Job Description

On behalf of UKRI, we are looking for a Finance Business Partner - Inside IR35 for a 3 Month contract (with possible extension) based Hybrid - Remote & 1 day p/week in Swindon (flexible).



UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is the national funding agency investing in science and research in the UK.



UKRI invests 8 billion of taxpayers' money each year into research and innovation and the people who make it happen. They work across a huge range of fields - from biodiversity conservation to quantum computing, and from space telescopes to innovative health care. They give everyone the opportunity to contribute and to benefit, bringing together people and organisations nationally and globally to create, develop and deploy new ideas and technologies.



As a Finance Business Partner, your main responsibilities will be:

Financial Planning & Analysis - Provide financial business partnering (FBP) support across a portfolio of programmes, including forecasting, variance analysis, and month-end reporting to senior stakeholders and government bodies. Grant Lifecycle Management - Support pre-award and post-award activities for R&D grant-based competitions, ensuring timely launch, monitoring, and closure of grants. Risk & Compliance Oversight - Conduct financial risk analysis and ensure adherence to public sector financial standards, including Managing Public Money and Consolidated Budgeting Guidance. Stakeholder Engagement - Liaise with UKRI and other government departments to manage budget allocations, transfers, and reporting requirements. Data Reporting & Presentation - Extract and analyse financial data, producing clear reports and dashboards for senior management and programme boards. Process Improvement & Collaboration - Work with finance and operational teams to enhance financial controls, increase automation, and support audit readiness.

You'll have:

Demonstrable Finance Business Partnering experience. Strong working knowledge of Workday or equivalent ERP systems - ability to navigate, extract, and interpret financial data efficiently to support reporting and analysis. Proficient in Excel, including use of formulas, pivot tables, and data visualisation tools - building and maintaining financial models and reports to support business needs. Excellent interpersonal & communication skills - to senior levels. Professional Accountancy qualification - ACA / ACCA / CIMA.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.



Disability Confident



As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, UKRI guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. This scheme encourages candidates with a disability and/or neurodivergence to apply. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.



Armed Forces Commitment



UKRI guarantees to interview?veterans or spouses / partners of military personnel who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of ex-military candidates / military spouses or partners, who meet all of the essential criteria, we?will interview the best candidates from within that group. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.



In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following "this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different".