JOB DESCRIPTION
.1 Purpose
Working closely with the University Group Research Centres to help drive the University’s research agenda forwards, the Research focused accounting team is responsible for compliance and risk management in relation to the University Group’s contracts with funders.
As part of this team, the Assistant Project Accountant will assist in ensuring accurate accounting treatments are applied and review funding claims and invoices to ensure income is maximised on a timely basis and expenditure is fully supported.
.2 Main Duties and Responsibilities
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To regularly undertake project reviews and produce periodic financial statements. Including variance analysis and identifying ineligible costs. Escalate any issues around project slippage.
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Undertake project reporting, including analysis of Key Performance Indicators and supporting other project reporting as necessary.
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Assist with accurate and timely management accounts, budgets and forecasts.
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Ensure understanding of terms for new projects and funders. Maintain this understanding by keeping up to date on funder websites and alerts. Escalate to the Project Accountant any potential significant changes.
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Complete costings for grant proposals and contract extensions and change requests for low to medium- risk projects. Carry out credit checks for commercial funders and collaborative partners and report any high- risk customers or collaborators when required.
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Prepare timely claims and invoices for medium to high-risk projects ensuring that funder eligibility and deadlines are met. Review claims and invoices for low to medium-risk projects. Advise the Project Accountant of any issues arising from the claims reviews. Submit using the external funder systems as required.
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Ensure complete, neat and accurate working papers and records in respect of claims documentation are maintained, including information from collaborating organisations.
Assistant Project Accountant Job Description and Person Specification 2025 2 | P a g e
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Administer the external audit process for projects. Including submitting approved working papers to auditors, dealing with auditors requests during spot check audits and ensuring correct document retention.
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Carry out the internal audit reviews process for projects under the assigned funder(s), including ensuring that all documentation meets the funder requirements. Medium and high-risk projects are to be reviewed on an ad hoc basis and at each claim period.
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Contribute to data, systems and processes relating to tracking and reporting on research income to meet the necessary requirements for the REF submission process.