Finance Manager

University of Cambridge; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Based at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, the Department of Medicine seeks a Finance Manager to lead a dedicated finance group and report to the Business & Operations Manager. You will partner with world‑leading Principal Investigators and executive leadership to manage a £30m annual spend and a £150m+ portfolio.

This role blends technical rigor with strategic forecasting and collaborative leadership to keep the department agile, stable and positioned for sustainable growth.

Qualifications

• Degree-educated (or equivalent) with significant financial experience.
• CCAB-qualified (ACCA/CIMA/ACA/CIPFA) and with experience in multi-source funding.
• Expert understanding of grant principles, VAT regulations, and educational/medical funding.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Financial Modelling: multi-year forecasts aligned with university goals.
• Portfolio Control: oversight for £150m+ active grants and full-economic costing.
• Operational Governance: month/year-end routines, ledger integrity, procurement, compliance.
• Team Leadership: lead and develop the departmental finance team and drive process improvements.

Skills

Strategic modelling

Portfolio management

Team leadership

Grant funding knowledge

Education

Degree educated (or equivalent)

CCAB-qualified (ACCA/CIMA/ACA/CIPFA)

Job description

Based on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, the Department of Medicine leads world-class translational research to solve global health challenges. Our mission is vital: to understand disease mechanisms and transform patient outcomes through discovery, innovative treatment, and high-quality clinical training.

As Finance Manager, you will join our operational leadership team, directing a dedicated finance group and reporting to the Business & Operations Manager. Partnering with world-leading Principal Investigators and executive leadership, you will oversee an annual spend of £30m and a £150m+ research portfolio across the department. This role requires a balance of technical rigor, strategic multi-year forecasting, and collaborative leadership to ensure our environment remains agile, stable, and positioned for sustainable development.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Financial Modelling: Execute multi-year forecasts that translate academic vision into sustainable financial strategy aligned with University goals.
• Portfolio Control: Financial oversight for £150m+ in active grants, advising on full-economic costing for applications to research councils, health charities, and industry.
• Operational Governance: Drive month and year-end routines, ledger integrity, procurement workflows, and strict compliance with University regulations.
• Team Leadership: Lead, inspire, and develop the departmental finance team, promoting continuous process improvement and high service standards.

About You

• Expert Practitioner: Degree-educated (or equivalent), CCAB-qualified (ACCA/CIMA/ACA/CIPFA), and with significant financial experience.
• Proven Leader: Demonstrated track record in team leadership and complex financial systems.
• Technically Sound: Expert understanding of multi-source funding, grant principles, and educational/medical VAT regulations.
• Influential Communicator:Ability to distil complex financial data into clear, actionable advice for academic and clinical stakeholders.

Once an offer of employment has been accepted, the successful candidate will be required to undergo a basic disclosure (criminal records check) check and a security check.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.