Finance Manager [Core Purpose]

cancerresearchuk; London Borough of Newham; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Cancer Research UK is recruiting a Finance Manager to join the Finance team, supplying financial leadership for a budget of over £300 million. You will partner with Directors and senior leaders to drive budgeting, forecasting and planning, while delivering insightful reporting and strategic advice.

The role is based in Stratford with hybrid working (1-2 days in the office). You will shape investment decisions and financial planning to support the charity's ambitious goals and mission to beat

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent credential.
• Experience in Finance Business Partnering, FP&A and management accounting.
• Strong planning, forecasting, modelling and reporting capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Directors and senior stakeholders to provide financial insight and decision support.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting and long-term financial planning for designated areas.
• Develop financial models and scenarios to support strategic decisions.
• Deliver meaningful reporting, identify trends, risks and opportunities.
• Influence stakeholders to improve financial understanding and decisions.
• Build relationships across the organisation and support the Finance Strategy.
• Coach Finance Analysts and Management Accountants through matrix management.
• Drive continuous improvement in financial processes and reporting.

Skills

Finance business partnering

FP&A

Strategic finance

Management accounting

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

Communication

Education

Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)

Job description

£60,000 - £65,000 per annum plus benefits

Reports to: Senior Finance Manager

Directorate: Finance, Governance, Assurance

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full time 35 hours per week

Location: Stratford, London Office-based with high flexibility (1-2 days per week in the office, typically Wednesday)

Closing date: 26 October 2026 23:55

Visa sponsorship: You must be eligible to work in the UK to apply for this vacancy. Cancer Research UK is not able to offer visa sponsorship.

Recruitment process: 2 stage competency-based interview

At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer.

We are professionals with purpose, beating cancer every day. But we need to go much further and much faster. That's why we're looking for someone talented, someone who wants to develop their skills, someone like you.

Cancer Research UK's Finance team's credibility and professionalism in handling money fundraised through public generosity are essential to the smooth running of our organisation, ultimately helping the charity reach our goal of beating cancer. In 2025/26, the finance team managed an income of £696m and expenditure of £755m.

We're recruiting for a Finance Manager to join the team, and support one of the organisation's largest areas of investment. Partnering with our Research Funding teams, you'll provide financial leadership across a budget of more than £300 million, helping shape how significant research funding is allocated and managed.

As a Finance Manager, you'll lead the delivery of high-quality and insightful reporting and financial planning for your specified business area. This will involve advising senior managers and leaders on important financial decisions across a range of initiatives and projects to deliver our ambitious strategy.

Your legacy will be to have made a meaningful and lasting impact on the organisation's financial capability, decision‑making, and long‑term planning. If you're a qualified finance professional who has led budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning activities in large, complex organisations, we would love for you to join our mission.

What will I be doing?

• Partner with Directors and senior stakeholders to provide financial insight, analysis and decision support.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting and long-term financial planning activities for designated business areas.
• Develop financial models, business cases and scenario analysis to support strategic decision-making.
• Deliver meaningful financial reporting, identifying trends, risks, opportunities and future implications.
• Challenge and influence stakeholders to improve financial understanding and support effective decision-making.
• Build strong relationships across the organisation and support delivery of the Finance Strategy.
• Coach and support Finance Analysts and Management Accountants through matrix management and mentoring.
• Drive continuous improvement in financial processes, reporting and analysis.

What are we looking for?

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)
• Significant experience in Finance Business Partnering, FP&A, Strategic Finance or Management Accounting.
• Strong financial planning, forecasting, modelling and reporting experience.
• Proven ability to influence and challenge senior stakeholders.
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to turn complex data into clear, actionable insight.
• Strong communication skills with the confidence to explain financial information to non-finance audiences.
• Experience working effectively within a matrix environment.

Personal Attributes

• Curious, proactive and solutions focused.
• Strong relationship builder with excellent influencing skills.
• Comfortable working independently and managing competing priorities.
• Committed to continuous improvement and developing others.
• Passionate about Cancer Research UK's mission and values.

Our organisation values are designed to guide all that we do.

• Bold: Act with ambition, courage and determination
• Credible: Act with rigour and professionalism
• Human : Act to have a positive impact on people
• Together: Act inclusively and collaboratively

What will I gain?

We create a working environment that supports your wellbeing and provide a generous benefits package, a wide range of caree