Finance Placement

Job details

Responsible to: Team Lead

Location: Kedleston Road, Derby Campus

Closing date: Wednesday 11 March 2026

Salary: £25,045 to £25,421 per annum (for exceptional performers, there is scope for further progression up to £29,234 per annum)

Job grade: ATOS 2

Reference: 0036-26

Contract type: Fixed term contract 12 months

Post type: Full-time

Adaptive working type: Hybrid
This role will be based on site, primarily in the named location with the opportunity to work remotely available in line with our Adaptive Working Framework.

About the University

We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.

The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region.

We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 – making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes.

Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.

About the College/Department

The Finance and Procurement teams play a crucial role in enabling the University to deliver on its strategic aims. This involves managing and maximising the University’s financial resources while providing expert financial advice and support to the wider University community. Our responsibilities encompass a wide range of essential functions, including providing strategic business partnering, delivering value from supplier relationships, managing effective working capital and cash flow, and providing key financial support for our students. Additionally, we oversee all aspects of payroll and pensions management, and deliver comprehensive support for financial systems, tax compliance, and audit needs. Through these activities, we provide assurance to the University community around the financial health and efficiency of the University, supporting its mission and operations.

About the role

THIS ROLE IS FOR UNIVERSITY OF DERBY SECOND YEAR STUDENTS ONLY

This one-year Finance Placement offers a valuable opportunity to gain hands-on experience within the University of Derby’s Finance Department. As part of the team, you will contribute to essential financial processes, including month-end procedures, journal entries, and ledger maintenance. This placement is designed to provide a full year of professional experience, combining office and remote work, to enhance your graduate employability and prepare you for a future career in finance.

About You

This opportunity is exclusively available to current second-year students at the University of Derby who are studying an Accounting or Finance-related degree. You will have a keen eye for detail, strong numerical skills, and an enthusiasm for applying your academic knowledge to real-world financial operations. A proactive and professional approach, alongside excellent communication and IT skills, will help you thrive in this role.

You should be eager to learn, adaptable to change, and committed to working collaboratively as part of a high-performing team. This placement will provide you with the practical experience needed to support your future career.

Please note that students who currently hold a Student Visa will not be eligible for this role, unless a placement year is a mandatory element of your course.

Principal accountabilities

• To assist with the month-end processes with regard to internal recharges, including communication with providing departments and monthly reconciliations of income/charges.
• Assist in managing the month-end timetable; ensuring that deadlines are adhered to.
• To assist in the reconciliation of the system sub-ledgers to the General Ledger.
• To use, reconcile and update areas of the finance system, such as Budgetary Control, Chart of Accounts Hierarchy Maintenance, and other General Ledger areas.
• System journal entry input for month-end transactions.
• To administer the creation and collation of information around additional payroll preparation information including those relating to associate lecturers, other ad-hoc staff, and hours for submission to payroll.
• To undertake bank reconciliations and other financial accounting tasks as required.
• To contribute to systems and procedures that drive quality and continuous improvement.
• To assist in the production of Annual Budget and interim Forecasts to specified deadlines.
• To include development of tools and reports along with reconciliations and controls in line with Financial Reporting Standards and to ensure audit requirements are met throughout the year.
• Point of contact for System users regarding finance queries.
• To provide assistance to various teams within the Finance department which could include Payroll, Financial Accounting, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Business Accounting Teams.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

Qualifications

• Current 2nd year student studying a relevant Accounting or Finance-related degree at the University of Derby
• Educated to A Level standard or equivalent work experience
• GCSE Maths and English Language at Grade 5 or above (or equivalent)

Experience

• Experience of contributing collegiately towards the achievement of team goals
• Experience of delivering Customer focussed requirements

Skills, knowledge & abilities

• IT Literacy and excellent Excel skills
• Able to manipulate data sets and present information in different formats
• Excellent communicator, both verbal and written
• High level of professionalism, enthusiasm, engagement, and self-awareness
• Having the ability to be future focussed and adapt to changes
• Working with accuracy and attention to detail
• Team working within and beyond the immediate team, contributing collegiately towards the achievement of team goals, with a desire to be part of a high performing team

Business requirements

• Flexible approach to working hours when occasion demands
• Willingness and flexibility to travel and work between University sites in a cost-effective and timely manner

Desirable Criteria

Experience

• General accounts experience – including the following: reconciliations, customer telephone queries/problems, accounts receivables or payables
• Experience of working in a busy office environment
• Evidence of working with and following procedures
• Experience of financial operations in a compliance-focused business being risk and fraud aware
• Strong customer focus and service delivery achievements

Skills, knowledge and abilities

• Proven track record in translating data into intelligent information and formats to influence and assist Management
• Highly proactive and organised; attention to detail; persistent in pursuing QTEC principles
• Able to build positive and mutually beneficial relationships with colleagues, customers, and stakeholders

Benefits

• Generous annual leave entitlement of 38 days inclusive of bank holidays and concessionary days (pro rata)
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Suite of holistic wellbeing benefits and support including family-friendly policies, generous sick pay provision, and a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to a variety of staff discounts at high street retailers
• Discounted onsite gym
• Cycle to Work scheme
• A flexible working environment
• A commitment to personal and professional development

Important information

Visa Sponsorship Eligibility

The University is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers under the Skilled Worker route for this role; however, applications are welcome from candidates who can demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.

Equity, diversity and inclusion

The University of Derby is committed to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion, regardless of age, disability, trans status, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief (or none), sex and sexual orientation.

We are Disability Confident Employers, demonstrating our commitment to disability inclusion, and invite applicants to highlight adjustments they may require to ensure equitable participation in our recruitment processes.

Further, we are committed to ensuring an environment which is trans and non-binary-inclusive for all our staff, students, partners, and visitors, and continuously review our policies, guidance, and training.

When applying to join the University, you can choose your preferred title, including the gender-neutral title 'Mx'. We also ask our candidates if they would like to share their preferred pronouns. This is voluntary but demonstrates our commitment to inclusivity for trans and non-binary candidates. Once employed, you can add pronouns and preferred names onto our system.

The University of Derby undertakes anonymised shortlisting during the staff recruitment process. This means that, when shortlisting, panel members will not be able to see an applicant’s name and will see an applicant number instead. This demonstrates the practical steps we are taking to remove barriers to recruitment by minimising the possible impact of our unconscious bias.

However, you identify, we actively celebrate the knowledge, experience, and talents each person brings. Our students come from a wide range of backgrounds; therefore, we are particularly interested to hear from applicants who will help our leaders and teams be more reflective of our student population.

Read more about equity, diversity, and inclusion at the University of Derby.

Environmental Sustainability

At the University of Derby, we are passionate about embedding sustainability into everything that we do. We aim to bring environmental sustainability into all aspects of the University, including teaching, research and operational activities. In line with the University's strategic framework, we expect all our staff to embed sustainability into their working practices and support the University's objective to reach net zero carbon by 2050.

Unlock your potential and apply today.

How to apply

You can apply by submitting an online application. Once you have signed in or registered with us, you will be able to begin your application. If you are creating an account for the first time, please ensure you provide an email address that you access regularly as this will be our main means of contacting you regarding your application.

The University reserves the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

If you require any assistance, including the provision of any documentation in an alternative format, please contact the Recruitment team.

Please note all applications must be submitted online by Midnight GMT on the closing date of the vacancy.