Lead Financial Accountant | £57k - £62k | Milton Keynes Area | 3 days a week
💼: Permanent
📍Location: Milton Keynes
💰£57,000 - £62,000
🎁30 days of annual leave allowance courses (+bank holidays and university closures for a week over Christmas), free courses
This is a rare opportunity to lead a talent team of 5 (2 accountants, cashier and FA assistant); to play a strategic role in a small but ambitious institution. The post holder will have the scope, support, and influence to truly make their mark and join an organisation that values innovation, collaboration, and impact.
What does day to day look like?
- Leading the preparation of the University’s statutory accounts, regulatory returns, and financial statements in line with FRS 102, Charity SORP, and other HE sector regulations.
- Managing a team of five, including Accounts Payable, Treasury, and Financial Accounting staff ensuring a culture of ownership, accountability, and collaboration.
- Overseeing VAT returns (including partial exemption), Corporation Tax, OfS reporting, and liaising with external auditors, HMRC, and the Charity Commission.
- Driving continuous improvement across financial processes, month-end cycles, and reconciliations embedding best practice and maximising efficiency.
- Playing a key role in financial systems development and optimisation of a new Finance system ,they currently use QLX.
Reporting into the Head of Finance Operations, this role will shaping and strengthening their financial operation. As a key member of the team the successful candidate will lead on statutory and regulatory reporting, oversee financial controls, and manage a dedicated team of finance professionals—ensuring the team maintain a high-quality, forward-thinking finance service.
As well as this the post holder will be pivotal in making sure audit is sorted and meets deadline through preparation. The role will be 50/50 in terms of management and hands on work.
Essential Skills
- A qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) with 5+ years of post-qualified experience in financial accounting roles.
- Strong Statistical analysis skills to support - FRS 102, charity accounting, and higher education sector compliance (OfS, HESA, etc.).
- Confident managing teams and developing high-performing finance professionals.
- Technically strong with excellent Excel skills; experience with ERP/finance systems (QLX, Technology One, Unit4, etc).
- Strong VAT knowledge ( (especially partial exemption) and experience in leading audits.
- A proactive communicator who can build relationships across the University and support decision-making at all levels.
Why Join the Organisation?
- You’ll have the autonomy to shape how things are done and the support to make it happen.
- You won’t be lost in a huge structure you’ll be visible, trusted, and valued.
- They move quickly, work closely, and take pride in doing things well.
- You’ll get variety, challenge, and the chance to make a real impact.
Ready to step into a role where your expertise makes a real difference?
Apply now or reach out to Yafet Okubet on y.okubet@gravitasgroup.com for an informal conversation.
