Finance Systems Manager

University of East London

We’re the University of East London (UEL) founded in 1898 and proud to change lives through education. Our goal is to advance industry 5.0 careers-first education and provide a clear path to the jobs and opportunities of the future. We’re committed to driving diversity in the 5.0 talent pipeline, working in partnership to promote talent wherever it is found and creating a balanced, inclusive, and green future.

But we can't achieve this goal alone. We need forward-thinking, innovative, and curious individuals like you to join our community and help us craft our future. As part of our team, you'll have the opportunity to work with a diverse range of people who share your passion for creating positive change. We’re an inclusive and welcoming community that is constantly moving forward, never satisfied with the status quo.

About the School / Service 

The Finance Department at the University of East London plays a key role in managing the University's financial resources to ensure stability, efficiency, and strategic investment in its future, aligned with Vision 2028. We provide a comprehensive range of financial services, including budgeting, financial and tax planning, compliance, and advisory support, ensuring the University operates smoothly. Our responsibilities also include the preparation of annual financial statements, statutory reporting, and regulatory submissions. We work proactively with schools and services staff, and students to offer financial guidance, maintain compliance, and drive value for money across all operations.

About the Job

As the Finance Systems Manager, you will play a key role in maintaining, developing, and supporting the University’s main finance system (Unit4 ERP/Unit4 ERPx) and its related systems. Working within the Finance Systems Team and reporting to the Head of Finance Systems, you will help ensure the effective operation, integrity, and development of finance systems across the University, supporting first-class service delivery and user experience.

You will:

• Act as the primary contact for users of the finance system, providing expert guidance, support, and communication on system developments and procedures.
• Lead on the management, maintenance, and development of finance systems reports, ensuring data integrity, consistency, and relevance across all business areas.
• Deliver training and user support to staff across the University, maintaining up-to-date and effective guidance materials.
• Manage the Finance Systems helpdesk, ensuring timely resolution of issues, monitoring performance metrics, and identifying opportunities to improve user experience.
• Collaborate with colleagues and third-party providers to implement system updates, troubleshoot issues, and embed improvements into business-as-usual activities.
• Support the Finance Systems Team in ensuring the accuracy and reliability of finance data, reports, and processes across all integrated systems.

We have recently gone live with a new SaaS finance system, Unit4 ERPx, replacing our previous on-premises Unit4 ERP7 system. 

 About You

You will be a proactive, customer-focused professional with a strong background in finance systems management, support, and development. You will combine technical knowledge of financial systems with excellent communication, problem-solving, and analytical skills.

You will bring:

• A degree or equivalent qualification, and be a qualified accountant (CCAB, CIMA, or equivalent), or have significant equivalent experience.
• Demonstrable experience in the development, testing, and support of major financial systems, preferably Unit4 ERP/Unit4 ERPx, including engagement with senior stakeholders.
• Proven ability to deliver excellent customer service, with experience in developing and maintaining high service standards.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to create technical documentation, deliver user training, and explain complex system or financial concepts clearly.
• A collaborative approach with the ability to work effectively across teams, influence others, and resolve issues efficiently.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to plan and prioritise tasks to meet service deliverables and deadlines.

You will also demonstrate enthusiasm for motivating others to make the best use of finance systems, along with a commitment to the University’s core values of Passion, Inclusion, and Courage, and to promoting equality and diversity within a multicultural environment.

Benefits Package

At UEL, we believe that a great role is about more than just a salary. It’s about the complete package, including our outstanding work environment and inclusive culture. 

We offer a genuinely competitive salary, dependent on experience (DOE), and a range of excellent benefits. 

You can explore our full benefits package here: 

https://uel.ac.uk/benefits-professional-services-positions 

Equal Opportunities

UEL is an inclusive equal opportunities employer and are proud of our Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity achievements, including: zero gender pay gap, members of Stonewall and have won Athena Swan awards. We expect all employees of UEL to accept our EDI policy and will not tolerate discrimination in any form. 

We're a disability confident employer and value all applications. Please let us know if you require any reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process.

So, if you’d like to take your career to the next level with us here at the University of East London and are inspired by our environment and commit to success, we want you to apply today!

Please note that this advert may close earlier than the stated deadline if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.

To contact the recruitment team please phone +44 20 8223 3000 x 4600 or e-mail jobs@uel.ac.uk

CVs without a completed application form will not be accepted.

At UEL we are committed to working together to build a community which values diversity in both our staff and student populations, is representative and inclusive, enabling all to progress and thrive.