TRAC Consultant

We are looking for an experienced TRAC Consultant to support a UK university during a critical stage of its annual Transparent Approach to Costing (TRAC) cycle. This is a fully remote, short-term assignment ideal for someone with strong sector knowledge who can deliver high-quality outputs at pace. In this role, you will lead and advise on all aspects of TRAC preparation, including cost pool validation, cost driver review, TAS data processing and model updates. You will work closely with finance teams to ensure the university’s TRAC returns are robust, compliant, and supported by clear documentation and audit trails. You will also help strengthen internal processes, improve data integrity and provide guidance on best practice in line with OfS, UKRI and TRAC guidance.

Key responsibilities include:

• Reviewing TRAC methodologies and cost allocation structures
• Ensuring all cost pools, drivers and TAS outputs are accurate, documented and compliant
• Preparing or supporting final TRAC submissions
• Advising on improvements to the TRAC model or supporting spreadsheets
• Providing expert guidance to finance teams and other stakeholders
• Strengthening audit trails and responding to TRAC-related queries
• Ensuring deadlines are met and that outputs are clear, high-quality and fully auditable

Requirements:

• Extensive hands-on TRAC experience within UK Higher Education
• In-depth understanding of TRAC and sector costing guidance
• Strong analytical and Excel skills, including working with large data sets
• Ability to work independently and deliver high-quality outputs under tight timeframes
• Excellent communication skills and confidence engaging with stakeholders remotely