Assistant Accountant

The Role

We are seeking a motivated Assistant Accountant to support the University Group’s financial and operational objectives through accurate reporting and insightful analysis. Working within the Financial Planning & Control team, you will assist in preparing management accounts, budgets, and forecasts, ensuring appropriate accounting treatments and high-quality financial information.

You will analyse financial performance, identify trends and variances, and support income and cost analysis, including deferrals, accruals, and prepayments. You will also contribute to business case development, ensure compliance with accounting standards, and help improve financial processes and reporting.

Key responsibilities include:

• Assist in preparing accurate and timely management accounts, including I&E, balance sheets
• Support the preparation of budgets and forecasts, ensuring financial data is up to date
• Analyse financial performance, identifying trends, variances, and insights
• Assist with income analysis, ensuring correct treatments such as income deferrals
• Support cost analysis, including accruals and prepayments, and investigate variances
• Help identify cost-saving opportunities and efficiency improvements
• Ensure compliance with accounting standards, policies, and regulations
• Recommend and support improvements to financial processes and reporting
• Work collaboratively with finance colleagues and support junior staff

Our Successful Candidate

The successful candidate will be part-qualified (or equivalent) and have experience in management accounting, including budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis. You will demonstrate strong numerical ability, advanced spreadsheet skills, and the capacity to manage competing deadlines, while proactively identifying ways to enhance financial reporting and improve processes. Experience within the Higher Education sector or using Agresso would be an advantage.

You are a strong team player with clear, confident communication skills, able to explain financial information to diverse stakeholders. You support junior colleagues when needed and take a solutions‑focused approach to evolving business needs.

The Benefits

As a staff member of CU Corporate Services Ltd, you will have access to a wide range of industry leading rewards and benefits which includes:

• Excellent Employers Pension Contribution
• 30 days Annual leave plus Bank Holidays
• New Holiday Purchase Scheme up to 5 additional days
• Life Assurance 4 x Salary
• BUPA Cash Plan
• 50% off Tuition Fees for staff dependants
• CU Reward Scheme – Discounts across a range of High Street/ Online Retailers
• Cycle To work scheme

Our Culture

As a global Education Group, equality, diversity, and inclusion are embedded within the fabric of our organisation and are a key focus of our core values. We harness the power and potential of the diverse cultures, backgrounds, abilities, and experiences of our students, colleagues, and partners to create opportunities for all.

Closing date: 15 March 2026.