Assistant Finance Business Partner

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.

The Department of Finance provides a wide range of financial support across the whole University. You will be part of the Faculty Finance team within the Department of Finance, acting as an Assistant Finance Business Partner, focused on delivering excellent service.

The role will report on a day-to-day basis to a Finance Business Partner (FBP) deployed within the Faculty of Science.

The primary focus of this role is to provide sound financial support to our departments, helping them ensure that their external research and doctoral funding achieves the research objectives specified by the sponsor’s terms and conditions. The role requires a flexible and pro-active approach and will support a variety of financial activities and colleagues across a number of Schools or business areas.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Act as a recognised source of financial support and advice to Principal Investigators, their staff and other Professional Services staff in managing a complex and diverse portfolio of post award research accounts and doctoral studentship accounts.
• Initiate regular liaison and meetings with both internal and external sources in order to provide financial management information and advice via briefings and reports e.g. external sponsors, Heads of Department, Principal Investigators and Human Resources.
• Supporting the FBP (Finance Business Partner) with administering staff approvals and associated cost distributions for core funded or externally funded posts.
• Analysis and review of individual externally funded project accounts to identify potential under/overspends on a timely basis in order that remedial action may be taken as appropriate.
• Preparation of financial expenditure statements on externally funded projects as required, liaising with departmental staff and other finance or HR teams as appropriate.
• Assist in the preparation of accruals for month end reporting.
• Assist in the review of local accounting and operational finance procedures, internal controls within the Faculty to ensure consistency across departments (and other Faculty teams) and to minimise financial risks. Regularly review service levels to ensure excellent service is provided in the most efficient manner possible.
• Highlighting and disseminating best practice and up to date policy, procedural information as well as sponsor information to Faculty/departments.
• Providing external auditors with relevant information necessary for completing the audit of externally funded projects.
• Plan tasks in accordance with known deadlines, including external sponsor requirements, monthly and annual University financial reporting requirements.
• Lead assigned project teams or contribute as part of a larger project team to support the achievement of a specific objective.
• As a member of our Professional staff you will be expected to demonstrate a commitment to the professional behaviours set out in the Sheffield Professional Framework. Please follow this link for further information: Sheffield Professional Framework.
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place week commencing 12th January 2026. This will consist of a test followed by an interview. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage within a week of the closing date. 

What we offer

• A minimum of 38 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 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