Job overview
Are you passionate about supporting research in the NHS? Do you enjoy a varied role where no two days are the same?
The Research & Innovation (R&I) Department at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT) is entering an exciting phase as we work towards University Hospital Trust status. We are seeking a motivated and dynamic individual to join us as a Research & Innovation Finance Officer and support this journey.
The successful candidate will have a strong financial background and be a collaborative team player with excellent interpersonal skills. You will work with a wide range of stakeholders and be comfortable managing multiple projects and priorities, demonstrating these abilities through the ELHT values. Experience in project management and/or developing reporting tools (e.g. Power BI or similar) would be advantageous.
We are looking for someone who thrives in a fast‑paced, evolving environment and values continuous professional development. The R&I Department, and ELHT more broadly, has a strong track record of supporting staff growth and career progression.
This role offers flexibility, with the option for fully remote working or a hybrid arrangement combining remote and office-based work, with occasional face‑to‑face meetings as required.
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact aleksandra.metryka@elht.nhs.uk.
Main duties of the job
Job Purpose
Provide a professional, timely and accurate finance service to the Research, Development & Innovation (RD&I) function, covering pre- and post-award grant management, study costing and negotiation, income recovery, reporting and compliance. The post holder supports the DERI Divisional Accountant and RD&I Operations Manager to ensure research studies are costed appropriately, contracted effectively and financially managed in line with Trust Standing Financial Instructions (SFIs), funder requirements and applicable research costing guidance (e.g. AcoRD/SoECAT).
This role operates within a matrix management structure. While day-to-day tasks and study-specific direction will come from DERI Divisional Finance Manager (operational manager), line management responsibilities (e.g., appraisals, leave approval, sickness management) will be provided by the RD&I Operations Manager (functional manager).
Working for our organisation
STANDARDS OF CONDUCT
Conduct duties with regard to values underpinning the Trust’s Vision “to be a great Trust providing the best possible healthcare to the people of East Lancashire”:-
Values:-
• Respecting the individual
• Putting patients and customers first
• Promoting positive change
• Acting with integrity
• Serving the community
Underpinning the Trust’s vision and values are the following key operating principles that influence the way in which the Trust does business:-
• Understand the world we live in and deal with it
• We are clinically led and management supported
• Support departments support the front line
• Everything is delivered by and through Divisions
• Compliance with standards and targets are a given. They are the things we do to help secure our independence and influence
• Quality is our organising principle – driving quality up and cost down is not mutually exclusive
• We deliver what we say we need to
Post holders are expected to work flexibly within their pay band. They should only be expected to carry our activities for which they are competent. Alternatively they may carry out the additional duties if they are receiving support or training in order to obtain the recognised level of competence.
The Trust operates a Tobacco Control Policy.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
1. Pre award management of Trust investigator led research grants and personal awards
· Prepare time-sensitive costings and budgets for Trust investigator-led grant applications in line with funder guidance and programme limits (including AcoRD/SoECAT where applicable).
· Advise investigators on eligible/ineligible costs and optimise budgets to maximise value within funder constraints.
· Coordinate the finance components of submissions, ensuring appropriate internal approvals and records for audit.
2. Post-award management of Trust investigator led research grants and personal awards
· Liaise with collaborators and funders to set up accurate financial arrangements in accordance with the award terms and contracts.
· Produce regular financial analyses and variance reports; forecast expenditure and income; and support re-profiling where needed.
· Schedule and submit required financial returns (e.g. ASTOX) with appropriate internal sign-off, e.g grants and personal awards.
· Maintain complete, auditable documentation and support internal/external audit requests.
3. Study Costing, Pricing and Negotiation
· Prepare financial appraisals for proposed studies (commercial and non-commercial), ensuring correct attribution of costs and pricing in line with Trust policy, AcoRD and market comparators.
· Negotiate costs with sponsors and partners on behalf of the Trust and draft/validate financial schedules for contracts.
· Ensure all costing templates and financial documentation are uploaded to EDGE and updated following amendments.
4. Income, Debtors and Payments
· Proactively raise invoices for research activity in line with agreements; monitor and recover income to agreed timelines; and resolve debt queries with sponsors and the Finance Department.
· Match remittances received without invoices and raise retrospective invoices where required.
· Administer participant payments (e.g. travel and inconvenience) in line with study terms and Trust policy.
5. Reporting and Analysis
· Produce monthly summaries from EDGE and Trust finance systems showing activity vs. income for all active funded studies.
· Develop dashboards and KPIs for grant/study finance (e.g. invoice turnaround, debt ageing, forecast accuracy).
· Present financial information in accessible formats to non-finance audiences and study management groups.
6. Governance, Compliance and Risk
· Ensure compliance with Standing Financial Instructions, research governance, funder T&Cs, procurement and VAT rules.
· Identify financial risks and issues (e.g. under-recovery, overspends, contract gaps) and escalate with mitigation plans.
· Contribute to audit readiness, respond to audit requests and implement recommendations.
7. Systems and Data
· Use EDGE and Trust finance systems (GL, e-procurement) to maintain accurate, timely data and reconciliations.
· Continuously improve data quality and develop tips/guides to support organisational learning from previous submissions and studies.
8. Continuous Improvement and Training
· Lead or contribute to finance process improvements (e.g. automation, templates, standard operating procedures).
· Contribute to wider research service process improvements (e.g. feasibility, transformation)
· Provide advice and training to investigators and RD&I colleagues on research finance (pre- and post-award, costing, invoicing).
· Engage with One NHS Finance programmes (e.g. Future-Focused Finance and regional Finance Skills Development networks) to maintain and develop professional skills.
9. General Responsibilities
· Build effective relationships across RD&I, Finance, clinical teams and external partners to deliver a professional service.
· Prioritise workload to meet deadlines; escalate barriers to the RD&I Operations Manager or DERI Divisional Accountant.
Person specification
Essential
Essential criteria
* NVQ 5 / AAT Member /CCAB Certificate level accountancy qualification or equivalent experience.
* Experience working in NHS financial management and administrative office environment.
* Understanding of NHS R&D funding mechanisms;
* Use of computerised finance systems (GL, e-procurement);
* Hands-on costing, invoicing and debtor management.
* Experience of supporting financial dashboards/KPIs for performance
* Advanced Excel (e.g. macros/VBA) and/or data visualisation (e.g. Power BI).
* Knowledge of the NHS financial regime and SFIs;
* Strong Excel, Word and (ideally) Access skills;
* Ability to interpret, analyse and present financial information for non-finance audiences;
* Proven numerical reasoning, problem solving and report writing;
* Ability to prioritise and manage competing demands and deadlines.
* Works on own initiative and as part of a team;
* Calm and effective under pressure;
* High attention to detail and data quality;
* Committed to continuous improvement and learning.
* Ability to travel between Trust sites and external venues as required; Flexibility to meet service needs.
Desirable criteria
* Good Clinical Practice training
* Experience of multi-agency and multi-disciplinary working
* Knowledge of AcoRD and use of SoECAT
* Experience using EDGE;
* Knowledge of research regulatory approvals;
* Ability to translate NHS finance rules into research contexts;
* Development of dashboards/KPIs for financial performance.
* Willingness to undertake occasional overnight stays for conferences/training.