Project Finance Officer College of Medicine and Health 106386 Grade 6

The University of Birmingham; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Birmingham seeks a Project Finance Officer to manage financial administration for research-funding projects. Responsibilities include stakeholder engagement and ensuring compliance with funder terms. Ideal candidates will have a degree, excellent analytical skills, and proficiency in Excel. The role offers a full-time fixed-term contract with competitive salary and benefits.

Benefits

40 days paid holiday

Paid volunteering day

Occupational sick pay

Pension scheme

Qualifications

• Educated to Degree level (or equivalent qualifications).
• Experience in improving processes and service quality.
• Knowledge of the UK research funding ecosystem is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Manage financial administration of research-funded projects.
• Provide expert advice on budget maximization and funder terms.
• Coordinate project-specific audits where required.

Skills

Numeracy and literacy

Analytical skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Proficient IT skills

Education

Degree level education

Tools

MS Office Suite

Excel

Job description

Position Details

College of Medicine and Health

Location : University of Birmingham Edgbaston Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £33,002 to £35,608 with potential progression once in post to £39,906

Grade : 6

Full Time Fixed Term contract up to November 2029

Closing date : 2nd October 2025

Our offer to you

People are at the heart of what we are and do.

The University of Birmingham is proud to have been part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years and we are equally proud to be recognised as a leading global institution. We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond and support them to succeed and celebrate their success.

We are committed to helping the people who work here develop through our sector‑leading Birmingham Professional programme which provides all professional services staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential. With almost 5,000 professional services jobs across a wide range of functions in Edgbaston and our campus in Dubai there are plenty of opportunities to develop your career at the University.

We believe there is no single type of staff member and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and the warm welcome of people from all backgrounds. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who we are and how we work.

Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important. Depending on the role we offer a variety of flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on flexible work options. Your package will include 40 days paid holiday, a paid day a year for volunteering, occupational sick pay and a pension scheme. We also have three high‑quality subsidised day nurseries.

The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and offers excellent transport links. The campus includes a state‑of‑the‑art sports centre, pool shops, places to eat and drink, an art gallery, museum and botanical gardens.

Find out more about the benefits of working for the University of Birmingham.

Role Summary

The Project Finance Officer will be responsible for the financial management and administration of a portfolio of research‑funded projects, including responsibility for funder claims, reporting and forecasting. The officer will provide stakeholder management to academic project leads, build relationships with peers across the College and University, and collaborate with the Project Finance Team, Finance Business Partners and teams within the Research Support and Strategy Division (RSSD). They will develop and share best practice for financial support to key funders and the portfolio of activity within their assigned area(s).

The role holder will work within the CMH Research Delivery Team to embed a culture of collaborative working that empowers all staff and provides a high‑quality service to academics and external partners.

Main Duties

• Provide high‑quality financial management throughout the full lifecycle across the portfolio of their assigned area(s). Offer stakeholder management to academic colleagues including expert advice on budget maximisation and funder terms and conditions.
• Directly manage a portfolio of externally funded research projects, undertaking financial claims reporting, monitoring and project closure in collaboration with relevant colleagues within the Research Delivery Team, Research Support and Strategy Division (primarily Pre and Post Award teams). The post holder will manage high‑risk research accounts to prevent loss of income and alleviate financial pressures.
• Deliver a high standard of accuracy, minimising financial risk to the institution.
• Contribute to ensuring that the Pre and Post Award function operates efficiently by streamlining handovers, steps, tasks, systems and processes.
• Arrange and coordinate project‑specific audits where required by funder terms and conditions.
• Engage externally with funders and partners, offering financial assurance and liaison regarding operating as a subject‑matter expert for major external funders.
• Line‑manage administrative staff and ensure a culture of delivering high‑quality service to academics and stakeholders.
• Undertake any other duties as required by the Programme Finance Manager and Deputy Director of Operations (Research).
• Promote equality and value diversity, acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.
• Personally model the Values of the University and the Strategic Framework.

Required Knowledge Skills Qualifications Experience

• Educated to Degree level (or equivalent qualifications). Where no equivalent qualification is held, significant practical relevant experience and expertise in a similar role will be required.
• Evidence of numeracy and literacy with the ability to write clearly and to analyse information and data.
• Knowledge of the UK research funding ecosystem, key research funders and an understanding of their processes (desirable but not essential).
• Experience of engaging and collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to build teams, deliver outcomes or resolve challenges.
• Experience in improving processes, service quality and/or efficiency and delivering high‑quality customer service.
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to analyse qualitative and quantitative information and present this to a wide range of audiences.
• Proficient IT skills including the MS Office suite and corporate systems; confident and able to learn new IT skills and software packages quickly. Excellent knowledge of Excel is essential.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with proven experience of collaboration within teams, including engaging with peers and staff within an academic, public‑sector or commercial research environment.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to negotiate effectively with a range of internal stakeholders to influence decisions.
• High level of self‑motivation and personal accountability with ability to plan and deliver goals to deadlines under pressure and set priorities for a wide range of tasks and duties.
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010 and how to actively ensure that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly in everyday activity.

Role Context

Roles at this level will require expertise and a detailed understanding of methods, systems and procedures in an administrative or professional area. The position may involve a planning/coordination/project role or a supervisory role, providing the opportunity to exercise a high degree of personal responsibility and initiative.

Core Competencies / Transferable Skills

Working at this level you will develop and successfully use core competencies and transferable skills relevant to the level, including flexibility and support for the department and wider University.

Planning and Organising

• Prioritise and schedule work and resources to ensure on‑time and (where applicable) on‑budget delivery.
• Set priorities and quality standards for a wide range of tasks and duties.
• Contribute to written documents (e.g. internal guidelines) taking into account the audience.
• Operate with limited supervision and exercise initiative within established procedures.

Problem Solving and Decision Making

• Anticipate and identify issues in own area based on experience.
• Make appropriate suggestions for improvements and implement them when agreed.
• Facilitate change and articulate the implications and benefits of change to others.
• Focus on determining short‑term priorities and how to maximise quality, efficiency and continuity.

Organisational Understanding

• Quickly develop an understanding of their working area and its contribution to the success of the University.
• Display an interest in how the University operates beyond one’s own working area and share this knowledge with others.

Relationships and Communication

• Develop and maintain excellent working relationships in own area and more widely where required for collaboration.
• Communicate clearly and openly with others both within and external to the University, using a range of skills and strategies to gain commitment to a course of action.
• Demonstrate collaborative working at all times, including with others outside the immediate work area.

Further particulars can be found here.

Informal enquiries to Christopher Parry: email …

View our staff values and behaviours here

We believe there is no single type of University of Birmingham staff member and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations.

We also have an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy.

Key Skills

Financial Services, Financial Models, Account Management, General Ledger Accounts, ERP, Payroll, External Auditors, Customer Relationships, Credit Card, Financial Statements, Business Units, Annual Budget, Income, New Clients, Financial Management

Employment Details

Employment Type : Full‑Time

Experience : years

Vacancy : 1

Monthly Salary : £33,002 - £35,608

EEO Statement

The University is committed to equal opportunities for all. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals irrespective of age, gender, race, religion, disability or any other protected characteristic. If you would like an adjustment to the interview or assessment process, please let us know.