Finance Manager in Birmingham

Online Education Services (OES) is a leader in online education. We partner with the world’s leading universities to enhance the student experience for the digital era to meet our purpose of being the world’s most impactful enabler of education. At OES, we are passionate about student success and the future of education.  

In 2024, we are launching a strategic partnership with a transformational UK university and looking for talented, ambitious individuals to grow our team. You will be joining OES at an exciting time with significant opportunities for professional growth, creativity, and impact. 

This position is a hybrid role based in OES’ Birmingham office (2-3 days per week) with the remainder working from your home.  

This is a leadership role within a global business with a key focus on our UK operations - you can truly make a mark.

Requirements

As our UK Finance Manager, you'll be working on;

Finance Operations

• Supported by the Finance Operations team in Cape Town and outsourced providers (where appropriate) this role will manage all accounting operations: billing, accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll, tax compliance, general ledger, cost accounting and revenue recognition
• Treasury Management: Cash flow management, including forecasting and cash collection.
• Improvement of key business processes.

Reporting

• Monthly reporting and analysis on financial performance and KPIs of the UK numbers to the senior management team in the UK, the Finance Director International, and the Group Finance team in Australia.
• Working with heads of departments to identify and explain variances on a monthly basis
• Providing value adding operational reports
• Assisting in the efficient capture and reporting of inter-company related activities
• Working with external advisors and auditors on the year-end financial statement process

Forecasting & Commercial Support

• Providing support to produce annual budgets and rolling financial forecasts
• Providing financial analysis and advice on existing initiatives, identifying and tracking key KPIs in order to meet targets (initial business/investment case, budget or other)
• Supporting in the preparation of financial business cases for proposed new business offerings such as new degree programmes.
• Identifying and helping deliver operational improvement and efficiencies.

Compliance

• Ensuring compliance with all external obligations including, but not limited to, annual returns/filings and VAT returns
• Maintaining an up-to-date knowledge of both local and OES’s regulatory and audit requirements
• Developing and documenting business processes and accounting policies to maintain and strengthen internal controls
• Owning local relationships with the UK advisors (audit, tax, legal)
• Adherence to relevant UK university education compliance

Skills & Experience

• 3+ years as a Post Qualified (i.e. CIMA, ACA, ACCA or equivalent) Experienced Accountant (or equivalent) in a similar role with experience across both financial and management accounting, including tax and audit.
• Evidence of being a hands-on, self-starter with a solutions focused attitude
• Team player with the confidence to interact with senior management
• Exceptional communication skills (verbally and in writing), with the ability to thrive in a dynamic and evolving environment
• Ability to build robust working relationships at all levels within the OES team and
• A strong understanding of financial control and business performance management.
• Understanding of local compliance obligations, including tax obligations.
• Experience of the university education sector or a business undertaking B2C sales and marketing would be an advantage. 

Benefits

• Salary of up to £45,000.00 per year depending on experience
• A brand new role where you'll have true impact
• Global organisation focused on growth = lots of opportunities for our employees
• Engaging & vibrant organisational culture
• Flexible working environment
• OES values driven recruitment principles
• Career-life fit – health & wellbeing focus
• OES strategy reflects respect, honesty & diversity
• Continuous improvement through challenging & meaningful work
• High growth industry & strong partner/shareholder backing
• Genuine focus on student success
• Global mentoring program
• We are proud to support the Living the Wage movement