Finance Operations Lead

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

Benefits offered by this job

Salary £40,402

Up to 7% corporate performance bonus

Final salary defined benefits pension

25 days annual leave + 2.5 privilege/2

3 site closure days

Flexible working options

Job summary

UK Atomic Energy Authority is seeking a Finance Operations Lead to manage accurate, timely financial processing and reporting while developing systems and controls.

You will lead a small team, resolve complex issues, ensure compliance, and provide specialist financial guidance to internal stakeholders on cross-cutting projects.

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Lead designated financial operations, ensuring accurate and consistent processing.
• Resolve complex financial issues and provide specialist stakeholder advice.
• Monitor transactions and workflows to identify discrepancies and risks.
• Investigate issues, implement corrective action and maintain audit readiness.
• Analyse financial and operational data to produce management information and insights.
• Improve financial processes, reporting capabilities and data quality.
• Support system enhancements, testing and automation initiatives.
• Build relationships with internal and external stakeholders and explain financials clearly.
• Plan and prioritise team activities, providing day-to-day leadership and coaching.

Skills

Financial operations

Transaction processing

Internal controls

Advanced Excel

Data analysis

Education

AAT qualification or current study towards ACCA, CIMA or CIPFA

Background in accountancy environment

Tools

Excel

Job description

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 industryand research organisations to achieveground-breaking advancements. Our goal is to bring fusion electricity to the gridby 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.

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 of21.5% 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.