ESSENTIAL SKILLS, QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

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

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Qualified Accountant (ACA/CIMA/ACCA/CIPFA), or willing and able to complete qualification within 12 months. (S)

EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE:

• High level understanding of accounting and finance, and demonstrable experience of working in senior finance roles and delivering effective financial management. (S, I)
• Experience of working strategically to balance the conflicting demands of multiple stakeholders whilst protecting the integrity and ownership of financial processes. (S)
• Significant experience in provision of high quality written and verbal advice, suitable for executive and senior level decision makers. (I)
• Strategic understanding of the role of governance, risk management and assurance in operational and project delivery and ability to reflect that understanding in advice to the business. (S, I)

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Proven ability to build exceptional collaborative relationships with senior stakeholders and influence and challenge them with impact and professional credibility (S, I)
• Proven ability to lead and motivate a team to deliver high standards of service. (S)
• Proven high level written and oral communication skills. (I)
• Personal resilience and a confident approach, willing to apply good judgement to solve issues and find solutions. (I)
• Strong organisational skills, able to manage and prioritise own and others’ workload and meet deadlines in a very timely manner. (S)

NATIONALITY REQUIREMENTS

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

Lead a finance business partnering team, providing a comprehensive financial business partnering service to Research England; providing high level insight, challenge and support to a comprehensive range of stakeholders, to deliver outcomes in line with UKRI priorities.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY

Leadership / teamwork

• Lead, develop and motivate a team to deliver high standards of service.
• Take a collegiate approach to leading across the UKRI Finance function
• Develop exceptional collaborative relationships with senior managers and key internal and external stakeholders including the Executive Chair, COO, and Directors.
• Lead in providing strategic finance advice, driving value for money, and offering challenges to relevant internal and external senior stakeholders, based on strong business awareness and understanding, to ensure robust financial processes.
• As a recognised expert, work closely with senior stakeholders to bring insight and influence on financial matters to aid in establishing strategic priorities, particularly in more complex or high-risk matters
• Represent the Finance function and/or UKRI at relevant Executive meetings, Boards and Committees.

Delivery / programmes / projects / process

• Responsibility for a range of complex reporting and control functions, positioning Finance to work with the business and link budgets to delivery plans and business cases.
• Present insightful information and analysis to support effective strategic decision-making, using strong business awareness to present insightful information and analysis and to support effective longer-term decision-making and deliver outcomes in line with Council/UKRI priorities.
• Ownership and accountability for annual and multi-year budget setting cycles including close work with central strategic finance team and DSIT on dual support issues
• Lead finance input to the RE payments project
• Accountability and direction in the development of the finance case within business cases, and input and shape the direction of the other cases.
• Accountable for ensuring compliance with internal financial, DSIT and HMG controls within assigned business areas.
• Accountability and responsibility for the production of high-quality reports for Executive meetings, Boards and Committees

Other

• Work to create and deliver a long term strategy for the management of cross cutting programmes noting the challenges of time limited projects and redeployment of resources
• Manage multiple stakeholders with occasionally conflicting priorities to minimise conflict and deliver best value to UKRI