Business support

The business support team provides financial management, information and advice to all faculties and directorates across the University
Business support

What we do

Financial planning, management accounting and reporting.
The University Faculties and Professional Services are supported in the financial management of their areas by central finance services staff. 
The Business Support team helps colleagues by ensuring queries are addressed by the right experts within finance.
There are a number of key financial management activities that take place throughout the year. These include:
  • month end close down and preparation of management accounts
  • in year financial monitoring and forecasting
  • financial planning
  • preparation and submission of regulatory returns including TRAC, Financial Statement Returns, and OFFA
  • costing of new programmes.
For help with reporting or costing queries, please contact the Business Support Team: +44 1752 588100 ext. 7 / finance.businesssupport@plymouth.ac.uk

Business area contacts

Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business
Finance Business Partner: Claire Wilson
Management Accountant: Chris Smith
Faculty of Health
Finance Business Partner: Damian Grinter
Management Accountants: Marie Cann and Justin Crews 
Faculty of Science and Engineering
Finance Business Partner: Laura Bassett 
Management Accountant: Rich Cocksedge 
Academic Partnerships
Finance Business Partner: Jessica Bennett
Management Accountant: Emily Monesmith 
Estates
Finance Business Partner: Nicki Sanford 
Management Accountant: Alex Marks
Finance
Finance Business Partner: Nicki Sanford 
Management Accountant: Alex Marks
Registry
Finance Business Partner: Jessica Bennett
Management Accountant: Emily Monesmith 
Research and Innovation
Finance Business Partner: Jessica Bennett
Management Accountant: Rich Cocksedge 
TIS
Finance Business Partner: Nicki Sanford 
Management Accountant: Alex Marks
Library and Digital Services
Finance Business Partner: Jessica Bennett
Management Accountant: Emily Monesmith 
Human Resources
Finance Business Partner: Nicki Sanford 
Management Accountant: Alex Marks
OVC
Finance Business Partner: Nicki Sanford 
Management Accountant: Alex Marks
UCSP
Finance Business Partner: Nicki Sanford 
Management Accountant: Alex Marks

Month-end

Financial transactions are recorded on the main finance system Unit4 against a specific month (or period).

At the end of each month, we follow a structured month end timetable.

This timetable ensures that for budgetary control purposes, users know that data is complete for a period and from which management accounts can be produced.

<p>Forecast</p>

Financial planning cycle

This University service oversees the annual financial planning cycle. There are a number of key internal deadlines throughout the year. These deadlines are included within the annual planning cycle guidance which is accessed via the University’s corporate information system.

In year forecasting

Annual budgets are set and agreed as part of the annual planning process and finalised in July by the Board of Governors.

There are forecasts that formally take place twice a year – at the end of period 4 (November) and at the end of period 8 (March).