Senior Finance Manager

European Molecular Biology Laboratory; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking organization as a Senior Finance Manager, where you will lead a dynamic team in managing budgets and financial strategies at a prominent bioinformatics institute. This role offers a unique opportunity to influence decision-making and drive financial performance in a collaborative environment. With a commitment to innovation and excellence, you will engage with diverse stakeholders while contributing to impactful projects in the scientific community. Enjoy a supportive culture with flexible working arrangements, generous benefits, and the chance to make a significant difference in the world of biological research.

Benefits

Private Medical Insurance

30 Days Annual Leave

Flexible Working Arrangements

Relocation Package

On-site Nursery

Subsidised Gym

Free Shuttle Bus

Family Benefits

Visa Exemption for Non-UK Residents

Generous Parental Leave

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in a comparable senior role.
• Experience of leading a medium sized team.
• Ability to communicate with diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead the local budget setting process for EMBL-EBI.
• Accountable for financial controls and policy adherence.
• Manage local accounting and procurement teams.

Skills

Leadership

Financial Analysis

Budget Management

Procurement

Communication

Education

Professional Accounting Qualification (ACCA, ACA, CIMA)

Tools

SAP

Workday ERP

Job description

With 29 member states, laboratories at six sites across Europe and thousands of scientists and engineers working together, the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) is a powerhouse of biological expertise.

Based at EMBL's European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) in Hinxton, we are excited to launch an opportunity for a Senior Finance Manager for a period of 2 years.

Your role

As Senior Finance Manager you will lead a team of 6 across Finance and Procurement, with a dual reporting line to the Head of Finance and the Head of Administration & Operations / Deputy COO.

Partnering with EMBL-EBI's senior leadership team, you will manage and agree the EBI budget, forecasts and provide valuable analytical insights to support decision making.

Your responsibilities will include:

Annual budgets, forecasts, reporting and longer term planning:

• Lead on the local budget setting process for EMBL-EBI, including establishing and maintaining timeframes, assumptions and responsibilities.
• Manage the local budget carry over and overspend processes
• Conduct periodic budget v actual analysis and reporting and periodic full year forecasting and reporting.
• Maintain a medium and long term plan or model for EMBL-EBI.
• Maintain good engagement with local budget holders to inform the annual and longer term plan and models.
• Budgetary management of third party funding from collaborators and EMBL's Technology Transfer company EMBLEM. (This excludes research and services grant funding).

Financial control:

• Accountable for alignment with Central Finance processes and policies to ensure effective financial controls and appropriate policies and practices are followed. For example, the compilation and review of the Purchasing Segregation of Duties quarterly audit report.
• Accountable for EMBL-EBI approvals requiring financial input as stipulated in the Financial Rules and Regulations, Staff Rules and Regulations and Financial Policies, for example the opening of new posts, sales of fixed assets and sales of attractive items to staff.

Systems and financial reporting hierarchy maintenance:

• Working closely with Central ERP and Finance teams, this role is responsible for the maintenance of the ERP financial reporting hierarchy for EMBL-EBI, ensuring they are aligned with the outcomes of the Financial Management Information project and the needs of stakeholders.

Local accounting, expenses, travel and Insurance:

• Accountable for the smooth functioning of the local accounting team and ensuring their activity is conducted in an efficient and diligent manner. This currently includes period end journals, payment requests, banking, expense processing and capital project invoicing.
• This role is accountable for the local application of EMBL's Travel Management Company, Travel Insurance and Travel Expenses

Local procurement and purchasing:

• This role is accountable for the smooth functioning of the local Procurement and Purchasing team and ensuring their activity is conducted in an efficient and diligent manner.
• This role will play an active part in monitoring and ensuring operational progress on tenders, procurement and purchasing activity for the following key areas:
  • IT related hardware, software, subscriptions and maintenance tenders.
  • EMBL events and conference tenders and contracting.
  • Consultancy and external service delivery contracts.
  • Operational purchasing.

Interface with EMBL-EBI external funders:

• Accountable for Capital Project financial monitoring and reporting, financial risk management and other activities as required of finance on all project and programme boards.
• Participate in and manage negotiations with external stakeholders, partners and funders on financial matters as required e.g. shared costs, service and facility costs, audits, income and expenditure, influencing their approach and securing agreement.
• Maintain the overhead methodology, process and calculation of overheads for EMBL-EBI for external funders, aligned with the outcomes of the Financial Management Information Project.

EMBL and EMBL-EBI Projects, Operations, Governance and Risk:

• Contribute to EMBL-EBI and EMBL wide projects as these relate to administration in general and finance in particular.
• Represent Finance on EMBL and EMBL EBI governance, leadership, co-ordination and networking groups and meetings as required. This will include EMBL-EBI Incident Management, Business Continuity and Risk Management groups.

You have

• A professional accounting qualification (ACCA, ACA, CIMA or equivalent)
• At least 5 years of experience in a comparable senior role
• Experience of leading a medium sized team
• Procurement and purchasing experience
• Ability and willingness to communicate with a broad range of diverse stakeholders.
• Proven record of writing and presenting financial information to a senior audience
• Inclusive leadership experience and ability - actively seek to identify your own biases and consider a range of perspectives to inform decision-making and the way you lead and collaborate with others
• Demonstrable key leadership qualities - self awareness, empathy, growth mindset, active listening, empowerment of others and superior communication skills

You may also have

• SAP or Workday ERP experience
• Experience of working in a scientific, educational or intergovernmental organisation

Contract length: 2 years

Salary: Grade 8 or 9 (monthly salary after tax from £4,716 or £5,848 plus financial allowances based on family circumstances. Excluding pension and insurance contributions)

Why join us

Do something meaningful
At EMBL-EBI you can apply your talent and passion to accelerate science and tackle some of humankind's greatest challenges. EMBL-EBI, part of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, is a worldwide leader in the storage, analysis and dissemination of large biological datasets. We provide the global research community with access to publicly available databases and tools which are crucial for the advancement of healthcare, food security, and biodiversity.

Join a culture of innovation
We are located on the Wellcome Genome Campus, alongside other prominent research and biotech organisations, and surrounded by beautiful Cambridgeshire countryside. This is a highly collaborative and inclusive community where our employees enjoy a relaxed atmosphere. We are committed to ensuring our employees feel valued, supported and empowered to reach their professional potential. Watch this video to see how EMBL-EBI makes an impact.

Enjoy lots of benefits:

• Financial incentives: Monthly family, child and non-resident allowances, annual salary review, pension scheme, death benefit, long-term care, accident-at-work and unemployment insurances
• Flexible working arrangements - including hybrid working patterns
• Private medical insurance for you and your immediate family (including all prescriptions and generous dental & optical cover)
• Generous time off: 30 days annual leave per year, in addition public holidays
• Relocation package including installation grant (if required)
• Campus life: Free shuttle bus to and from work, on-site library, subsidised on-site gym and cafeteria, casual dress code, extensive sports and social club activities (on campus and remotely)
• Family benefits: On-site nursery, 10 days of child sick leave, generous parental leave, holiday clubs on campus and monthly family and child allowances
• Benefits for non-UK residents: Visa exemption, education grant for private schooling, financial support to travel back to your home country every second year and a monthly non-resident allowance.

For detailed information please visit our employee benefits page here.

What else you need to know

• International applicants: We recruit internationally and successful candidates are offered visa exemptions. Please take a look at our International Applicants page for further information.
• EMBL is a signatory of DORA. Find out how we apply DORA principles to our recruitment and performance assessment processes here.
• Diversity and inclusion: At EMBL, we strongly believe that inclusive and diverse teams benefit from higher levels of innovation and creative thought. We encourage applications from women, LGBTQ+ & individuals from all nationalities.
• How to apply: To apply please submit a cover letter and a CV through our online system. Applications will close at 23:59 CET on the date shown below. We aim to provide a response within two weeks after the closing date.

Closing Date
31/05/2025