Bookkeeping jobs in Stanway

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.

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.

To deliver high-quality transactional finance support across UCAS through clear ownership of core transactional task/processes, ensuring accuracy, robust financial control, and timely delivery. The role holds end-to-end responsibility for cashbook management, invoicing, credit control, payment processing, and month-end activities, while maintaining strong stakeholder relationships and a commitment to continuous improvement across the finance function.

Key accountabilities:

• Own the end‑to‑end process for analysing and reconciling cashbooks across multiple bank accounts and subsidiaries, ensuring discrepancies are thoroughly investigated, resolved accurately and addressed through robust root‑cause analysis.

• Ensure use of online banking systems complies with approved access control and authorisation procedures, including appropriate approvals, segregation of duties, and adherence to financial security requirements.

• Financial onboarding of new customers, ensuring accurate customer set‑up and strict adherence to internal controls, approval processes and governance requirements.

For full job description, please see role profile attached.

• Significant experience in transactional finance, with clear ownership of end-to-end processes such as accounts payable, accounts receivable, bank reconciliations, journals, and general ledger maintenance.

• Strong IT and systems capability, including use of ERP accounting systems and high-level of Excel proficiency with the ability to confidently apply functions such as VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, pivot tables, data validation and conditional formatting.

• Proven ability to manage competing priorities and high workloads while consistently meeting deadlines with high accuracy and attention to detail.

• Clear and confident communication skills, with the ability to discuss/explain transactional finance activities to non-financial colleagues/stakeholders.

• Demonstrated ability to build effective working relationships across departments, influencing and collaborating with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.

• Adaptable, approachable, and capable of working independently with minimal supervision, while also contributing positively to a high-performing finance team.

• Working knowledge of VAT and its practical application within day-to-day transactional finance operations, including the ability to identify, investigate, and escalate VAT-related issues.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, proactively identifying process inefficiencies, implementing improvements, and supporting continuous improvement initiatives.

• Experience supporting month-end and/

Salary - Up to £28,000.

• 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 touch.