Finance Business Partner x2

European Bioinformatics Institute; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 39,000 - 47,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

30 days leave

Hybrid working

Relocation package

On-campus facilities

Job summary

EMBL-EBI Budget Office, based at the Wellcome Genome Campus near Cambridge, seeks a Finance Business Partner to oversee post‑award grant activity, manage budgets and advise PIs/GTLs on financial priorities. This hybrid role combines detailed financial management with strategic decision support across a diverse portfolio.

You will engage with internationally recognised scientists, project managers and operations teams, delivering trusted financial guidance, monitoring expenditures and driving

Qualifications

• Professional accounting qualifications (ACCA, ICAEW, ACA, CIMA or equivalent).
• University degree in Finance.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in a well‑regarded medium/large organisation.
• Experience of financial/budgetary control and management.
• Excellent analytical and organisational skills.
• Flexible approach to work and ability to plan, prioritise workload.
• Ability to use initiative and work independently, often to deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Partner with scientists and research teams to support budgeting and post‑award activities.
• Provide financial guidance and strategic business partnering across portfolios.
• Analyse financial data, identify trends and risks, and advise on actions.
• Support grant administration and expenditure monitoring.
• Contribute to process improvements and finance systems developments.
• Build trusted relationships to enable responsible funding stewardship.

Skills

Accounting qualifications

Finance degree

5+ years experience

Budgetary control

Analytical skills

Organisational skills

Stakeholder management

International experience

Education

University degree in Finance

Job description

Help Shape the Future of Life Science Research

At the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), we're united by a shared mission: advancing life science research for the benefit of humanity. As Europe's leading laboratory for the life sciences, EMBL brings together more than 1,900 talented people from across the globe, working collaboratively across six sites in Heidelberg, Barcelona, Hinxton near Cambridge, Hamburg, Grenoble and Rome.

Our scientists are making breakthroughs in molecular biology, genetics, bioinformatics, physics, chemistry and computer science. Behind every discovery is a network of talented professionals whose expertise enables world-class research to thrive. This is where you come in.

Due to continued growth, we are seeking an experienced Finance Business Partner (known internally as a Budget Officer) to join the EMBL-EBI Budget Office, based at the European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) on the renowned Wellcome Genome Campus near Cambridge.

EMBL-EBI Budget Office is a subset of EMBL Budget Office located in Heidelberg, Germany. The collective EMBL Budget Office team is responsible for the financial administration of approximately 350 research grants, including assistance in budget preparation, monitoring and controlling expenditure.

The role holder will be responsible for the financial post-award grant activities of a portfolio grants, supporting Principal Investigators (PIs)/Group Team Leaders (GTLs) priorities and strategic objectives of EMBL-EBI.

Why this role is different

This is much more than a traditional finance position. As a Finance Business Partner within EMBL-EBI, you'll play an important role in enabling world-leading scientific research, helping ensure that groundbreaking projects have the financial support and guidance they need to succeed.

You'll work alongside an exceptionally diverse range of stakeholders, from internationally recognised scientists and research leaders to project managers and operational teams. This breadth of interaction provides a unique opportunity to develop strong partnerships across the organisation while gaining insight into the exciting and varied work taking place across EMBL-EBI.

The role offers an engaging mix of detailed financial management and strategic thinking. You'll analyse financial information, identify trends and potential risks, and provide trusted advice that helps colleagues make informed decisions. In doing so, you'll gain a valuable understanding of how funding priorities, research programmes and long-term organisational objectives come together to support scientific excellence.

For those who enjoy problem-solving and continuous learning, the variety is significant. You'll encounter a diverse portfolio of projects, funding arrangements and operational challenges, ensuring there is always something new to learn. You'll also have opportunities to contribute to process improvements and system developments that enhance the way financial support is delivered across the organisation.

Perhaps most rewarding of all is the opportunity to build trusted relationships and become a valued partner to the research community. Your expertise will help ensure that grant funding is managed responsibly and effectively, supporting discoveries that have the potential to improve lives around the world.

Alongside this, you'll benefit from a collaborative and supportive environment where clear guidance, structured processes and strong team support enable you to develop your skills and succeed in your role.

What you'll do

• Partner with world-leading scientists and research teams to support pioneering life science research
• Build trusted relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders across an internationally recognised organisation
• Combine financial analysis, problem-solving and strategic business partnering in a highly varied role
• Gain insight into how major research programmes are funded, managed and delivered.
• Help colleagues make informed decisions through expert financial guidance and support
• Contribute to the responsible stewardship of public and grant funding.
• Work within a highly international, collaborative and intellectually stimulating environment
• Play an active role in process improvements and financial systems developments
• Benefit from strong training, support and clear frameworks for success
• Develop broad organisational knowledge and exposure across multiple departments and research areas

You have

• Professional Accounting Qualifications (ACCA, ICAEW, ACA, CIMA or equivalent)
• University degree in Finance
• Minimum 5 years of experience in a well-regarded medium/large organisation
• Experience of financial/budgetary control and management
• Excellent analytical and organisational skills
• Flexible approach to work and ability to plan, organise and prioritise own workload
• Ability to use own initiative to work proactively and independently often working to deadlines set by others
• Excellent general interpersonal skills, including diplomacy and negotiating skills, with the ability to hold difficult conversations with a variety of different colleagues.

You may also have

• Experience of working in an international organisation

Additional Information

Contract length: 3 year, project-based, fixed term Staff Member contract - with potential for extension depending on grant funding.

Salary: Grade 6 monthly salary from £3,861.91 after tax plus generous benefits and financial allowances depending on family circumstances. Excluding personal pension and insurance contributions.

This is a hybrid role where currently the requirement is to work from site at the Wellcome Genome Campus in Hinxton UK, for 2-3 days per week.

Why join us

Do something meaningful

At EMBL-EBI you can apply your talent and passion to accelerate science and tackle some of humankind's greatest challenges. EMBL-EBI, part of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, is a worldwide leader in the storage, analysis and dissemination of large biological datasets. We provide the global research community with access to publicly available databases and tools which are crucial for the advancement of healthcare, food security, and biodiversity.

Join a culture of innovation

We are located on the Wellcome Genome Campus, alongside other prominent research and biotech organisations, and surrounded by beautiful Cambridgeshire countryside. This is a highly collaborative and inclusive community where our employees enjoy a relaxed atmosphere. We are committed to ensuring our employees feel valued, supported and empowered to reach their professional potential.

Enjoy lots of benefits:

• Financial incentives: Monthly family, child and non-resident allowances, annual salary review, pension scheme, death benefit, long-term care, accident-at-work and unemployment insurances
• Flexible working arrangements - including hybrid working patterns
• Private medical insurance for you and your immediate family (including all prescriptions and generous dental & optical cover)
• Generous time off: 30 days annual leave per year, in addition public holidays
• Relocation package including installation grant (if required)
• Campus life: Free shuttle bus to and from work, on-site library, subsidised on-site gym and cafeteria, casual dress code, extensive sports and social club activities (on campus and remotely)
• Family benefits: On-site nursery, 10 days of child sick leave, generous parental leave, holiday clubs on campus and monthly family and child allowances
• Benefits for non-UK residents: Visa exemption, education grant for private schooling, financial support to travel back to your home country every second year and a monthly non-resident allowance.

What else you need to know

• International applicants: We recruit internationally and successful candidates are offered visa exemptions. Please take a look at our International Applicants page for further information.
• EMBL is a signatory of DORA. Find out how we apply DORA principles to our recruitment and performance assessment processes here.
• Diversity and inclusion: At EMBL, we believe that diverse teams drive innovation and scientific excellence. We encourage applications from candidates of all genders, identities, nationalities and/or any other diverse backgrounds.

Closing Date

05/09/2026