About us

The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) is the UK’s leading economics research institute. Our job is to analyse and inform economic and policy decisions and to help policy-makers – and those who hold them accountable – understand the impact that their choices will have on individuals, households and businesses.

We are a team of economists working in collaboration with other academic institutions and experts from the public services, third sector and business.

We count a number of the world’s leading economists among our researchers, and many of our experts go on to make up the next generation of policy-makers, academic scholars and business leaders. Our culture of inclusivity, excellence and independence reaches beyond our staff to shape the future of economics and policy development.

The IFS is recognised as a global centre of excellence for social science research by the UK’s Economic and Social Research Council. We are proud of our reputation for academic rigour, policy impact, high quality communications and absolute independence – an independence that we preserve through careful choices about our funding sources.

The role

This is an excellent springboard finance officer AAT traineeship role for the candidate making early steps in their finance and accounting career.  You will be a key component in a small high performing team that works closely together – getting work done efficiently, solving problems, making improvements, going home satisfied. 

The core duties are accounts payable, accounts receivable, bank reconciliations, managing timesheet postings for the month end process, and accounts software administration.  Beyond those there are a set of other duties ranging from training new members of the research teams in finance processes to assisting with the annual audit and working with other professional services colleagues to help ensure an efficient support function is delivered.  The role is connected to every part of the organisation and you will get a complete overview of what makes a high profile institution like the IFS tick.

Furthermore, the role itself is dynamic – we will encourage the successful candidate to take responsibility for their own development and push for exposure in other areas of finance work. What is key is a can do attitude and a willingness to contribute to making the finance function work smoothly. Once familiar with the core duties, we are keen to train the finance assistant role so that they are able to step in effectively for the management accountant if needed so that means on the job training in management accounts preparation and reporting.  This is a unique opportunity to get exposure to and work closely with the head of finance and management accounting in a demanding but friendly and supportive team.

IFS senior management place great importance on ensuring a great working atmosphere with many intangible benefits such as: easy access to senior staff; a positive and supportive working atmosphere; light-touch internal administration (including strong potential to effect change) and an active staff social scene including baking and sport.

Some hybrid working is available once you are settled into the role, but this is primarily an office-based role near Goodge Street, Central London.  Study support for AAT is available – and in fact strongly encouraged.

Key duties

The principal duties are:

• Managing accounts payable process from invoice receipt to payment, including liaising with suppliers, accounting software coding, approvals and bank platform uploads and sign offs

• Managing staff expense payments and supporting information

• Processing credit card expenditure and petty cash

• Completing bank reconciliation postings, including processing membership, CAF (donations) and events platform receipts

• Managing accounts receivable collection process

• Managing timesheet approvals process

• Accounts software administration, including entering cost rates for staff, creating new user profiles, FX rates, opening periods, password resets and leavers

• Onboarding new starters with respect to finance processes

• Supporting the finance team’s work on the year end statutory audit

• Managing billing on projects, including the Management Information project and recharge projects

• Managing incoming finance team correspondence

• Assisting finance team and other team members with ad hoc finance tasks

• As determined by the Head of Finance based on the evolving nature of the role and the requirements of the IFS

Person specification

Essential

• You should be a graduate; or hold a qualification in accountancy; or have started an AAT qualification; or hold a post-16 numerical qualification with a clear desire to start studying towards an AAT qualification

• Commitment to a career in accountancy and a desire to learn, particularly new finance tasks but also drivers of IFS financial performance, including funder rules

• Keen self-starter with ability to manage own workload, often under pressure

• Commitment to improvement of efficiency and output of own role and the IFS finance team

• Numerate, with experience of using spreadsheets and databases

• Strong IT skills, especially with Excel and Word

• Strong organisational skills and ability to prioritise

• Excellent attention to detail and self-checking skills

• Collaborative team player with flexible attitude, and willingness to muck in

• Confidence in dealing with colleagues at all levels, including directors and senior academics

• Confidence to stand your ground and argue your case if you are not happy with something

• Good written and oral communication skills

Desirable

• Experience of accounts payable / bank reconciliation work in a charity or company

• Experience of at least one accounting software, particularly Deltek

• Evidence of the implementation of improvements within accounting systems

How to apply

Please upload a maximum 2-page cv with a maximum one page covering letter explaining how you meet the criteria.  Please ensure you include the following in your cover letter:

• Why does a career in accounting appeal to you

• How do you see your career developing over the next few years

• Any work and/or life experience you have had that you think will prepare you for this role

• What interests you most about this role

• When was the last time you disagreed with someone about something, what was it about and how did you approach the situation

Please include contact details of two references. Applicants must be eligible to work in the UK.