Finance Operations Lead

United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority; Abingdon; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus up to 7% corporate performance

Final salary defined benefits pension—

25 days annual leave

8 Bank Holidays

Flexible working

Job summary

United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) is seeking a Finance Operations Lead to steer accurate, timely financial operations, improve controls and reporting, and lead a small team. You will analyse financial information, resolve complex issues and provide specialist advice to support effective decision-making.

This role focuses on strengthening processes, ensuring compliance, and delivering reliable management information.

Qualifications

• AAT qualification or current study towards ACCA, CIMA or CIPFA.
• A background working within an accountancy environment.
• Knowledge of financial operations, transaction processing, controls and compliance requirements.
• Advanced Excel skills, including pivot tables and lookup functions.
• A track record of analysing and manipulating numerical data to produce accurate reports and management information.

Responsibilities

• Lead designated financial operations, ensuring transactions are processed accurately and consistently.
• Resolve complex financial issues and provide specialist advice to stakeholders.
• Monitor transactions and workflows to identify discrepancies, risks and weaknesses in financial controls.
• Investigate issues, implement corrective action and maintain audit readiness and regulatory compliance.
• Analyse financial and operational data to produce management information, performance measures and recommendations.
• Improve financial processes, systems, reporting capabilities and data quality.
• Support system enhancements, testing and automation initiatives.
• Build effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders, explaining financial information clearly.
• Plan and prioritise team activities, providing day-to-day leadership, coaching and technical guidance.
• Contribute financial expertise to cross-functional projects, committees and organisational initiatives.

Skills

AAT qualification

ACCA/CIMA/CIPFA study

Financial operations

Advanced Excel

Data reporting

Education

Accounting background

Job description

Finance Operations Lead

Overview of Responsibilities

Fusion, the process that powers the sun and stars, is one of the most promising options for generating the cleaner, carbon-free energy that our world badly needs. UKAEA leads the way in realizing fusion energy, partnering with industry and research organisations to achieve ground-breaking advancements. Our goal is to bring fusion electricity to the grid by developing the power stations of tomorrow and the skilled workforce to deliver them.

About the Job

Lead the delivery of accurate, timely and compliant financial operations while helping improve systems, controls and reporting. You'll analyse financial information, resolve complex issues and provide specialist advice that supports effective decision-making. You'll also manage and develop a small team, creating a reliable and continuously improving finance service.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Lead designated financial operations, ensuring transactions are processed accurately and consistently.
• Resolve complex financial issues and provide specialist advice to stakeholders.
• Monitor transactions and workflows to identify discrepancies, risks and weaknesses in financial controls.
• Investigate issues, implement corrective action and maintain audit readiness and regulatory compliance.
• Analyse financial and operational data to produce management information, performance measures and recommendations.
• Improve financial processes, systems, reporting capabilities and data quality.
• Support system enhancements, testing and automation initiatives.
• Build effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders, explaining financial information clearly.
• Plan and prioritise team activities, providing day-to-day leadership, coaching and technical guidance.
• Contribute financial expertise to cross-functional projects, committees and organisational initiatives.

What You’ll Bring

• AAT qualification or current study towards a recognised accounting qualification such as ACCA, CIMA or CIPFA.
• A background working within an accountancy environment.
• Knowledge of financial operations, transaction processing, controls and compliance requirements.
• Advanced Excel skills, including pivot tables and lookup functions.
• A track record of analysing and manipulating numerical data to produce accurate reports and management information.

Benefits

We have a generous range of benefits (see the full list here) and highlights include:

• A salary of £40402
• Up to 7% corporate performance bonus
• Final salary defined benefits pension scheme with an equivalent of 21.5% employer pension contribution
• 25 days annual leave plus 2.5 'privilege' days
• 8 Bank Holidays
• Additional 3 days of site closure over Christmas break
• Flexible working options plus family-friendly leave provisions

Our commitment to ED&I

UKAEA's mission is clean energy for all, and we welcome talented people from all backgrounds to help us achieve this goal. We are committed to equality, diversity, inclusion and accessibility, and strive to ensure fair representation across our workforce.

Please email [e-mail] if you have any questions or require adjustments to help you participate fairly in our recruitment process, for example changes to the way we interview or share information.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment experience for all candidates.

We particularly encourage applications from groups currently underrepresented in STEM, including women and people from diverse ethnic backgrounds.

All appointments are made on merit and further information can be found here.

Salary

£40,402 + excellent benefits including outstanding pension

Programme

• Department: Finance & Pensions
• Discipline: Finance
• Site Location
• Type of Employment: Full-time
• Reference Number: REF4691T