Research Finance Manager

University of Oxford

Oxford

On-site

GBP 49,000 - 58,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

38 days annual leave

Hybrid working

Pension scheme

Childcare services

Family leave schemes

Cycle & car loan

Employee Assistance Programme

Social clubs membership

Discounted travel

Coffee and cake mornings

Job summary

University of Oxford in Oxford is seeking a seasoned Research Finance Manager to provide expert financial oversight for a large portfolio of research grants. You will lead a team of 10 staff and work closely with academics, researchers, and administrators to ensure compliant financial administration across the full lifecycle of research projects.

The role requires a degree or equivalent, strong administrative and management experience in academia, and a deep understanding of grant costing.

Qualifications

Degree or equivalent experience in administration and business management within an academic setting.
Proven background in direct line management, staff recruitment and development.
Strong understanding of research grant costing and accounting.
Experience managing budgets and grants, with proficiency in financial spreadsheets and databases.

Responsibilities

Provide high-quality research finance service to academics, researchers, and administrators within the department.
Lead a team of 10 Senior Finance Officers and Finance Officers.
Oversee financial management across the research lifecycle.
Guide grant applications, post-award management, and contract negotiations.
Collaborate with the Deputy Head of Finance and Accounts/Personnel Teams.

Skills

Team leadership

Budget management

Grant costing

Finance administration

Education

Degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Spreadsheets

Databases

Job description

University of Oxford - Oxford Population Health (Nuffield Department of Population Health)

Research Finance Manager - 188226

Grade 8: £49,119 - £58,265 per annum (including the Oxford Weighting Allowance)

The Nuffield Department of Population Health undertakes world-leading research into long term, chronic health conditions, operating large-scale long-term studies and projects to identify the causes, prevention and treatment of diseases that result in avoidable suffering for millions of people around the world. The administrative teams are closely integrated within the department and work with all levels of staff who are committed to the research and teaching undertaken.

We are seeking to appoint an experienced Research Finance Manager to provide a high-quality, professional research finance service to academics, researchers, and administrators within the Nuffield Department of Population Health (NDPH). The Department manages a large and complex research portfolio with approximately 300 active grants, many exceeding £1 million in value, and processes around 300 grant-related applications annually.

Working within a collaborative and supportive administrative team, you will play a pivotal role in managing the Department's research grants operation. You will be the main point of contact for all aspects of pre- and post-award grant management and will be responsible for ensuring effective and compliant financial administration across the research lifecycle. This includes providing expert guidance on grant applications, overseeing the financial management of awarded grants, and supporting contract negotiations and collaboration agreements.

You will lead a team of 10 Senior Finance Officers and Finance Officers, ensuring the delivery of high-quality support and service improvements. Reporting directly to the Deputy Head of Finance, you will also work closely with the Accounts and Personnel Teams. This is a varied and senior role that requires a strong background in research administration, excellent organisational skills, and the ability to work across a wide range of complex projects. You will need to balance strategic oversight with hands‑on involvement and bring a common‑sense approach to problem‑solving in a dynamic, research‑focused environment.

To be considered for the role, you should have a degree (or equivalent experience) and a proven background in administration and business management within an academic setting, including direct line management, staff recruitment and development. You must also possess a strong understanding of research grant costing and accounting, with expertise in managing budgets and grants, as well as proficiency in financial spreadsheets and databases.

Benefits