Job Description

Job title: / TRAC Accountant
Department/School: / Finance & Procurement
Grade: / 8
Location: / University of Bath premises – Bath city centre
Job purpose
The Transparent Approach to Costing (TRAC) is now the standard costing approach used by Higher Education institutions in the UK. The TRAC and Resources Accountant will be responsible for continuing the development of the University’s approach to costing and pricing of all its activities, including the implementation of TRAC principles at institutional and project level and providing full economic costing (fEC) data to inform strategic investments in teaching, research and knowledge transfer activities. The post will be responsible for producing the University’s annual TRAC return and costing information.
Source and nature of management provided
Head of the Management Information Section (MIS)
Staff management responsibility
There are no posts reporting directly to this post but the post is supported by a part time accounting technician
Special conditions
None
Main duties and responsibilities
1 / Ensuring that the University continues to meet the requirements for the calculation of the fEC of research projects and develops its costing processes and information in line with the fEC timetable.
2 / Developing detailed TRAC costing and pricing policies, procedures and guidance for the teaching, knowledge transfer and commercial activities and embeds these procedures into the decision making of the University at all levels.
3 / Developing and implementing robust institutional approaches to the allocation of all direct and indirect costs (teaching, research and knowledge transfer), in liaison with the Vice Chancellor’s Office and the Departments of Estates and Human Resources
4 / Participating in external benchmarking exercises, advising on market position in relation to institutional pricing and representing the University at regional and national events.
5 / Producing information for Senior Management, TRAC Steering Committee and advising the University’s planning group(s) on surplus/deficit activities in order to inform strategic investment decisions.
6 / Assist with the development and operation of the University workload model software (Simitive).
7 / Completion of the University’s HESA (Higher Education Statistics Agency) return.
8 / Developing and maintaining costing schedules and computer modelling software to support internal project costing and approval procedures.
9 / Developing appropriate quality assurance and monitoring frameworks to satisfy the demands of external verification and audit processes
10 / Assist in the provision of financial management information to all parts of the University as required by the Head of Management Information
You will from time to time be required to undertake other duties of a similar nature as reasonably required by your line manager. You are required to follow all University policies and procedures at all times and take account of University guidance.

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Person Specification

Criteria / Essential / Desirable
Qualifications
Professional accountancy qualification /
P
Experience/Knowledge
Experience working as a management accountant in a complex organisation.
Significant experience of working with costing and information systems
Preparation of financial statements to a prescribed
timetable.
Managing the implementation of complex projects
Experience of working in HE sector / P
P
P
P / P
Skills
Excellent written and oral communication skills at level appropriate to liaison with senior managers and with daily system users.
Ability to communicate complex financial concepts to a non-financial audience.
Excellent numeracy and advanced IT skills (Excel and Business Objects)
Ability to think strategically and creatively and contribute to institutional policy-making
Ability to work independently within parameters specified by the TRAC Steering Committee and central planning groups
Good interpersonal skills, including motivational and team building skills
Ability to develop networks, prioritise tasks and solve problems. / P
P
P
P
P
P
P
Attributes
Competent, conscientious and motivated with a methodical approach to work.
Helpful and supportive manner, motivated to deliver improvements
Able to work on their own initiative, but also contribute positively to team goals. / P
P
P