Finance Officer

Role overview

The Finance Officer is responsible for supporting everyday finance operations in partnership with the Finance Manager and the central finance function. The post holder will keep financial records accurate in the ERP environment, handle invoices, payments, bank activity and purchase orders through CRM, and respond to finance-related questions from students, staff, suppliers and colleagues based in Manchester. The role also contributes to budget tracking, reporting, control compliance and informed operational decisions across the Dubai branch. At times, the position may also support People & Organisational Development tasks to help maintain business continuity.

Core finance operations

• Run the complete accounts payable and accounts receivable cycles, making sure invoices, payments, receipts and student/customer billing are completed accurately, on time and in line with UAE regulations and university policies.
• Check, verify, code and enter supplier invoices into the ERP system only after all required documents and checklists are in place.
• Arrange supplier payments and payroll-linked transactions through online banking, ensuring proper authorisation, correct amounts and adherence to the payment timetable and internal controls.
• Prepare and record cashbook entries for all bank accounts, including AED, GBP and debit card accounts, together with petty cash movements, while keeping the records complete and regularly reconciled.
• Carry out bank reconciliations and petty cash reconciliations on a routine basis so that all balances remain accurate and fully supported.
• Review and process purchase orders submitted through CRM, checking completeness and compliance before sending them to the Finance Manager for approval readiness.
• Handle credit control by following up on overdue student accounts and payment plans, working closely with the wider finance team to improve collections.
• Support sponsor billing where needed, including creating consolidated invoices and preparing the related backup documents.

Month-end, year-end and reporting

• Oversee month-end and year-end closing activities, including prepayments, accruals, reconciliations and audit support schedules.
• Produce regular financial reporting on budgets, spending, commitments, payables, receivables and variance analysis for local leadership and the central finance team.
• Maintain finance data accurately and on time so it can be used for audit work and statutory reporting.

Budgeting, forecasting and analysis

• Assist with annual budget preparation, forecasting and ongoing monitoring against approved budgets.
• Track actual spend against budget at nominal code level, identify variances and provide practical observations.
• Support financial planning by analysing data, spotting trends and preparing performance reports that aid decision-making for the Dubai branch.

Tax and regulatory compliance

• Assist with VAT compliance by preparing draft VAT returns, completing reconciliations and coordinating with the Manchester tax team for final review and approval before submission to the UAE Federal Tax Authority.
• Work with external corporate tax advisers to gather, organise and validate the financial information needed for annual corporate tax filings, ensuring the data is complete and correct.

Intercompany and central coordination

• Manage the end-to-end intercompany process, including expense submissions, purchase order handling, invoice preparation, billing and follow-up for settlement and reconciliation.
• Act as a main contact point between the Dubai branch, central finance in Manchester, external auditors, suppliers and internal teams, resolving issues promptly and keeping communication clear.
• Serve as the primary finance and accounting contact for the Dubai branch.

Systems, controls and process management

• Maintain strong controls, processes and documentation standards across all finance work.
• Create and maintain Excel-based invoice templates for programmes where required, helping ensure billing is accurate and efficient.
• Ensure all transactions are entered correctly in ERP systems and remain aligned with internal policy and compliance expectations.

General support and operational continuity

• Respond promptly and professionally to financial queries from students, Dubai staff and Manchester colleagues.
• Support wider finance operations when needed, especially during busy periods, to keep services running smoothly across the Dubai branch.
• Carry out other reasonable duties that support the effectiveness of the finance function.

Required experience, knowledge and working style

The successful candidate should bring at least 4 years of experience in accounting or finance, ideally gained in higher education or within an international branch campus. Strong hands-on knowledge of ERP systems is essential, especially Sage 300 and Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM, with direct exposure to finance processes such as purchase order handling, approvals and financial tracking. Advanced capability in computerised accounting tools and Microsoft Excel is needed for analysis, reporting and data management. A solid grasp of accounting principles and operational finance processes is required, along with good understanding of UAE financial rules, VAT and corporate tax compliance. The role calls for someone who can juggle several priorities in a busy environment, stay organised, manage time well and maintain a high level of detail. The person should be able to work independently as well as collaboratively, communicate confidently with stakeholders at all levels, solve problems proactively, improve processes and remain accurate and resilient under pressure. Professionalism, integrity and discretion are essential when handling confidential financial data.

Additional conditions

• There is an expectation of flexibility to work beyond standard hours from time to time if reporting or operational needs require it.
• The post holder may be asked to take on extra duties as reasonably assigned by the line manager, depending on departmental or organisational needs.
• The role requires consistently representing The University of Manchester - Dubai in a professional manner in all interactions.