Project Finance Support Officer

Salary - £29,733 - £31,553

Hybrid working (50/50)

Ideally based at Bangor however other sites include Oxfordshire, Lancaster and Edinburgh

Fixed Term 12m short-term appointment

UKCEH is looking for an experienced Project Finance Support Officer to join our 600-strong team, contributing to scientific discovery and generating the data, insights and solutions that researchers, businesses and governments need to solve complex environmental challenges.

Working at UKCEH is rewarding. 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.

As a valued member of our team, you’ll get:

- 27 days annual leave
- 10% employer pension contribution
- 24 hour, 365-day access to support with physical, mental, social, health or financial issues plus access to our trained Welfare Officers
- Flexible working opportunities

A new opportunity for a Project Finance Support Officer has arisen within the project accounting team. This post is offered as a 12-month fixed term appointment providing support for another member of staff currently on secondment.

You’ll be joining a vibrant project accounting & support team working on a range of project finance and administration tasks, supporting world leading Environmental scientists in the delivery of many important projects. While the primary focus of this role is project finance, it offers opportunities to learn and support career advancement within Project Accounting or Project Management, as it involves collaboration with both teams.

This presents an exceptional and unique opportunity for someone with a strong understanding of transactional and financial accounting, and possesses a keen interest in project management, to integrate these skill sets. With a diverse range of budget holders and captivating projects to oversee, this role is centred on interaction, necessitating meticulous attention to detail and effective communication skills.

Following internal training, including in the use of our Workday financial management system, you will work with scientific project managers to assist in the setup, financial revision, reporting and closure of their projects, whilst also assisting project accountants in the processing of workflow approvals and regular review of project budgets.

You’ll be joining a leading independent, not-for-profit research institute that’s committed to recruiting talented people like you, progressing your career and giving you the support you need to thrive at UKCEH.

Your main responsibilities will include:

- Liaising closely with a portfolio of project managers who act as budget holders, supporting them with project finance revisions and maintaining project budgets; helping them to make key financial decisions
- Assisting project managers in the appropriate use of systems, reports, and budgeting
- Using MS Planner Board, or similar, to monitor key process steps on a portfolio of projects

Currently the project support team are assisting world leading scientists in areas that include a major Welsh Government funded project to enhance rural Sustainable Land Management in Wales

) and research projects into innovative methods for achieving UK's Net Zero targets via land management on a variety of different habitats including Saltmarshes and Upland peat moors.

For the role of Project Support Officer, we’re looking for the following:

- Excellent communication skills and ability to effectively communicate financial information and concepts to non-financial budget holders
- Previous experience working within a financial capacity, demonstrating a strong understanding of transactional accounting, ideally with project finance experience
- Although not essential, previous experience working within academic, scientific or research environments would be advantageous
- Ability to plan, organise, and prioritise work efficiently, demonstrating effective time management skills
- Proficient in numeracy with a clear understanding of budgetary control principles
- Strong team player, capable of collaborating effectively with both the project finance support team and science project managers
- Familiarity and experience in utilising finance systems effectively (previous knowledge of Workday would be desirable)
- Intermediate Excel skills, with a good understanding of its functionalities