Finance Business Partner

Innovate UK; United States; Hybrid; USD 79,000 - 119,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days annual leave

Public & privilege days

Flexible working hours

Defined benefit pension

Discount schemes & networks

Job summary

Innovate UK in the UKRI family seeks a Finance Business Partner to deliver dedicated finance expertise, insight, reporting and business partnering to internal and external stakeholders, informing decision-making and aligning with priorities.

You will work in the Finance Business Partnering Team, support programme managers, manage budgets and forecasts, strengthen internal controls, and contribute to efficiency across the organisation.

Qualifications

• Qualified Accountant (ACA/CIMA/ACCA/CIPFA) or equivalent experience.
• Strong understanding of accounting and finance in a similar role.
• Excellent IT skills with Microsoft Excel proficiency.
• Experience of financial modelling, controls and month-end processes.
• Experience presenting to senior stakeholders and advising on financial priorities.

Responsibilities

• Provide dedicated finance expertise, insight, reporting and business partnering.
• Support Programme Managers and Senior Leadership Teams with timely financial information and challenge.
• Deputise for the Senior Finance Business Partner when required.
• Strengthen internal controls and link budgets to delivery plans and business cases.
• Manage annual and multi-year budget setting and forecasting cycles.
• Ensure compliance with internal controls and government requirements.

Skills

Qualified Accountant

ACA/CIMA/ACCA/CIPFA

QBE

Excel

Financial analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Tools

Excel

Job description

Employees applying for any opportunity which may mean being away from your substantive role for a temporary period of time, please refer to the Recruitment Policy for further information in the first instance. If you are made an offer, please ensure you liaise with your Line Manager and the designated HR Team as soon as possible in order that implications of any move are clear and understood, prior to a move taking place. Innovate UK works with businesses and stakeholders across every nation and region of the UK. As part of UKRI, our hybrid working approach is built around one simple principle: time should be spent where it delivers the greatest impact. This means working across three settings: UKRI sites, time on the ground with businesses, partners and stakeholders and time working from home. It's an approach designed to support collaboration, connection and impact. This role is in Tier 2, with 40-60% of working time typically spent either at a UKRI site or engaging with external businesses and stakeholders across the UK. Outside of this requirement, you can work from home. Whilst this role will be formally based at one of the following UKRI sites, it is externally facing, and we expect that there will be requirement to travel around the UK for 2/3 days each week on average. Read the full UKRI Hybrid Working Policy Hybrid Working at UKRI Innovate UK recognises the importance of work-life balance and we will be happy to discuss any requests for flexible working arrangements.

Context: The role holder will operate within the Innovate UK's Finance Business Partnering Team which is part of the wider Innovate UK and UKRI Finance Teams.

Job Purpose: Provide dedicated finance expertise, insight, reporting and business partnering to Innovate UK, working closely with internal and external stakeholders to inform decision-making, enhance financial awareness, and deliver outcomes aligned with Innovate UK and UKRI priorities.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities: Leadership / teamwork / collaboration

• Build and maintain good working relationships with colleagues and partners and provide input and advice.
• Support Programme Managers and Senior Leadership Teams to effectively manage their programmes through the provision of timely, accurate and complete financial information, advice, and constructive challenge.
• To deputise for the Senior Finance Business Partner on a range of issues, if and when required.
• Understand the linkages and dependencies across UKRI Councils and UKRI's sponsor department, working collaboratively with Finance Business Partners and colleagues across UKRI to identify opportunities for improvement, transformation and efficiency within Finance. Support the strengthening of internal controls, financial reporting and analysis, and the effective management of programmes, while promoting a culture of collaboration and teamwork.
• Perform a range of reporting and control functions, positioning Finance to work with the business and link budgets to delivery plans and business cases.
• Communicate the importance of Finance to partners at all levels, and use strong business awareness to present insightful information and analysis to support effective longer-term decision making and deliver outcomes in line with Innovate UK and UKRI priorities.
• Manage annual and multi-year budget setting and forecasting cycles.
• Ensure compliance with internal financial, DSIT and HMG controls within assigned business areas.
• Manage applications for additional budget cover.

This is not an exhaustive list and you might be encouraged to undertake any other duties across the wider directorate, commensurate with the Band and level of responsibility of this post, for which the post holder has the key experience and/or training.

We are an equal opportunities employer, committed to employing any person who meets the criteria for our roles. When undertaking recruitment we may require applicants to undertake certain tests or assessments, some of which will be online and others may be in-person. If you have a disability, heath condition or specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia then you may be entitled to support with undertaking this type of assessment exercise. Where you feel that reasonable adjustments are required to support you, we ask that you advise your recruitment point of contact in a timely fashion, providing further information. In confidence, Innovate UK will then review your application for adjustments and provide support as required.

• Qualified Accountant (ACA/CIMA/ACCA/CIPFA), actively working or willing to work towards qualification, or equivalent experience (QBE) (S).
• Strong understanding of accounting and finance and demonstrable experience of working in a similar role (S).
• Very good IT skills, including good knowledge of Microsoft Office, in particular Excel (S).
• Experience of financial modelling & controls (S&I).
• Demonstrable experience of month and year-end processes - accruals and prepayment calculations, variance analyses etc (S&I).
• Demonstrable experience of working as part of a wider-business, consulting with senior stakeholders, utilising an in-depth understanding of business priorities and effectively working with partners to meet organisational and financial objectives (S&I).
• Experience in provision of high quality written and oral advice suitable for senior level decision makers (I).
• Proven experience in the preparation of complex budgets, forecasts and financial plans (I).
• Understanding of the role of governance, risk management and assurance in project delivery (I).
• Ability to build relationships with senior partners and influence them with impact and professional credibility
• Strong experience of developing effective working partnerships and offering challenges where necessary to senior decision-making groups
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Personal resilience and a confident approach, willing to apply good judgement to solve issues and find solutions independently.
• Highly developed team working skills, able to form effective working relationships quickly
• Ability to respond calmly under pressure and to make impartial and well-considered judgments in complex situations
• Good organisational skills, able to manage and prioritise own and others' workloads and meet deadlines in a very timely manner

Competencies: All team members demonstrate compatibility with and capability against our Core Competencies such as: Thinking and Problem Solving - Stakeholder management - Communication skills - Influencing - Self-awareness/self-management - Strategic awareness - Working with others- Project management

We offer a benefits package crafted to provide an excellent work/life balance. This includes 30 days' annual leave, 10.5 public and privilege days, flexible working hours, an exceptional defined benefit pension scheme, and access to a variety of support networks and discount schemes. Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Flexible Working: We understand the importance of work-life balance, and are happy to discuss the possibility of flexible working with applicants. Artificial Intelligence: Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be rejected and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Pre-employment Screening: To enable us to hire the very best people we will conduct a comprehensive pre-employment check on successful applicants as part of the recruitment process. The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment. UKRI supports research in areas that include animal health, agriculture and food security, and bioscience for health which includes research on animals, genetic modification and stem cell research. Whilst you may not have direct involvement in this type of research, you should consider how this aligns with your personal values or beliefs. To enable us to hire the very best people we will conduct a full and comprehensive pre-employment check as a crucial part of the recruitment process on all individuals that are offered a position with UKRI. This will include a security check and an extreme organisations affiliation check.