Senior Finance Business Partner

UK Research and Innovation; Swindon; Hybrid; GBP 49,000 - 59,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading research organization in Swindon is seeking a Senior Finance Business Partner to provide leadership and technical financial expertise. The ideal candidate will manage stakeholder relationships and drive financial strategies in a hybrid working environment, ensuring high-quality service to senior management and external partners. This role offers a competitive salary and excellent benefits, including a defined benefit pension scheme and flexible working options.

Benefits

Defined benefit pension scheme

30 days of annual leave

Employee discounts

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a complex operational environment.
• Experience working with diverse stakeholders, including Senior Management.
• Ability to present financial information to non-finance staff.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior-level leadership and financial expertise.
• Ensure high-quality service to stakeholders.
• Support Head of Finance on long-term planning.

Skills

Leadership skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Analytical skills

IT competency

Education

Qualified Accountant (ACA/CIMA/ACCA/CIPFA)

Tools

MS Excel

MS Word

MS PowerPoint

MS Access

Job description

UK Research & Innovation

Salary: £58,589 per annum

Band: UKRI Band F

Contract Type: Open ended

Hours: Full-time (flexible working available)

Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire – Min 1 day per week in the office. (Hybrid working available)

Closing Date: 4th January 2026

About the role

We are seeking a highly motivated and proactive individual to join our team as a Senior Finance Business Partner. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to play a key role in supporting the NERC Strategic Delivery Plan. Additionally, they will drive transformational changes within the NERC Finance Business Partner team and wider UKRI Finance environment, leveraging new operating systems to support the overarching UKRI Strategy.

The main purpose of this role is to provide senior-level leadership and technical financial expertise to support the business. You will ensure that external stakeholders including Institute Management and Professional Partners receive high-quality service, oversee all assurance processes and support the Head of Finance on longer term financial planning and reporting.

Within our collaborative team environment, you will have the ideal platform to develop your leadership skills and deliver meaningful outcomes. The experience and expertise you gain in this role will be invaluable for advancing your career.

This role will be pivotal in driving forward our change activity and supporting how NERC delivers its services to the wider UKRI business. The role also offers exposure to senior leadership and the opportunity to contribute to multi-disciplinary projects of strategic significance.

Your responsibilities

We are seeking candidates with proven experience of working within a complex operational environment, collaborating with diverse stakeholders, including Senior Management and Professional Advisors.

The role involves close collaboration with many staff across the UKRI business, including strategically funded NERC Institutes, to provide robust support, advice and guidance on finance related matters. We are looking for an individual with strong communication skills, both verbal and written, as the role requires regular engagement with a wide range of external stakeholders at senior and operational levels.

Personal Specification

The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).

Essential

• Qualified Accountant (ACA/CIMA/ACCA/CIPFA), or equivalent experience (QBE). (S&I)
• Well-developed leadership, team management, organisational and motivational skills. (S&I)
• Effective interpersonal and influencing skills, with the ability to build trusting relationships with internal and external stakeholders, at all levels of an organisation. (S&I)
• Experience of working strategically to balance the conflicting demands of multiple stakeholders whilst protecting the integrity and ownership of financial processes. (S&I)
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability to present financial information effectively to non-finance staff. (S&I)
• High level competency of IT systems and applications including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access, with a focus on strong Excel skills. (S&I)
• Ability to provide insightful analysis on complex issues, communicating the key elements to effectively deliver projects and influence decision making at a strategic level. (S&I)

Benefits

We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package. We are committed to supporting employees' development and promote a culture of continuous learning!

• An outstanding defined benefit pension scheme
• 30 days' annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and privilege days (full time equivalent)
• Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities
• Employee assistance programme, providing confidential help and advice
• Flexible working options

Plus many more benefits and wellbeing initiatives that enable our employees to have a great work life balance!

For further information on our benefits please see:

Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact [e-mail]

Please note, if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you and any dependants travelling with you, will be required to pay costs directly to The Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some, or all of these fees after you have become an employee and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager. For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact [e-mail].