Finance Business Partner

**UK Research and Innovation**

**Finance Business Partner**
**Salary: £39,748 per annum**

**Hours: Full time or Part time (minimum 30 hours per week)**
**Contract Type: Open Ended**
**Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire. Hybrid working options available.**

**Purpose of the role**

Reporting to the International Directorate’s Strategic Finance Business Partner, the role is to provide a comprehensive financial business partnering service to the UKRI’s overseas offices (including UKRO) and management of the finances of the FIC portfolio of programmes.

The role will also provide support to the UKRI Horizon Europe Programme particularly in assisting with the financial management of the HE Guarantee and pre decision spend. The role will work closely with internal and external (BEIS) stakeholders to add financial awareness to decision making and deliver required outcomes as directed by Government policy for Horizon Europe.

This role involves performing a range of Financial Management reporting and control functions and encompasses management and support of both Programme and Opex activities.

**Key Areas of Accountability**
- Leadership / teamwork / collaboration_
- Build & maintain good working relationships with colleagues & partners and provide input and advice
- Support Programme Managers and Senior Leadership Teams to effectively manage their budgets through the provision of timely, accurate and complete financial information, advice, and constructive challenge
- Understand the linkages and dependencies between the different Councils within UKRI by actively working with other Finance Business Partners and colleagues across UKRI to seek opportunities for improvement, change and efficiency within Finance, strengthening internal controls, financial analysis, and effective management of cross cutting programmes programmes and promoting a culture of teamwork
- To deputise for the Senior Finance Business Partner, if and when required
- Delivery / programmes / projects / process_
- Perform a range of reporting and control functions, positioning Finance to work with the business and link budgets to delivery plans and business cases
- Help deliver the UKRI wide budgets for FIC and HEu activities, working collaboratively across internal partners and stakeholders to align with the collective targets and deliverables.
- Work with the overseas offices to agree and monitor Opex budgets, delivering support on finances including expense cards, transfers and income.
- Communicate the importance of Finance to partners at all levels, and use strong business awareness to present insightful information and analysis to support effective longer-term decision-making and deliver outcomes in line with Council/UKRI priorities
- Manage annual and multi-year budget setting and forecasting cycles
- Ensure compliance with internal financial, BEIS and HMG controls within assigned business areas
- Other_
- This job description is intended to provide a broad outline of the main duties and responsibilities only. The post holder will need to be flexible in developing the role in conjunction with their line manager. The post holder may be asked to carry out any other delegated duty or task that is in line with the post.

We offer hybrid working arrangements, but there is a requirement to visit the office at least one day each week in this role.

**Essential skills, qualifications & experience**
- Qualifications:_
- Qualified Accountant (ACA/CIMA/ACCA/CIPFA), actively working towards qualification, or equivalent experience (QBE)
- Experience & knowledge:_
- Strong understanding of accounting and finance and demonstrable experience of working in delivering effective financial management & reporting
- Very good IT skills, including good knowledge of Microsoft Office, in particular Excel
- Experience of financial modelling & controls
- Demonstrable experience of month and year-end processes - accruals and prepayment calculations, variance analyses etc.
- Demonstrable experience of working as part of a wider-business, consulting with senior stakeholders, utilising an in-depth understanding of business priorities and effectively working with partners to meet organisational and financial objectives
- Experience in provision of high quality written and oral advice suitable for senior level decision makers
- Proven experience in the preparation of complex budgets, forecasts and financial plans
- Understanding of the role of governance, risk management and assurance in project delivery.
- Skills & abilities:_
- Ability to build relationships with senior partners and influence them with impact and professional credibility
- Strong experience of developing effective working partnerships and offering challenges where necessary to senior decision-making groups
- Line management and leadership skills
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Highly developed team working skills, able to form effective working relationships quickly
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