and plan, in collaboration with other Finance Business Partners and the Faculty Finance Manager, workload allocations across the team, ensuring all objectives and deadlines are achieved and that productivity is optimised.        
  
  
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Further Information

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place week commencing 8th December 2025. This will consist of a short presentation followed by an interview. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage on the week commencing 1st December 2025.

If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact Joanne Brown - joanne.brown@sheffield.ac.uk.

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).

What we offer

• A minimum of 41 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; Professional Services Shared Skills
• A range of generous family-friendly policies
  • paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
  • support for those going through the menopause
  • paid time off and support for fertility treatment
  • and more

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits.

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.