Finance

The Finance Team consists of approximately 40 members of staff, across both Luton and Bedford campuses. The Finance team is mainly situated in F Block (Luton) with functions such as credit control surgeries, cashiering and petty cash operating from the Campus Centre in Luton. A finance help desk is also located in P Block at the Bedford Campus.

See the Finance Department Organogram [PDF] for details of members of staff and reporting lines.

One of the main roles of the Finance team is to provide financial advice to each department within the University, to assist with budgets and other costs. The Finance team also ensures that staff are paid their wages every month, and that tax and national insurance deductions are correct.

The Finance team is made up of several departments, including:

Financial Services

The Financial Services team is responsible for all student financial support services. They provide expertise in respect of student grants and tuition fee loans and queries relating to the University's bursary programme.

• Income Services manage the process for commercial invoicing, fee adjustments, plus discretionary grants that are administered by the Faculties. The team also handles the payment of accommodation rent, refunds and agents fees.
• Credit Services are responsible for managing instalment plans linked to tuition fees, commercial and other debt issues. The team at the Student Centre handles the payment of fees and rent, payments to staff for petty cash.

Management Accounts

The Management Accounts Team provides financial information, reports, advice and analysis to support the financial management and decision making of each Faculty and Department within the University. They are also actively involved in setting annual budgets and forecasts. Each Management Accountant has specific responsibility for a number of Departments and cost centres within the University (see the Finance Organogram).

Purchase Ledger

Purchase Ledger deal with the payment of supplier invoices by either a BACS or cheque payment

Purchasing

The remit of the Purchasing Office is to influence non-pay expenditure to ensure best value for money is obtained. This is achieved through providing advice and guidance on procurement best practice. The Purchasing Office is also responsible for the daily conversion of University requisitions into purchase orders and issuing them to our suppliers. Further information can be found in the Procurement Manual (under Manuals section). Details of approved suppliers can be found in the Approved Supplier link (under Purchasing).

Salaries

Salaries aim to provide a professional and effective salaries service to all staff. They supply all statutory and regulatory returns to the Government and similar bodies. They process visiting staff payments and staff expenses and are responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Pension Scheme.