Senior Research Finance Officer

**Duties and Responsibilities**
- To deputise for the Research Finance Managers in their absence to include: checking and approving financial claims and reports on behalf of the University, managing the work of other staff within the Post-Awards Unit and delegating tasks as appropriate to their grade.
- To provide professional advice and guidance on Research Project Finance processes and procedures to internal and external customers, using judgement and creativity to suggest the most appropriate course of action where appropriate, and ensuring complex issues are understood.
- To supervise and motivate a team of staff, supporting them in the effective execution of their roles to accomplish key objectives.
- Develop and deliver training within Research Finance Post Awards and the wider Finance community.
- To supervise the periodic review of project accounts to ensure proper financial control and management.
- To manage the finance of complex research/service projects/programmes and establish working relationships with College/School/Institute administrators and managers.
- To maintain an effective working knowledge of the rules and terms and conditions of funding organisations and to support colleagues and Academic staff in their contractual obligations in relation to financial management of grants and contracts.
- To assist in preparing reports for and participating in external and internal audits and reviews.
- To oversee the timely reconciliation and closure of expired projects.
- Collaborate with others in order to make recommendations for development of established.
- To actively and positively represent the work of the Post-Awards Unit and the Department at internal networking and information-sharing events such as the Research Administrators’ Forum.
- To liaise with other Professional Services Departments on issues such as VAT, Legal matters, etc.
- To contribute to the continuing development and improvement of the Department’s services and systems.

**General Duties**
- Ensure that an understanding of the importance of confidentiality is applied when undertaking all duties.
- Abide by University policies on Health and Safety and Equality and Diversity.
- Perform other duties on occasion which are not included above, but which are consistent with the role.

**Person Specification**- Please note that these are also the criteria shortlisted applicants will be assessed against at interview and/or by other means (e.g. a skills test) where applicable.
- **Essential Criteria**
- Degree/NVQ 4/Equivalent Professional membership or substantial experience of working within financial management of grants/projects.
- Ability to communicate detailed and complex information effectively and professionally with a wide range of people.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a range of internal and external contacts.
- Evidence of ability to explore customers’ needs and adapt the service accordingly to ensure a quality service is delivered.
- Evidence of ability to work unsupervised to deadlines, planning and setting priorities for own work and that of others and monitoring progress.
- Commitment to high work standards, paying particular attention to detail and accuracy
- Proven ability to use initiative and creativity to make judgements, resolve problems and identify and assess practical solutions.
- High degree of discretion with an understanding of confidentiality and data protection issues.
- A willingness to undertake further training and development.

**Desirable Criteria**
- A working knowledge of Oracle Projects EBS, with an ability to contribute to the improvement and development of the system.
- Experience of supervising a team.
- Experience of working within a finance environment in Higher Education.
- Knowledge of processes associated with project financial management.
- Fluency in Welsh, written and oral.

**Salary Range Min.**
- 32,332

**Salary Range Max.**
- 34,980

**Job Category**
- Accountancy & Finance, Management & Executive

**Grade**
- Grade 5