Finance Assistant

Department/Location: Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Cambridge 

About the role 

Reporting to the Finance Coordinator, the Finance Assistant will contribute to the smooth running of financial matters and support financial management within the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences (INI). 

This includes supporting all aspects of the day-to-day accounting and financial procedures for the INI including, but not limited to, processing supplier invoices, coding and matching invoices to purchase orders, processing staff expense claims, processing payments to Institute visitors, raising customer invoices, setting up customer receivable activities, advising Institute staff on financial procedures, maintaining financial records for audit purposes and undertaking other such duties commensurate with the grade of the post. 

About the Institute 

The Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences is a national and international visitor research centre running programmes on selected themes, with applications in a very wide range of societal, scientific and technological areas. The Institute attracts leading scientists, both from the UK and from overseas, to interact on research over extended periods.  The Finance Assistant is an integral part of the Institute team supporting general day-to-day financial processes as well as directly contributing to financial aspects of our visiting researchers' stays in relation to per diem payments and visitor expenses. 

What you will need 

The work of the Institute's staff team is customer-facing due to the significant numbers of visiting researchers being at the heart of what we do, therefore you will need excellent communications skills and a conscientious and enthusiastic approach to your work.  Respect for the strict confidentiality of personal information supplied by visitors and others is also key.  You will be educated to A level standard/NVQ level 3 or have an equivalent level of related practical experience in an accounts environment.  Using your knowledge of finance/accounting administration, and following local and University procedures, you will be required to work on your own initiative within the scope of your role, exercising good time management skills to plan your work in order to meet tight deadlines when they arise.  Ideally, you will have working knowledge of accounting software systems.  Experience of Microsoft Office packages is essential, particularly Excel. 

Limited funding: The funds for this post are available until 28 February 2029 in the first instance. 

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please click on the 'Apply' button above.

How to apply 

Conversations about flexible working are encouraged at the University of Cambridge. Please feel free to discuss flexibility prior to applying (using the contact information below) or at interview if your application is successful. 

Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to: Julia Nicholson, Finance coordinator julia.nicholson@newton.ac.uk

The closing date for applications is 30 August 2026. 

Interviews are expected to be held during the week of 07 September 2026 (subject to confirmation). 

Please quote reference LN50534 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy. 

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society. 

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

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