Senior Finance Manager (Research)

LGC Group; Twickenham; Hybrid; GBP 47,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading organization in health research is seeking a Senior Finance Manager to oversee financial management of major funding streams. This role involves collaboration with various teams, ensuring accurate reporting, and supporting governance systems. The ideal candidate will have a professional accounting qualification and experience in finance business partnering. This hybrid position requires attendance at the Twickenham office 2-3 days a week initially, transitioning to 1-2 days thereafter.

Benefits

25 days annual leave

Enhanced contributory pension scheme

Life Insurance

Benenden Healthcare

Season Ticket Loan

Qualifications

• Professional Accounting Qualification required.
• Experience in finance business partnering and forecasting.
• Demonstrated line management experience.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day financial operations for research funding streams.
• Ensure timely and accurate financial reporting.
• Support finance initiatives and audits.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Stakeholder Engagement

Continuous Improvement Focus

Education

ACCA

CIMA

Tools

MS Office

Excel

Job description

ABOUT LGC GRANT MANAGEMENT GROUP
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). We work in partnership with the NHS, universities, local government, other research funders, patients, and the public. The NIHR funds, enables, and delivers world-leading health and social care research that improves people's health and wellbeing and promotes economic growth. We are also a major funder of applied health research in low- and middle-income countries.

DHSC contracts directly with a number of NHS Trusts, universities and life science organisations that together host our two coordinating centres:

• NIHR Coordinating Centre (NIHRCC), hosted by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, the University of Southampton, and LGC.
• Clinical Research Network Coordinating Centre (CRNCC), hosted by a consortium of the University of Leeds and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.

These two coordinating centres share operational responsibility for the NIHR. Their work is directed by DHSC’s Chief Scientific Adviser and by the Director and Senior Management Team of DHSC's Science Research and Evidence Directorate.

Job Description

Job Purpose
We require a suitable individual to act as a Senior Finance Manager (Research) within the Finance & Contracts team of LGC’s Grant Management Group (GMG), based in Twickenham, Middlesex. GMG hosts NIHR Coordinating Centre (NIHRCC) for the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), managing a number of major health research programmes and infrastructure investments for NIHR and DHSC, with a total annual budget in excess of £600 million.

Reporting to the Lead Finance Manager, the postholder will have responsibility for the day-to-day financial management of the ~35 research funding streams (including research programmes, Research Schools and infrastructure funding streams), with a total annual budget of in excess of £600 million, managed by GMG on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). This will include financial reconciliations, outturns, forecasting, etc. The postholder will support and be supported by the Finance and Contracts team and will work closely with programme teams and other cross-cutting teams within GMG as well as liaising with staff in the DHSC SRE Directorate on a regular basis.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensuring that the quarterly outturns and forecasts of expenditure for the research budgets managed by the CCF submitted to DHSC are submitted in a timely manner and are of high quality and accuracy.
• Working closely with the Lead Finance Manager and colleagues in the DHSC SRE Directorate to understand DHSC’s financial reporting and monitoring requirements and to develop reporting structures and processes which meet these requirements in as efficient and effective manner as possible
• Contributing to the development and maintenance of appropriate governance systems to oversee the use of NIHR and DHSC funding within the NHS and HEI settings
• Liaising with Finance teams in NHS organisations, HEIs and other entities to resolve any financial issues which arise
• Supporting Lead Finance Manager in the implementation of systems and process improvements to continually develop the finance function, in particular the processes for financial and contract management within programme teams
• Ensuring that CCF staff working in programme teams have the necessary knowledge and skills to work effectively with the Finance & Contracts team to manage their research budgets, providing training and ad hoc support, as necessary
• Ensuring that there are effective financial information flows between CCF and DHSC ensuring that customers are kept fully informed of any issues relating to research budgets and that key information is relayed to CCF staff when required
• Participating in finance initiatives of strategic importance to customers and supporting efforts to ensure appropriate consistency of GMG processes with best practice in other research funders (including other NIHR Coordinating Centres)
• Supporting customer and internal and external audit requirements
• Line management of 2 staff (and oversight of 3 more) members of the Finance and Contracts team, including responsibility for training and professional development
• Responding to queries from programme staff, contractors and other stakeholders including management and oversight of the Jira query system
• Supporting Lead Finance Manager in the development and maintenance of robust finance-related policies and SOPs
• Supporting efforts to ensure appropriate consistency of GMG processes with those of other research funders (including other NIHR Coordinating Centres)
• Supporting Lead Finance Manager in ensuring that process maps of centralised finance-related activities are accurate, maintained and reviewed regularly to guarantee the efficiency and quality of service provided
• Supporting Lead Finance Manager in developing and maintaining a variety of Excel-based tools to support GMG’s financial systems
• Supporting the continued centralisation of finance and contracts work
• Representing the GMG Finance team at relevant meetings including specialist working groups if required
• Supporting the Lead Finance Manager, deputising where needed
• Working collaboratively with the other Senior Finance Manager, deputising where needed
• Any other reasonable tasks required by line management.

Qualifications

Required Criteria

• Professional Accounting Qualification: ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent; candidates qualified by experience are also considered.
• Finance Business Partnering & Forecasting Expertise: Proven experience in collaborating with business units and delivering accurate financial forecasts.
• Leadership & Management: Demonstrated experience in line management, with a focus on team development and performance.
• Collaborative Relationship Management: Proven ability to build and maintain strong, productive working relationships with GMG programme staff, fostering trust and credibility across the organisation.
• Continuous Improvement Focus: Strong commitment to capturing lessons learned and integrating them into work processes and training.
• Clear Communication: Expertise in presenting complex or sensitive financial information clearly to diverse audiences.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Skilled in liaising effectively with external stakeholders, including senior customer finance leads and applicant finance offices.
• Extensive Financial Expertise: Significant experience in roles demonstrating the acquisition and practical application of financial knowledge.
• Advanced Technical Skills: Proficient in MS Office (Excel in particular), databases.

Desired Criteria

• Research Grant Management: Knowledge and hands-on experience in managing research grant finances.
• Digital Financial Management: Proficient in using web-based grant management systems for accurate financial tracking, reporting, and compliance management.

Additional Information

Salary & Benefits
£47,300+ per year
Bonus - subject to company performance
25 days annual leave, plus public holidays (UK)
Enhanced contributory pension scheme
Life Insurance
Benenden Healthcare
Season Ticket Loan

NB: This is a hybrid, office-based role. All employees are expected to attend our Twickenham office 2–3 days per week during the first three months. Following this period, attendance will typically be 1–2 days per week, though this may increase depending on team requirements.

Application
If you are excited about the prospect of joining our team and believe you possess the relevant skills and background, we invite you to apply. Please submit your CV along with a 'Statement of Suitability' that showcases your key skills and experiences in relation to the 'Required Criteria' outlined in the job description. Additionally, share your enthusiasm for working withthe LGC Group.

Deadline for applications is 5pm on the 23rd May, with in-house interviews from the 30th May.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
LGC strongly believes that every job applicant and employee should be valued for their individual talents regardless of age, disability, race, color, ethnic or national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion, or belief. Short listing, interviewing and selection will always be carried out without regard to gender, sexual orientation, marital status, color, race, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, age, or trade union membership.