Assistant Accountant

Further Particulars

About LMH

Lady Margaret Hall (LMH) is a constituent College of the University of Oxford and is located in spacious gardens beside the University Parks. The College was founded in 1878 with a dual passion for learning and for equality, making it possible for the first time for women to study at Oxford. Today, the College is a co-educational academic community of over 430 undergraduate and 220 postgraduate students, committed to research and scholarship and to effective, highly personalised teaching and learning for students from all backgrounds.  

LMH combines consistently high academic standards with a long tradition of being a welcoming, stimulating and inclusive environment. We are also the only Oxbridge College to hold the Gold Award from Investors in People for our support staff. For more information visit the College website: www.lmh.ox.ac.uk/

Lady Margaret Hall has a turnover of £16m and an endowment of £50m. Although not large by corporate standards, university colleges are complex environments that require sophisticated and sensitive management. 

Main Purpose of Job

The Assistant Accountant will perform financial line functions, and occasionally deputise for the College Accountant. There is opportunity to learn about both the financial management of a charity in the HE sector and Charity SORP accounting.

Relationships:

  1. Responsible to: College Accountant (Line Manager)
  2. Responsible for: Accounts Apprentice     
  3. Liaison with: Treasurer, Accounts staff, budget holders, bank signatories,  members of the Senior Common Room (SCR) and external consultants.

Main Tasks

  • Production of monthly College management accounts, including forecast information, and budget holder reporting.
  • Assembling the College budget including arranging meetings with College Accountant and Budget Holders.
  • Maintenance of fixed assets registers.
  • Assistance with preparation of Charity SORP accounts and statutory returns.
  • Assistance with managing the annual audit and liaison with auditors.
  • Analysis and reconciliation of Conference and Development income.
  • Reconciliation of balance sheet control accounts.
  • Supervision of the Accounts Apprentice.
  • Banking and cash book cover for cashier during busy periods and holidays.
  • Raising (non-academic income) invoices (quarterly joint appointment recharges, any ad-hoc invoices).
  • Maintenance of ledgers and preparation to trial balance for 2 subsidiary companies.
  • VAT returns for subsidiary company.
  • Review of fortnightly payment run.
  • Financial project management eg building programme.
  • Ad hoc projects as directed by the College Accountant eg reviewing costing systems, training Budget Holders to understand financial reports
  • Preparation of financial statements for SCR/ Bar/ Cellar
  • Assistance with improvement of Microsoft Navision accounting system and maintain routines to import data from other College systems

The above is not an exhaustive list of duties and you will be expected to perform different tasks as necessitated by your role within the College's organisation and the overall objectives of Lady Margaret Hall.

Person specification

Essential

Qualification

  1. Full or part qualified Accountant.  Candidate will need to demonstrate strong experience of items listed below.

Experience

  1. Management accounting
  2. Financial, costing and budget management
  3. Use of accounting and reporting software
  4. Reconciliation of control accounts for Balance Sheet and for Income & Expenditure
  5. Some management or supervisory experience
  6. Accounting for Fixed Assets and maintaining Fixed Asset Registers

Knowledge

  • At least one Windows-based accounting software package
  • Financial accounting principles
  • Costing and budgetary processes
  • Accruals & prepayments

Skills

  • Advanced use of Microsoft Excel spread sheets, practical knowledge of Word and Outlook
  • Ability to manipulate data from database and run reports
  • Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise work, be self-motivated and able to work on own initiative, together with organisation of work performed by other people
  • Ability to initiate, investigate and implement process changes which impact on other teams in order to improve the efficiency of the finance team
  • Teamwork – work co-operatively and productively with others and provide support to aid team development
  • Strong written communication skills, able to prepare written procedures and assist with internal presentations
  • Good oral skills to communicate with all levels in the organisation and explain technical or financial aspects
  • Strong numeracy
  • Accuracy and attention to detail
  • Good problem solving
  • Calm under pressure

Desirable

  • Proven experience as a Management Accountant in a Charity environment.
  • Working knowledge of fund accounting and Charities SORP.
  • Knowledge of special VAT applications relevant to the charities sector.
  • Experience in an Oxford College or Higher Education environment.

Terms and Conditions

The salary will be c£40k-£45k for a 37.5-hour week.

Hybrid working is an option with the expectation that you will work onsite at least 2 days per week.

Benefits of working for the College include 36 days holiday (including bank holidays), the option to join a University pension scheme and one free meal per working day.

Additional benefits include a free annual flu jab, employee assistance programme, a parking permit scheme, a childcare salary sacrifice scheme, a bicycle purchase scheme, a bus and Train Season Tickets and great social events.

Application Process

To apply for this position, please send a CV, cover letter outlining why you believe you are suitable for this role and an equal opportunities monitoring form to recruitment@lmh.ox.ac.uk by midday on Friday 26th May 2023.

We expect first interviews to take place week commencing Monday 5th June 2023 with second interviews taking place shortly afterwards.

Equal Opportunities

The College’s Equal Opportunities Policy aims to ensure that in the recruitment, selection, training, appraisal, development and promotion of employees, the only consideration must be that the individual best meets, or is likely to meet, the requirements of the programme or course or post.

Equal Opportunities Form PDF | Equal Opportunities Form Word Document

Lady Margaret Hall is committed to provide a learning, working and social environment in which the rights and dignity of all its members are respected, and which is free from prejudice, intimidation and all forms of harassment, including bullying. We seek to ensure that no-one suffers, either directly or indirectly, as a result of discrimination.

Lady Margaret Hall has a range of family-friendly policies.

Issued by the HR Office

May 2023