Finance Manager

Join to apply for the Finance Manager (Management Accounting) role at Cancer Research UK (CRUK)Job OverviewStrong financial controls. Collaborating cross-functionally. Resolving complex challenges.Finance Manager (Management Accounting)£57,500 - £62,500 (+ Benefits)Grade: M2Reports to: Head of Finance (COO & FP&A)Contract: 12 month fixed‑term contractHours: Full time 35 hours per week OR part time minimum 28 hours per weekLocation: Stratford, London. Office‑based with high flexibility (1‑2 days per week in the office)Visa sponsorship: You must be eligible to work in the UK to apply for this vacancy. Cancer Research UK is not able to offer visa sponsorship.Closing date: 09 December 2025 23:55This vacancy may close earlier if a high volume of applications is received or once a suitable candidate is found, therefore we strongly recommend that you apply early to avoid disappointment. If you require more time to apply as part of a reasonable adjustment, please contact recruitment@cancer.org.uk as soon as possible.Recruitment ProcessOne to two competency‑based interviews.Interview date: From the week commencing 08 December 2025. We will be shortlisting on a rolling basis so please do not delay in applying.How do I apply?We operate an anonymised shortlisting process in our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion. CVs are required for all applications; but we won’t be able to view them until we invite you for an interview. Instead, we ask you to fully complete the work history section of the online application form for us to be able to assess you quickly, fairly, and objectively.About Cancer Research UKWe exist to beat cancer. We are professionals with purpose, beating cancer every day. The finance team managed an income of £735m and expenditure of £715m in 2024/25.As Finance Manager (Management Accounting), you’ll play an impactful role in delivering accurate, timely management accounts and reporting for the Chief Operating Office (COO), Strategy, & Central Functions (Payroll & Fixed‑Assets), which together account for over £70m in expenditure. You’ll lead and develop a team of Management Accountants, ensuring they operate at their full potential, while partnering with budget holders and operational teams to maintain accuracy, and uphold strong financial controls and accountability.You’ll also have the opportunity to implement continuous improvements, standardisation, and best practices across the management accounting function—ultimately maximising resources, driving efficiency, and enabling the organisation to perform at its best so we can fund our life‑saving research and achieve our mission to beat cancer.What will I be doing?Team Management & Leadership (50%)Lead, manage, and develop an inclusive, high‑performing team consisting of 3 direct reports from a range of levels and backgrounds, including: x2 Management Accountants (qualified) and x1 Assistant Management Accountant (part‑qualified).Foster a positive culture that recognises success, drives performance, and retains talent.Set clear objectives and KPIs, monitor performance, and address underperformance through structured performance management.Provide coaching and feedback to support team development and accountability.Consider development opportunities and internal moves across Finance (including succession planning).Ensure effective collaboration and accountability for operational finance tasks delegated across the team, providing guidance and reviewing outcomes to maintain high standards.Financial ReportingOwn and deliver timely, high‑quality, accurate management accounts and other business‑critical reports for the Chief Operating Office (COO), Central Functions (including payroll and fixed asset register), and Strategy teams.Collaborate with other members of your finance team and budget holders to understand major variances against plan and prior years.Ensure budget holders understand and take responsibility for their financial performance and variances.Review management information to identify efficiencies and continuous improvements, ensuring reporting focuses on the organisation’s top priorities.Train and support budget holders so they can confidently interpret financial data (including self‑service accounts and transaction lists) and demonstrate strong budget control.Accounting and Year‑EndCollaborate closely with your finance team and budget holders to identify and process transactions that ensure accounts are complete and accurate.Take ownership of a range of accounting adjustments (including stock, fixed assets, and investments).Drive improvements and efficiencies in Cancer Research UK’s management accounting processes.Act as a key finance contact for your designated areas, ensuring robust financial controls are in place and proactively challenging and advising stakeholders where needed.Support the year‑end audit and production of the annual report and accounts, ensuring accuracy and responding to audit queries and notes to the accounts.Financial Planning and AnalysisPotentially contribute to the financial planning process on an ad‑hoc basis by developing budgeting and forecasting tools and templates, and ensuring budget holders are trained and accountable for their plans (where required).Champion a culture of cost awareness and control, acting as a role model for understanding cost drivers and promoting financial accountability.What skills will I need?Qualified Management Accountant or Finance Manager (ACCA/ICAEW or equivalent) with experience delivering accurate management accounts, month‑end activities, and financial reporting in large, complex organisations.Supported in delivering the year‑end audit and producing annual accounts, with experience in handling auditor queries.A successful track record of reviewing, developing, and implementing robust financial controls within a management accounting environment.Proven ability to lead and manage a Management Accounting team, demonstrated through one of the following:External applicants: Experience in managing, developing, and supporting 2‑3+ direct reports with a successful track record leading, empowering, motivating, and coaching others and driving high performance.Internal applicants: Experience in matrix management or mentoring and coaching junior team members, with an ability and interest in developing people management skills.Has successfully built credible and collaborative cross‑functional internal stakeholder relationships with strong interpersonal, communication, influencing, and negotiating skills (including senior leadership and auditors).A proactive problem‑solver with a continuous improvement mindset for identifying and implementing continuous improvements, encouraging innovation, promoting best practices, and challenging conventional organisational approaches and thinking.Strong prioritisation and organisation skills with the ability to work independently with minimal supervision, manage multiple priorities, and meet deadlines while maintaining strong attention to detail and accuracy.Strong technical knowledge of double‑entry bookkeeping, debits/credits, and fixed‑asset management.Either immediately available or on one month’s notice or less.Our Organisation ValuesBold: Act with ambition, courage and determinationCredible: Act with rigour and professionalismHuman: Act to have a positive impact on peopleTogether: Act inclusively and collaborativelyWe’re looking for people who can believe in and embody these organisation values and can use them to drive forward progress against our mission to beat cancer.What will I gain?We create a working environment that supports your wellbeing and provide a generous benefits package, a wide range of career and personal development opportunities and high‑quality tools. Our policies and processes enable you to improve your work‑life balance, take positive steps in your career and achieve your personal wellbeing goals.You can explore our benefits by visiting our careers web page.Additional InformationOwing to the nature of this position, any offer of employment for this role will be subject to a satisfactory basic DBS check.For more information about working with us please visit our website or contact us at recruitment@cancer.org.uk.We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under‑represented.We want to see every candidate performing at their best throughout the job application process, interview process and whilst at work. We therefore ask you to inform us of any concerns you have or any adjustments you might need to enable this to happen. Please contact recruitment@cancer.org.uk or 020 3469 8400 as soon as possible.Unfortunately, we are unable to recruit anyone below the age of 18, so that we can protect young people from health & safety and safeguarding risks. #J-18808-Ljbffr