Salary - £38,939 - £41,321
Location: Any of our four sites: Bangor (Wales), Edinburgh, Lancaster, Wallingford (Oxfordshire)
Hybrid working (50/50)
1-year Fixed Term Appointment
We reserve the right to close this advert early if we find the right candidate, so we encourage you to apply early.
A 1‑year fixed‑term opportunity has arisen for a Project Accountantto join our Finance team at UKCEH. In this role,you’llplay a key part inpost award monitoring and submission of final expenditure statements forour UKRI‑funded research projects- supporting vital work that addresses some of the biggest environmental challenges of our time.
Reporting to our Head of Project Accounting,you’lltake the lead onimplementing finance project reviews with ourproject managers. This is a key role at the heart of UKCEH’s research funding ecosystem - one that ensures our world‑leading science is delivered with integrity,accountabilityand financial excellence.
As our lead for UKRI grant reporting,you’llplay a pivotal part in safeguarding the smooth running of our funded projects, enabling researchers to focus on tackling major environmental challenges.Working closely with project managers, projectaccountantsand research funders,you’llact as a trusted expert who guides colleagues through complex reporting requirements and drives continual improvement in our financial project management processes.
Your main responsibilities will include:
Lead and deliver UKRI grant reporting
1. Act as UKCEH’s lead for UKRI grant reporting, ensuringaccurateandtimelysubmission of Financial Expenditure Statements (FES)via the Joint Funding Service portal.
2. Co‑ordinate and schedule all UKRI reporting activity.
3. Serve as the primary contact for audit documentation, managing queries from auditors and research councilson UKRI grants.
4. Provide backup cover forJeSsubmissions andadministration.
5. Work collaboratively with the Project Reporting and Compliance Lead through weekly progress meetings.
Support wider funder reporting and audits
6. Reviewcost statementsfor a range of external funders, such as UN and UNEP projects, ensuring clarity and compliance.
7. Prepare funder reports whererequirede.g. UNESCOprojects,andsupport the EU Reporting Lead as needed.
Lead on finance project reviews
8. Schedule and deliver financial project reviews using existing tools, working closely with senior Project Accountants.
9. Develop and embed a formal project review framework, including start‑up reviews, pre‑closurechecksand risk‑based scheduling.
10. Empower Project Support Officersfor perform reviewsby enabling a consistent, standardised approach to project reviews.
Drive continuous improvement
11. Collaborate with Project Accountants to create clear, tailored reporting templates for a variety of funders.
12. Support the rollout of key finance policies, such as subcontracting and project manager finance task notes, helping to strengthen best practice across UKCEH.
You’llbe joining a friendly,collaborativeand values‑driven finance team, where your contributions genuinely matter. This role offers the chance to build strong relationships across the organisation, working closely with colleagues from diversebackgrounds, includingproject managers,scientistsand operational teams.You’lldeepen yourexpertise, play a meaningful part in how we deliver our research programmes, and help ensure our pioneering environmental science continues to make a real‑world impact.
To thrive in this role,you’llbring a truly collaborative approach: someone who supports colleagues, delegates effectively and works confidently as part of a team.You’llbe skilled at partnering with non‑finance colleagues, translating financial information clearly and building trust with academic scientists and project teams. Alongside this, your strong organisational skills and ability to manage your workload independently will enable you to plan, prioritise and deliver high‑quality work in a dynamic, purpose‑driven environment.
For the role ofProject Accountantwe’relooking for somebody who has:
13. Accountancy training or qualification - trainee, part or fully qualified (we’llalso consider alternative professional qualifications ornon-qualification basedrelevant experience)
14. Experience with UKRI post‑award grant management, including familiarity withJeSor the Joint Funding Service
15. Proven experience in external funder reporting and audit processes
16. Strong financial systems experience (Workday desirable) and excellent Excel skills
*This postcan be equally performedbasedout ofany of our four sites. (Lancaster, Wallingford,Edinburghor Bangor) with flexible hybrid arrangements.
You’llbe joining a leading independent, not-for-profit research institutethat’scommitted to recruiting talented people like you, progressing your career and giving you the support you need to thrive at UKCEH. Our science makes a real difference, enabling people and the environment to prosper, and enriching society. We are the custodians of a wealth of environmental data, collected by UKCEH and its predecessors over the course of more than 60 years.
Working for UKCEH is rewarding
We appreciate the continuous dedication and contributions of our staff, which is why we provide a comprehensive benefits package that includes financial incentives and wellbeing-orientedperks, such as:
17. 27 days annual leave (rising to 29 days after 5 years’ service) plus 3 days for Christmas closure
18. 10% employer pension contribution
19. Flexible and hybrid working arrangements (role dependant)
20. Peer reward and recognition scheme
21. Dental insurance, gym/fitness discounts, retail discount portal
22. Enhanced maternity and paternity leave
23. 24-hour, 365-day support with physical, mental, social, health or financial issues and much more...
Apply todaywith a SupportingStatement
If this opportunity resonates with you and aligns with your personal career goals, the team would love to receive your application.Please answer the following questions below, providing up to 150 words per question. Use specific examples from your experience and focus on your personal contribution and impact (Please do notsubmita cover letter - your responses to the questions below will be used in place of a cover letter)
24. Give examples of where you have communicated financial information to non-finance colleagues, concentrating on academic/scientific colleagues where possible.
25. Outline your experience of UKRI grant post award reporting e.g. use ofJeS/ joint funding service and submission of Final Expenditure Statements.
26. What interests you about this role and working for UKCEH (we are keen to understand your motivation for applying to UKCEH).
Our Commitment to Inclusion
At UKCEH, we are committed to creating an inclusive andequitableworkplace where everyonehas the opportunity tothrive. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, abilities, and circumstances. As a Disability Confident employer, we actively encourage applications from neurodivergent candidates and people with disabilities, andwe’rehappy to provide adjustments or support at any stage of the recruitment process - just let us know. Ifyou’reexcited about this role but your experiencedoesn’talign perfectly with every requirement,we’dlove to hear from you anyway. You may be just the right fit for this role or another within our wider team.