Job Description

UK Research and Innovation

Salary:

45,272 per annum.

Hours:

Full time

Contract Type:

Open Ended.

Location:

Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire (Hybrid Working) Min 1 day per week in the office.

Closing Date: 8th June 2025

Purpose of the role

Provide dedicated finance expertise, insight and business partnering to NERC Governance Assurance Management and Non-Core R&D. The role heavily supports NERC's implementation of measures to support the financial sustainability of NERC research centres and strategic delivery partners, whilst working closely with stakeholders to add financial awareness to decision making and deliver outcomes that are in line with Council and UKRI priorities.

Key Areas of Accountability

Build & maintain good working relationships with colleagues & partners and provide input and advice Support Programme Managers and Senior Leadership Teams to effectively manage their programmes through the provision of timely, accurate and complete financial information, advice, and constructive challenge

Understand the linkages and dependencies between the different Councils within UKRI by actively working with other Finance Business Partners and colleagues across UKRI to seek opportunities for improvement, change and efficiency within Finance, strengthening internal controls, financial analysis, and effective management of programmes and promoting a culture of teamwork To deputise for the Senior Finance Business Partner on a range of issues, if and when required

Delivery / programmes / projects / process

Perform a range of reporting and control functions, positioning Finance to work with the business and link budgets to delivery plans and business cases

Communicate the importance of Finance to partners at all levels, and use strong business awareness to present insightful information and analysis to support effective longer-term decision-making and deliver outcomes in line with Council/UKRI priorities

Manage annual and multi-year budget setting and forecasting cycles

Develop the finance case within business cases

Manage applications for additional budget cover

Ensure compliance with internal financial, DSIT and HMG controls within assigned business areas




This job description is intended to provide a broad outline of the main duties and responsibilities only.


The post holder will need to be flexible in developing the role in conjunction with their line manager.


The post holder may be asked to carry out any other delegated duty or task that is in line with the post.

Leadership

Be an active member of the UKRI Financial planning & Management Centre of Excellence and OpEx Centre of Excellence.

Develop and maintain the critical relationships with the UKRI Finance Planning & Reporting team.

Actively support, manage and act as the key liaison point for managing completion of any Government Internal Audit Agency (GIAA) recommendations to NERC HO and centres. Ensuring alignment to NERC's financial risk management framework. Lead on the Finance Induction Training & continuous improvement workshops for NERC head office colleagues.

Budget and outturn management

Ensure budget holders and other stakeholders are informed of, and comply with, accounting rules and internal controls.

Provide financial support and challenge to NERC corporate Budget Managers (including lead finance support and challenge to Non-Core R&D budget holders). The objective is for an outturn of less than 0.3% on all budgets.

Lead on the production of ongoing and future phases of the Building a Green Future (BaGF) Strategic Theme across NERC and within UKRI, working with other Councils and stakeholders, ensuring they are in line with UKRI allocations and NERC strategic priorities.

Lead on NERC's annual Operational Expenditure (OpEx), working closely with NERC's Mangers and HR Business Partners regarding staff cost forecasting and vacancy affordability assessments; affordability assessments and input into UKRI led workforce planning.

Provide financial support and challenge to NERC Estate and sustainability team delivering NERC's carbon transformation for NetZero.

Lead on the production on requests from UKRI for data and information for NERC E.g., Funding Assurance reporting. Commitment reporting

Lead on the production on requests from NERC for data and information for Corporate Plan, Parliamentary Briefs and queries e.g., PQs, select committee hearings.

Reporting

Ensure that budget holders and other stakeholders are trained to use the new HR, Finance, and procurement system (SHARP); Simpler and Better Funding implementation, and are encouraged to make use of, and interpret the data available.

Produce monthly reports for the NERC Executives summarising of any material changes to spending profiles within non-Core portfolio.

Essential skills, qualifications & experience

(S) - Assessed at shortlisting

(I) - Assessed at interview

(S&I) - Assessed at both shortlisting and interview





Qualifications:


Qualified Accountant (ACA/CIMA/ACCA/CIPFA), actively working towards qualification, or equivalent experience (QBE) (S)

Experience & knowledge:

Strong understanding of accounting and finance and demonstrable experience of working in delivering effective financial management & reporting (S&I)

Very good IT skills, including good knowledge of Microsoft Office, in particular Excel (I)

Experience of financial modelling & controls (S&I)

Demonstrable experience of month and year-end processes - accruals and prepayment calculations, variance analyses etc. (S&I)

Demonstrable experience of working as part of a wider-business, consulting with senior stakeholders, utilising an in-depth understanding of business priorities and effectively working with partners to meet organisational and financial objectives (S&I)

Experience in provision of high quality written and oral advice suitable for senior level decision makers (S&I)

Proven experience in the preparation of complex budgets, forecasts and financial plans (S&I)

Understanding of the role of governance, risk management and assurance in project delivery (I)

Skills & abilities:

Ability to build relationships with senior partners and influence them with impact and professional credibility

Strong experience of developing effective working partnerships and offering challenges where necessary to senior decision-making groups

Line management and leadership skills

Excellent written and oral communication skills

Personal resilience and a confident approach, willing to apply good judgement to solve issues and find solutions independently

Highly developed team working skills, able to form effective working relationships quickly

Ability to respond calmly under pressure and to make impartial and well-considered judgments in complex situations

Good organisational skills, able to manage and prioritise own and others' workloads and meet deadlines in a very timely manner

About UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

UKRI launched in April 2018, UKRI is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).



Our organisation brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England, which is responsible for supporting research and knowledge exchange at higher education institutions in England, and the UK's innovation agency, Innovate UK. Together we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision to ensure the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation. More information can be found at www.ukri.org.



Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit Benefits of working for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).



The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit 'How we support EDI in the workforce'.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the 'experience' section of the application.



UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion - a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.