Senior Finance Business Partner - iiCON

Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent educational institution in Liverpool is seeking a Senior Finance Business Partner to provide strategic financial leadership and support for a leading research initiative. The ideal candidate will have significant post-qualification experience, strong budgeting skills, and the ability to translate complex financial data into strategic insights. The role offers a competitive salary and additional benefits including generous leave, pension schemes, and support for employee well-being.

Benefits

Generous annual leave

Occupational pension schemes

Flexible working options

Discounted gym membership

Employee assistance programme

High street discounts

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Significant post‑qualification experience in finance.
• Ability to translate financial data into insights.
• Experience managing and monitoring budgets.

Responsibilities

• Provide financial guidance to stakeholders.
• Deliver financial analysis and scenario modelling.
• Monitor financial performance through KPIs.
• Manage and develop a team of Finance Business Partners.
• Engage in audits and compliance activities.

Skills

Financial data translation

Stakeholder management

Budget management

Team management

Education

Degree in finance or equivalent experience

Membership in a finance professional body (e.g., ACCA, CIMA)

Job description

Senior Finance Business Partner - iiCON

Contract: Fixed-term contract until 31 st July 2028

Location: Liverpool, hybrid working (minimum 3 days per week on site)

Salary: £47,389 - £53,302

Our award-winning Finance team is seeking a Senior Finance Business Partner to support iiCON - a world‑leading centre for infection innovation and R&D uniting industry, academia, and the NHS to accelerate the development of new treatments, diagnostics, vaccines, and preventative products for infectious diseases worldwide.

As Senior Finance Business Partner, you’ll act as a trusted advisor to iiCON’s senior leadership, industry collaborators, and research teams. You’ll provide strategic financial leadership across a multi‑partner environment, ensuring that resources are managed effectively and funding supports iiCON’s research and development goals.

Positioned at the centre of operations, you’ll influence financial planning and help drive decisions that enable innovative science and sustainable growth. Drawing on your analytical expertise, stakeholder management skills, and commercial awareness, you’ll deliver insight that underpins sound investments and contributes to iiCON’s continued success as a global leader in infection innovation.

Key responsibilities include:

• Build strong partnerships with stakeholders across LSTM and iiCON, providing financial guidance and developing financial plans that enable informed decision‑making and support delivery of departmental objectives
• Collaborate with the Financial Planning and Reporting team to deliver management information, financial analysis, and scenario modelling that supports planning and investment decisions
• Monitor financial performance through KPIs and metrics, providing actionable insights to optimise revenue and costs, while supporting budget development, forecasting, variance analysis, and scenario planning
• Manage and develop a team of Finance Business Partners, coordinating resources to ensure seamless service delivery and business continuity
• Identify training needs and skills gaps and deliver engaging training sessions to finance and non‑finance personnel covering topics such as grant management, financial analysis, budgeting, and reporting
• Champion innovation in financial processes and systems, staying ahead of emerging trends in higher education finance and evolving funder requirements
• Proactively engage in audits and compliance activities, maintaining relationships with external auditors and ensuring adherence to funder terms and regulatory requirements

What we’re looking for:

• Member of a Finance professional body e.g., ACCA, CIMA with significant post‑qualification experience
• Educated to degree level or equivalent in a finance related subject or demonstrable work experience at an equivalent level
• Proven experience in partnering with senior managers in the delivery of strategic objectives
• Demonstrated ability to translate financial data into actionable insights and strategic recommendations
• Experience of managing and monitoring significant budgets, with sound understanding of financial management processes
• Experience of effective management and development of staff

To see a full list of responsibilities and requirements, see the job description attached.

Interviews will take place on Monday 8th December or Tuesday 9th December.

Additional benefits of joining LSTM:

• 30 days annual leave, plus bank holidays and 6 additional Christmas closure days
• Generous occupational pension schemes
• Agile working
• Affiliated, discounted staff membership to the University of Liverpool Sports Centre
• Employee assistance programme to support with employee well‑being
• High street discounts and cashback offers
• Government‑backed cycle to work scheme
• Plus, a host of additional family friendly policies

Application Process:

To apply for the position, please click on the apply link and upload your CV and Covering Letter.

Due to the volume of applications we receive, we may close our vacancies early. It is therefore advisable to apply as early as possible if you would like to be considered for a role.

Inclusion is central to our values at LSTM

We seek to attract and recruit people who reflect the diversity across our communities, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, nationality, faith or belief, social background, age, and disability. LSTM selects candidates based on skills, qualifications, and experience.

We welcome conversations about flexible working and applications from those returning to employment after a break from their careers.

LSTM actively promotes Equal Opportunities and Safeguarding Policies.