General information

Reference

002130

Publication start date

01/07/2026

Publication end date

10/07/2026

Post Description

Transactional Finance Manager

Closing date

12/06/2026

Vacancy location

Location

South West, Gloucestershire, Rosehill - Hybrid

Vacancy details

Job Profile

Finance and Corporate Services - Finance Operations

Title

Transactional Finance Manager - Fixed Term Contract

Contract Type

Fixed-term contract

Contract duration

12 months

About us

About UCAS

UCAS is at the heart of connecting people to higher education.

UCAS is the world’s leading shared admissions service for higher education. We provide application services for UK universities and colleges as well as delivering a wide range of research, consultancy and advisory services to schools, colleges, careers services, professional bodies and employers.

We’re a successful and fast-growing organisation, which helps hundreds of thousands of people every year. We're committed to delivering a first-class service to all of our customers — they're at the heart of everything we do.

Business Unit description

Our Finance and Corporate Services business unit is a fusion of multiple functions — financial planning and accounting, facilities and building management, procurement, corporate governance and performance, legal and compliance. The Finance Team also defines UCAS' financial strategy.

About the role

Contractual Hours

35.00

About the role

The purpose of the role is to take overarching responsibility for the accuracy, integrity, and timely delivery of UCAS’ day-to-day financial transactions. This includes full oversight of accounts payable, accounts receivable, cashbooks and all associated reconciliations, and effective line management of 2 Finance Assistants. Ensuring high-quality outputs, strong performance and consistent application of processes and controls.

Team Leadership & People Management

Take full accountability for leading, managing, and developing the Finance Assistants, ensuring the team consistently delivers high-quality, accurate, and timely outputs.

Set clear performance expectations, monitor delivery against objectives, and provide targeted feedback to drive accountability and continuous improvement.

Directly oversee the allocation and prioritisation of workloads, ensuring all transactional activities are completed accurately, efficiently, and within required deadlines.

Embed a culture of responsibility, collaboration, and high performance, promoting a proactive approach to problem solving and service excellence.

Support recruitment, onboarding, and training of new team members, ensuring they are fully equipped to meet performance and control standards.

For full job description, please see role profile attached.

Skills, qualifications, and experience

Qualified or part-qualified accountant, or actively progressing a recognised professional qualification.

Previous experience of supervising and developing junior staff within a transactional finance environment.

Comprehensive knowledge of financial accounting and transactional processes, including strong month-end expertise.

Highly proficient in finance systems and Excel, with confident use of tools such as XLOOKUP, pivot tables, and data validation.

Demonstrated ability to operate under pressure, managing competing priorities while maintaining accuracy and control.

Clear, confident communicator, able to translate complex financial information to non-finance stakeholders.

Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence, collaborate, and build effective cross-functional relationships.

Self-sufficient and accountable, able to work with minimal supervision while contributing to a high-performing team.

Analytical, solutions-focused mindset, with a track record of improving processes and strengthening financial controls.

Robust technical understanding of UK VAT legislation and its practical application across transactional finance, including correct VAT coding, identification of anomalies, and the ability to investigate, resolve, or escalate VAT issues to ensure full compliance.

Package

Up to £40,000 - 12 Month Fixed Term Contract

Purpose-driven work in a charity-led organisation connecting people to education and opportunity

Internal training, mentoring, and access to industry-recognised certifications through our development academies

Hybrid working model built on trust and flexibility, with a 35-hour week and flexible contracts

30 days annual leave, 3 concessionary days over Christmas, bank holidays, and the option to purchase additional leave

Everyday wellbeing support through Perkbox, offering discounts and wellness tools

Onsite facilities including a subsidised gym, café, and free parking at our Cheltenham office

Inclusive culture supported by employee networks, wellbeing champions, and Mental Health First Aiders

Recognition and reward through our quarterly employee scheme and an ex-gratia bonus for going above and beyond

Studies have shown that some groups of people are less likely to apply to a role unless they tick every box. At UCAS we recognise that talent comes in various forms and we are committed to delivering a fair and equitable recruitment process where applicants have an equal opportunity to demonstrate their skills. So, if you think you have what it takes, but don't necessarily meet every single point on the job description, please still apply. If you have any questions and would like to find out more about the role before applying please email the Talent Acquisition team via careers@ucas.ac.uk and one of us will be in.

General information

Reference

Publication start date

Publication end date

Post Description

Closing date

Vacancy location

Location

Vacancy details

Job Profile

Title

Contract Type

Contract duration

About us

About UCAS

Business Unit description

About the role

Contractual Hours

About the role

Skills, qualifications, and experience

Package

Working Arrangements

Is fully remote working an option?

Attachments

Attachment

UCAS

Open Positions (1)

Finance

Transactional Finance Manager