Assistant Management Accountant

Job Title: Assistant Management Accountant  

Location: Highbury Campus

Salary: £33,980.34 - £36,035.26 Full Time Equivalent per annum

Hours of work: 37 Hours per week, 52 Weeks per year, Full-Time, Fixed-Term/Maternity Cover

About the role:
We are seeking a capable and proactive Assistant Management Accountant to join our Finance team on a fixed-term basis.

This is a hands-on, fast-paced role suited to someone with solid management accounts experience who is confident working with minimal supervision and able to quickly become effective in a busy finance environment.

While the role does not carry full ownership of the month-end process, you will play a key role in the production of management accounts, forecasting, and financial analysis, working closely with the Senior Management Accountant and budget holders.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone looking to build on existing experience, gain broader exposure, and operate in a complex, multi-stakeholder Further Education organisation.

Key Responsibilities:

• Play a key role in preparing monthly management accounts, including accruals, prepayments, and variance analysis
• Support month-end processes, ensuring accuracy and adherence to deadlines
• Contribute to financial forecasting and monitoring, including expected outturn reporting
• Provide finance business partnering support to budget holders across pay, non-pay, income, and capital budgets
• Assist with the annual budgeting process, working with stakeholders to ensure robust financial planning
• Carry out financial analysis to support decision-making, including restructures and investment activity
• Support cash flow monitoring and capital expenditure reporting
• Assist with the preparation of financial statements, returns, and reporting to governors and senior leadership
• Review monthly payroll and track against budgets and establishment
• Maintain strong financial controls and compliance with procedures and audit requirements
• Contribute to continuous improvement within the Finance team

To be successful in this role, below is what we would need from you:

• Part-qualified accountant (ACCA, CIMA, ACA, CIPFA or equivalent) or equivalent experience
• Experience supporting the production of management accounts
• Experience of working in a fast-paced finance environment with competing deadlines
• Ability to work independently, use initiative, and quickly build confidence in your role
• Good understanding of forecasting, budgeting, and financial analysis
• Strong Excel skills and familiarity with financial systems
• Good communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with non-finance stakeholders
• Strong attention to detail and organisational skills

About us:
At City of Portsmouth College, we aspire to be the employer of choice in the Portsmouth area, with a progressive, supportive, and rewarding workplace culture and one that offers competitive benefits for its staff. By joining us for this period, you will personally be part of the change we are driving and will play a pivotal role in supporting the growth and development of our brilliant students, turning them into future leaders and innovators. Everyone at the College is part of the bigger picture and together, each role makes an impact and in turn a difference to our students learning journey.

We have an unrivalled curriculum of courses on offer for students of all ages and stages covering A-levels, Apprenticeships, Vocational & Technical courses. We also offer Higher Education, Online learning and Community courses that appeal to the needs of the local community.

What we offer:

• Annual Leave: 25 days total and closure for winter shutdown period in line with Hampshire County Council school holidays & statutory bank holidays
• Pension: Generous Local Government pension. Further information can be found at www.hants.gov.uk/hampshire-services/pensions/local-government
• Learning & Development: Programmes by The Community Adult Education Department
• Staff Development: Access to the College staff development programmes and CPD Onsite
• Discounts: City of Portsmouth College Hair Salon & 50% off at the City of Portsmouth College Sports Centre
• Online Discounts: Unidays, Student Beans, and Totum with a City of Portsmouth College email address
• Parking: Free car parking across all campus sites (apart from Arundel)
• Blue Light Card: providing several discounts for clothing, electrical goods, food and days out, even concert tickets!

Diversity and Inclusion:
Equality, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion are central to the work of City of Portsmouth College. This underpins the vision of the College to transform lives through providing exceptional education and training.

The College’s commitment to Equality, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion is reflected in the continued successful promotion of these strands through the curriculum, enrichment activities, and the range of direct and indirect student support services.

Pre-Employment Checks:
The City of Portsmouth College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in our college. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check and two references.

We reserve the right to close the job advert when we have had successful applications, and it may not run for the full duration of the advert. We do not accept CVs from agencies for these roles.