Job Description

The Vacancy
Main purpose of job:
We are seeking an experienced Finance Support Team Leader to oversee and manage our financial transactions / support team. The successful individual will have management or supervisory experience, extensive knowledge of financial processes, and the ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with team members and other departments. They will have a focus on improving processes and seeking out efficiencies both within the Finance Department and for the wider organisation. A key element of this role will also be to provide hands on purchase ledger administration input, as well as covering for team members as required. They will manage a small team of finance support administrators to help ensure the delivery of timely and accurate financial information.
As part of the senior finance management team, this role will be supported by experienced colleagues. With this support, they will potentially have the opportunity to be involved in larger areas of work such as the RESAS programme that James Hutton Institute undertakes on behalf of the Scottish Government and to capital project claims. Assistance to achieve professional qualifications will be considered along with the option of hybrid working and/or part time working. This role offers a great work life balance as well as the opportunity to be involved in this unique and ground-breaking organisation.
Main duties of post holder:

• Lead, mentor and motivate a team of finance professionals covering Sales Ledger, Purchase Ledger, Payroll and Treasury. This will include setting and monitoring objectives for the team, as well as ongoing training and development
• Ongoing Purchase ledger support as well as providing occasional cover for all team members, as required
• Develop, improve and streamline current processes to increase efficiencies
• Assist in updating and adhering to company policies related to finance
• Support the delivery of the month-end close and management reporting
• Balance sheet reconciliations
• Depending on experience, assist with budgeting and regular forecasting
• Support senior finance colleagues and the wider organization to improve the provision of management information
• Identify efficiencies and work with colleagues to deliver the changes that will achieve these
• Prepare financial analysis as requested
• Support tasks as advised by the Financial Accountant and Financial Controller
• Ad hoc duties related to the role

PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential
Desirable
Attainments:
Education / qualifications
3 higher grades or 2 A levels
Foundation Accountancy qualification (AAT, professional bodies foundation level, HND or equivalent)
Experience:
Significant hands on experience of handling financial transactions
Accounting experience in balance sheet reconciliations and month end close
Significant experience in managing / supervising a team handling financial transactions covering sales and purchase ledgers, banking and associated reconciliations
Experience of managing transactions for projects
Liaison with internal and external stakeholders
Experience of payroll
Experience of a complex finance function
Skills:
Management:
Experience of managing, mentoring and motivating a team of finance transaction professionals
Ability to foster a positive and collaborative environment with a focus on process improvement
Communication:
Effective written and verbal communication to external stakeholders
Ability to organise own work effectively, prioritising competing workloads and working to tight timescales
Interpersonal:
Can work effectively across all parts of Hutton and with external stakeholders
Inquisitive and curious
Creative, proactive, flexible and able to work to agreed deadlines
Technical:
Good attention to detail and accuracy
Understanding of finance processes and a system minded approach to making improvements
Knowledge of accounting systems
Other skills (please specify)

• Skilled in Microsoft applications software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook etc.)
• Good Excel skills

What we offer:

• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) - A confidential service available to support employees and their families with work or personal problems. Providing access to professional counsellors, psychologists, and work-life consultants available to help and support individuals in tackling all types of problems.
• Annual Leave - Generous entitlement up to 40.5 days a year, with carry over possible and guaranteed time-off for Christmas.
• Pension - Employer Contribution of 15% in a Personal Pension Plan and employee contribution flexibility.
• Self-managed hours and Flexible Working - option to manage and spread your working time in line with organisational needs to create a healthy work life balance

Our Commitment to Equality and Diversity
We will not consider the use of 3rd party recruitment agencies for the sourcing of candidates for this position.
The James Hutton Institute is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
The James Hutton Institute is a: Stonewall Diversity Champion; Athena SWAN Silver Status Holder; Disability Confident Committed Employer and a Living Wage Employer.
The James Hutton Institute is Happy to Talk Flexible Working.
The Company
The James Hutton Institute combines strengths in crops, soils and land use and environmental research, and makes a major contribution to the understanding of key global issues, such as food, energy and environmental security, and developing and promoting effective technological and management solutions to these.
James Hutton (1726 - 1797) was a leading figure of the Scottish Enlightenment, an eighteenth century golden age of intellectual and scientific achievements centred on Edinburgh. He is internationally regarded as the founder of modern geology and one of the first scientists to describe the Earth as a living system. His thinking on natural selection influenced Charles Darwin in developing his theory of evolution.
Our Values

Skills Required