Grant Funding

The Royal Society's mission is to recognise, promote and support excellence in science and to encourage the development and use of science for the benefit of humanity. The Royal Society Grants team is responsible for administering the Society's grants programmes including the major fellowships, international collaborations, capacity building initiatives, innovation and industry programmes.

Working as part of a new team and reporting to Funding and Assurance (F&A) Manager, the postholder will support the delivery of funding and assurance activities with a focus on UK Post-Award reconciliations within the grants section.

We are seeking a candidate with strong attention to detail who is accustomed to working with timetabled deadlines. Candidates must display a positive attitude towards managing high-volume tasks, showcasing the ability to work efficiently and effectively under pressure.

Reports to: Funding and Assurance Manager

Line manages: N/A

Location:
Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AG plus hybrid remote working

Hours: Full time, 35 hours a week

Pay Band: B

Salary: £31, 164

Contract: permanent

The application closing date is 14 July at 23:59.

Interview will take place on 30 July 2024

Post-award management
Support the closure of grants, including the reconciliation of stand-alone grants and main fellowships and scheduling final reports.Liaising with Research Offices to negotiate return and value of refunds.Chasing outstanding final reports for stand-alone grants and main fellowshipsCreating and scheduling new payment schedulesAssisting with the creation of official award letter contractsAssist with the distribution and monitoring of reporting timetable activities. Help with the preparation of regular financial reports.
Grant commissioning and contracting
Monitor payment schedule setup on grant management system flagging errors to grant managers. Provide programme teams with application finance information to enable finance eligibility checks to be performed.
Grant finance monitoring
Deliver final finance reconciliation activities and refund receivables activities.Support F&A manager with payment schedules monitoring activities. Support the delivery of the monthly payment run and approval activities. Monitor F&A mailbox, directing email queries to relevant members of the F&A team.
Financial Data and reporting
Support with data quality activities on the grant management system, resolving issues which could impact forecasting and payment runs activities.Maintain finance dashboard, ensuring data sources are linking correctly to the dashboard.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
To support activities within the F&A team aimed at increasing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion including encouraging participation from under-represented groups and supporting the development and maintenance of policies and practices to foster greater inclusivity and to ensure that those who have followed a non-standard career path are encouraged to apply.
General
To share experience and ideas with others in the Section and the Society and contribute broadly to the Royal Society's mission and priorities.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

Knowledge of financial management principles and practices

Essential

Experience of working in a finance department and/or in a grant management environment

Desirable

Experience of working to timetables and meeting strict deadline

Essential

Experience working in a team and across teams

Desirable

Experience of using Microsoft Office (in particular, Excel, Teams & Sharepoint)

Essential

Experience in a similar role

Desirable

SKILLS

Excellent communication (oral and written) and interpersonal skills

Essential

Strong numeric and IT skills

Essential

Strong attention to detail and meticulous record keeping

Essential

Good analytical and problem-solving skills

Essential

Excellent organisational and time management skills

Essential

Self-management

• Enthusiastic and positive attitude

• Reliable and consistent

• Output is accurate and of high quality

• Punctual and meets deadlines

• Confident of own abilities

• Knows personal values, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and limits

• Gains insight and learns from mistakes

• 'Let's go' of an issue and knows when to move on

• Is open and non-defensive when faced with criticism

• Ensures actions are consistent with words and messages

Working with others

• Willing to cooperate and share knowledge within the team, Shares all relevant, critical and useful information

• Willing to help others in times of need

• Listens to and acts upon feedback from senior colleagues and willingly learns from others

• Able to give simple presentations to sectional colleagues

• Understands that one's own actions and behaviours will influence how others perceive and engage with the Society

• Offers their assistance if they have the capacity, without the need to be asked.

• Actively seeks opportunities for gaining feedback from others

• Presents with confidence within own section and area of remit.

• Communicates confidently, asks questions and checks for understanding.

• Values the input of others, balances that with a sense of purpose to get the job done

• Possesses self-awareness and senses situations prior to acting or communicating.

Resource management

• Is aware of and works within budgetary and resource constraints

• Organises own workload prioritising according to business need

• Is flexible and adapts to changing circumstances and priorities

• Looks for ways to improve quality or results

• Meets the standards of quality expected of their role

• Maintains high standards despite pressing deadlines

• Does work right first time, corrects own errors and regularly produces accurate, thorough, professional work.

• Is able to multitask and manage urgency in a calm and practical manner.

• performs a wide variety of tasks and changes focus quickly as demands change

• Undertakes additional responsibilities and responds to situations as they arise with minimal fuss and supervision.

Critical thinking

• Thinks tasks, queries and problems through and considers what they need to know

• Uses relevant information when providing a service, solving a problem or dealing with a query

• Is open to new ideas and willing to try them

• Makes decisions within well-defined guidelines

• Uses initiative to select most appropriate solution to straightforward problems

• Analyses both successes and failures for clues to improvement

• Prepares for problems or opportunities in advance

• Distinguishes the main issues from side issues

• Proposes various solutions or options for consideration defining the pros and cons of each

Adaptability

• Adapts to changes in workload without letting standards slip

• Listens to and accommodates the alternative views of others

• Takes on new challenges when asked to do so

• Is receptive and accommodating when asked to take on new projects outside of their usual job specification.

• Remains open-minded and changes opinions on the basis of new information

• Performs a wide variety of tasks and changes focus quickly as demands change and with minimal disruption or fuss

Managing people and relationships

• Values and appreciates the importance of feedback

• Shares responsibility for the performance and workload of the team where appropriate

• Handles requests promptly and politely

• Respects opinions and deals appropriately with complaints

• Works to improve the performance of oneself and others by pursuing opportunities for continuous learning.

• Constructively helps others in their development.

• Exhibits a "can-do, will-do" approach and inspires peers to excel.

• Asks questions and probes to understand stated and underlying needs, issues, concerns and problems

• Addresses concerns and problems fairly, empathetically, decisively and promptly, maintaining a diplomatic and professional manner

• Manages expectations and keeps everyone concerned up-to-date on progress

• Raises concerns and recommends potential solutions for those processes that negatively impact on relationships, customer service or the fair treatment of customers.

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