Finance Business Partner | South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust; Croydon; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional health service provider in Croydon is seeking an R&D Business Lead to provide financial leadership and analysis for its research and development activities. The role requires strong communication and negotiation skills, and a proven ability to manage complex relationships across various networks in the health sector. Ideal candidates will have a relevant degree and substantial experience in finance and R&D.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• Ability to provide expert R&D business advice.
• Experience in developing financial strategies for R&D.
• Proven ability to foster relationships across multiple networks.

Responsibilities

• Provide analysis, reporting, and expert advice for R&D.
• Lead on business aspects of R&D and communicate effectively.
• Manage and motivate R&D finance staff.

Skills

Outstanding communication skills

Negotiation skills

Project management

Leadership

Analytical skills

Education

Relevant degree or equivalent experience

Job description

Overview

To provide business and financial leadership for all aspects of Research and Development linked to SLAM NHS FT, and to as necessary, act as SLAM NHS FT’s representative in part of the wider Kings Health Partners (KHP) research network. This pivotal position will require outstanding communication and negotiation skills in order to work not only with SLAM Directors and leading National clinicians and academics in Research, but also work across the complex cross organisational boundaries that deliver R&D across the various research networks which fall under the Kings Health Partners umbrella and beyond.

The fundamental objective is to provide analysis, reporting and expert advice to ensure that the Trust & its collaborative partners maximise research income whilst accurately aligning & reporting research costs to provide the financial rigor required.

This advert closes on Monday 13 Oct 2025.

Responsibilities

• To be the ‘go-to’ person for expert R&D business advice, and be pivotal in helping to develop financial strategies for R&D that enables the Trust to meet its key objectives.
• Be the routine lead for SLAM on all business aspects of R&D, and being consistent in knowing when to defer issues upwards for SMT or Clinical Director input.
• Play a leading role in communicating and sharing a wider understanding of critical elements of R&D business across the Trust
• Build & maintain effective and professional relationships with colleagues across the various R&D networks
• Monitor and project manage the completion of accurate and timely returns to support multiple funding streams
• Lead on the consistent application of SLAM business rules & strategy across all aspects of R&D business
• Provide sound business leadership on the SLAM R&D committee and other appropriate groups
• Lead for SLAM on the information gathering, modelling and costing of all material bids for R&D funding awards (either bids led by the Trust or as a contributory element of a wider multi-organisation bid)
• In partnership with the R&D & Medical Directors, and SLAM SMT to develop, maintain and oversee a process to give assurance and transparency between the source and application of all R&D funds.
• To effectively manage, develop, support and motivate the other R&D finance staff and any other resource allocated to R&D business function.

This section also covers:

• To be the ‘go-to’ person for expert R&D business advice, and be pivotal in helping to develop financial strategies for R&D that enables the Trust to meet its key objectives.
• Be the routine lead for SLAM on all business aspects of R&D, and being consistent in knowing when to defer issues upwards for SMT or Clinical Director input.
• Play a leading role in communicating and sharing a wider understanding of critical elements of R&D business across the Trust
• Provide the analytical information and narrative to feed into the Trust Planning and Financial reporting processes
• Build & maintain effective and professional relationships with colleagues across the various R&D networks
• Monitor and project manage the completion of accurate and timely returns to support multiple funding streams
• Lead on the consistent application of SLAM business rules & strategy across all aspects of R&D business
• Evaluate and professionally challenge risks and opportunities to the Trust relating to all aspects of R&D and its impact on the Trust.
• Provide sound business leadership on the SLAM R&D committee and other appropriate groups
• Lead for SLAM on the information gathering, modelling and costing of all material bids for R&D funding awards (either bids led by the Trust or as a contributory element of a wider multi-organisation bid)
• In partnership with the R&D & Medical Directors, and SLAM SMT to develop, maintain and oversee a process to give assurance and transparency between the source and application of all R&D funds.
• To effectively manage, develop, support and motivate the other R&D finance staff and any other resource allocated to R&D business function.

The South East London Finance Academy is committed to fostering professional development and career growth for all with a particular aim of enhancing opportunities for under-represented groups and improving the diversity of our finance community.

This means, that as part of our Secondment Pledge, this permanent role is advertised with the flexibility of a potential secondment opportunity for the successful candidate. If you would like to explore this flexibility, please discuss with your current line manager and raise for discussion with the recruiting manager, this will not adversely affect your application in any way. Whilst all secondments will require agreement from both the host and receiving organisations, all organisations within SEL are committed to approaching this conversation positively.

If successful, and you would like to take up the secondment opportunity, you will need to complete the Secondment Request Form found here to aid discussion with your host and receiving organisations. On successful completion of the secondment, and in collaboration with your receiving organisation, you will have the opportunity to convert the secondment to a substantive appointment.

• To be the ‘go-to’ person for expert R&D business advice, and be pivotal in helping to develop financial strategies for R&D that enables the Trust to meet its key objectives.