Finance Manager

Reference
1109790

Branch
University of Staffordshire

Start date
23/03/2026

Duration
Other - See Job

Hours and days
Monday - Friday, Office Based

Dress code
Smart Casual

Rate of pay
£19.23

Holiday rate
£2.32

Role

The Finance Administration Manager will play a key role in supporting and coordinating the financial operations of our prestigious client, ensuring the smooth running of payroll, invoicing, and financial administration across our managed service partnerships with schools, academies, and education groups.

Working closely with internal operational teams, supply chain partners, education clients, and candidates, the role will ensure that financial processes operate efficiently, accurately, and in line with regulatory requirements. This includes overseeing weekly temporary payroll, managing invoicing cycles, maintaining financial records, and supporting financial reporting within our systems, including Xero and the client's own platform.

The successful candidate will bring strong organisational and financial administration skills and will play an important role in maintaining the high standards of financial accuracy and service that underpin the client’s operations.

Duties and responsibilities

Payroll & Timesheet Management

• Manage and process weekly temporary payroll, ensuring all timesheets are authorised and accurate prior to payroll processing.
• Work with resourcing and operations teams to resolve timesheet discrepancies, missing approvals, and pay queries.
• Ensure payroll is processed in line with PAYE, umbrella and agency worker arrangements.
• Support accurate payment of candidates in line with agreed assignment rates and contractual terms.

Client Invoicing & Financial Administration

• Prepare, reconcile and issue accurate invoices to schools, academies, and education clients in line with agreed charge rates.
• Manage weekly invoicing and self-billing cycles, ensuring approved timesheets align with client billing schedules.
• Maintain and reconcile financial records within Xero and the clients own software, ensuring complete financial data integrity.
• Issue credit notes where required and manage invoice adjustments in consultation with operational teams.

Financial Operations & Reconciliation

• Liaise with finance colleagues to ensure payments to workers, agencies and suppliers are completed accurately and on schedule.
• Reconcile payroll, billing and supplier payments to ensure financial accuracy across the business.
• Support the monthly finance process, including reconciliations and reporting preparation where required.

Query Management & Stakeholder Support

• Manage the finance inbox, responding to invoice queries, remittance requests, credit note queries and payment enquiries.
• Act as the first point of contact for internal teams, schools, supply partners and candidates on finance-related matters.
• Escalate queries or approvals to the relevant Regional Partnership Managers or operational leads where required.

Compliance & Record Management

• Maintain accurate financial and payroll records in line with GDPR, HMRC and financial compliance requirements.
• Support internal processes that ensure the client maintains its high standards of audit readiness and financial governance.
• Ensure documentation and records are maintained in line with company procedures and regulatory requirements.

Operational Support

• Support onboarding administration where required, ensuring financial and payroll documentation is complete.
• Work collaboratively with operational teams to ensure smooth coordination between resourcing, compliance, operations and finance.
• Contribute to the continued improvement of finance processes as client grows and expands its client base.

Skills and experience

• Proven expertise working in payroll, finance administration or accounts.
• Strong numerical skills and excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to manage deadlines in a fast-paced operational environment.
• Confident communicator with a professional and collaborative approach.
• Knowledge of PAYE, pensions, HMRC legislation and payroll processes.
• Experience using finance systems such as Xero or similar accounting software.
• AAT qualification (or working towards) – desirable but not essential.

Location
Keele, Staffordshire

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing with service (up to 29 days)
• Additional birthday leave each year
• Private healthcare plan
• 50% gym membership discount
• Company pension scheme
• Annual Excellence Awards recognising outstanding team performance

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