This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK's leading over-50s age inclusive jobs board.
UK Research and Innovation
Salary: from £87,565 per annum (final salary will be awarded in line with the UKRI pay and reward policy ), this role also qualifies to participate in the UKRI senior bonus scheme
Hours: Full time
Contract Type: Open Ended
Base Location: Swindon or London, hybrid working available with travel to both
About the role
The role will work closely with the UKRI Finance Director to develop and implement financial strategies, oversee financial operations, and provide financial guidance to senior management in UKRI. It will play a fundamental role supporting the Finance Director in the provision of effective high quality financial management and financial services. It will work at a strategic level and contribute to the UKRI's major financial decision making, whilst also providing leadership to the Finance Directorate.
The role will have accountability for the provision of high calibre professional financial business partnering support to all UKRI business areas. It will also deliver, and lead transformation of business partnering support, maximising on the potential of the new HR and Finance system and deliver improved efficiency and effectiveness. The ongoing Finance continuous improvement activity will promote harmonisation and use of best practice, standardise service provision and improve flexibility to allow the function to adapt at pace to new UKRI challenges and deliverables.
The role will provide leadership across the function to ensure that councils, working with their respective finance business partnering teams, deliver within allocated funding levels to maximise research and innovation while managing senior stakeholder expectations in an intelligent, sensitive, and realistic manner. The role requires significant experience in accountancy, extensive senior level experience, with excellent diplomatic and shrewd negotiation skills, including the ability to collaborate and evaluate complex financial issues.
A critical aspect of the role will be to provide visible leadership in delivering the UKRI's vision and objectives through its councils and business areas: taking accountability for strategic financial planning and decision-making, implementation of the financial aspects of each Council's Strategic Delivery Plan and monitoring and evaluation of financial performance.
Reporting to: the UKRI Finance Director
Direct Reports: up to 10 direct reports and leadership of a team of up to 130 finance staff.
Key Areas of Accountability
Leadership / team-work / collaboration:
* Collaborating closely with senior Finance Business Partners and wider stakeholders across the function to ensure the effective management of UKRI finances and advising on complex financial issues
* Leading the effective delivery of a high performing Finance service, particularly through the further development of the Finance Business Partnering function, ensuring that the high standards within the team are developed and maintained
* Ensure effective working between Finance Business Partner teams, Management Reporting and Financial Planning, and Financial Control
* Acting as an ambassador for the Finance Business Partner model, actively driving up standards to highlight the benefits of the model for all staff and managers
* Actively managing direct reports, ensuring that personal development reviews (PDRs), Probationary meetings (where applicable) and regular one-to-one meetings take place to develop the skills and behaviours of the Finance team
* Implementing succession planning, identifying, mentoring and developing the next generation of Finance Business Partners
* Lead on workforce planning and finance capability for the whole Finance function
* Playing an active role in UKRI's senior finance team, led by the UKRI Finance Director, including deputising for the Finance Director as necessary, being a highly visible ambassador for the function, and leading cross-cutting workstreams (e.g. within the finance function's transformation programme).
Delivery / Programmes / Projects / Process:
* Deputise for the Finance Director as required to provide finance leadership on issues or incidents that may arise
* Lead on programme management of the Finance Function's Change and continuous improvement programmes
* Accountable for the transformation of the finance business partnering function, maximising on the potential of the new HR and Finance system, deliver improved efficiency and effectiveness, promote harmonisation and use of best practice, standardise service provision and improve flexibility to allow the function to adapt at pace to new UKRI challenges and deliverables
* As part of the above, ensure effective on-going finance support for UKRI cross cutting activity
* Act as the business process owner for finance business partnering related activity for the new finance and HR system programme, ensuring harmonisation where possible, and alongside the rest of the Finance Senior Leadership Team, ensure effective delivery of finance support following systems implementation
* Maintaining a robust internal control environment, consistent with HMT's Managing Public Money guidance, working closely with UKRI Governance, Risk and Assurance, UKRI Financial Controller, and senior colleagues
* Leadership for finance support for the UKRI Horizon Europe (HEu) programme of work and three UKRI councils of Research England (RE), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
* Leadership for finance support of Official Development Assistance (ODA) budgets
* Leadership of delivery of the Finance function Centres of Excellence
Your skills, qualifications and Experience
Candidates will be assessed against the following criteria throughout the recruitment process:
Essential:
* Qualified Accountant (ACA/CIMA/ACCA/CIPFA)
* Ability to lead a significant portfolio, with strong team working, development and collaboration skills
* High level communication, relationship building and influencing skills, and resilience
* Ability to operate at a strategic level, demonstrate strategic vision and make a substantial contribution to corporate plans
* Advanced ability to positively influence stakeholders and collaborators
* Extensive experience and qualification at senior level of financial management in middle or large sized public or private sector organisations
* Excellent leadership skills and the ability to lead large teams
* Leadership and delivery with a focus on achievement and continuous improvement, and ability to manage ambiguity and challenge
* Working strategically to balance the conflicting demands of multiple stakeholders whilst protecting the integrity of key financial processes.
Desirable:
* Experience of public sector accounting, budgeting and controls (e.g. Managing Public Money requirements) is essential for this role to be fully effective, but may be developed in an otherwise exceptional candidate if recruiting externally
* Experience of working closely with the Higher Education sector and/ or the research and innovation sectors
Other Information:
The closing date for the receipt of applications is 23:59 on Sunday 28 April 2024. Interviews are expected to be held in London on Wednesday 5 June 2024.
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 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.
Please note, to apply via the UKRI Careers Portal you will receive a notification confirming your profile has successfully been created (if you have not previously set up an account) and a second notification confirming your application for this role has been submitted. If you do not receive the second notification confirming your application for this role has been submitted or experience any other issues, please contact seniorrecruitment@ukri.org .
#J-18808-Ljbffr