Financial Accountant

Grade UE07: £41,064 - £48,822 per annum

Finance Department / Financial Accounting & Compliance Team

Full Time: 35hrs per week

Open ended: Permanent Contract

The Opportunity

 Financial Accounting team are looking for a well-versed Financial Accountant to work within busy financial accounting team. 

The successful candidate must be a newly qualified accountant with a proven track in financial accounting, including the preparation and audit of statutory financial statements and associated disclosures. Experience in overseeing and performing complex balance sheet reconciliations is essential. 

The postholder will be collaborating with colleagues at all levels and across all areas of the University, offering guidance on financial accounting and control matters, and fostering strong relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.

The postholder must be comfortable with working with large datasets and ideally would have experience with an Oracle based accounting system or similar.

In this role, you will play a key part in maintaining the financial integrity of the University by managing a number of our key financial accounting functions, and providing guidance in financial reporting and control, including:                                                               

• working as part of the Financial Accounting & Compliance Team, with responsibility for overseeing monthly, quarterly, and annual financial accounting processes;
• lead on preparation of monthly balance sheet reconciliations across bank, accounts receivable, accounts payable, stock and VAT, ensuring any identified issues are resolved/discussed with relevant business areas;
• lead on month-end procedures and reconciliations reviews relating to investments and endowments;
• supporting the preparation and audit process for our statutory financial report, ensuring accurate and timely production of the core financial statements and supporting notes;
• collaborating with colleagues at all levels and across all areas of the University, offering guidance on financial accounting and control matters, and fostering strong relationships with both internal and external stakeholders;
• providing oversight of financial control for both central finance operations and finance staff across the University to ensure consistency and compliance; and
• promoting the consistent application of financial policies and procedures across the University to ensure alignment with external standards and internal institutional policies.

The successful candidate will:

• be a qualified accountant or in the final stages of the qualification process; 
• have experience with preparation of financial statements and accompanying notes for a complex organisation;
• have experience of the preparation and oversight of complex balance sheet reconciliations; and
• have excellent communication and relationship-building skills to effectively partner with stakeholders and promote collaboration.

 Development Opportunities

The Financial Accounting & Compliance Team is a supportive and encouraging team, providing an environment for those wishing to expand and further develop their knowledge and experience in financial accounting and statutory reporting. We have a longstanding commitment to training and staff development. We would welcome applicants from existing University colleagues.

Click to view a copy of the full job description.

 How to Apply

All applicants should apply via the on-line application process and include a current CV and a cover letter explaining how they meet the requirements of the post.

Applications that do not include a cover letter will not be considered for this role.

As a valued member of our team you can expect:

• A competitive salary. 

• An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work. 

• To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community.

• Comprehensive Staff Benefits, including generous annual leave entitlement, a defined benefits pension scheme, a wide range of staff discounts, family-friendly initiatives, and flexible work options. Check out the full list on our staff benefits page (opens in a new tab) and use our reward calculator to discover the value of your pay and benefits. 

Championing equality, diversity, and inclusion

The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter, and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality. 

Prior to any employment commencing with the University, you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages (opens new browser tab)

The University is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers in this role. International applicants will therefore be unable to apply for and secure a Skilled Worker visa. They will only be able to take up this role if they can demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.   

Key dates to note

Unless stated otherwise the closing time for applications is 11:59pm GMT. If you are applying outside the UK the closing time on our adverts automatically adjusts to your browsers local time 

The closing date for applications is 15 October 2026.

Interview dates to be confirmed. 

As a world-leading research-intensive University, we are here to address tomorrow’s greatest challenges. Between now and 2030 we will do that with a values-led approach to teaching, research and innovation, and through the strength of our relationships, both locally and globally. The Finance Department is responsible for the effective financial management, stewardship and long-term financial health of the University, which has a turnover in excess of £900m per year. It exercises control over the University’s finances, provides expert financial guidance particularly for key decision making, and provides an effective services and information for the financial conduct of the University’s business. It follows core values and behaviours to value and strengthen its team and delivery of its services – One Team; Expert; Innovation; Customer Focused; and Transparent.
http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/finance/home