Head of Finance - RAL Space, BID & SPC

Job Title: Head of Finance - RAL Space, BID and SPC
Salary:  £61,227 - £68,029 (dependent on experience)
Grade: UKRI Band G
Location:  Oxfordshire
Hours:  1.0 FTE
Contract type: Open-Ended
Closing date: 4^th July 2021

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) works in partnership with universities, research organisations, businesses, charities, and government to create the best possible environment for research and innovation to flourish.  The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is one of the nine councils in UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). 

This role is responsible for the provision of high calibre professional financial management support to STFC’s RAL Space department, Business and Innovation directorate, and Strategy, Planning and Communications directorate. 

As the senior finance business partner to these departments, the post-holder will support their management teams in appraisal and negotiation of new projects and investments and preparation and management of departmental budgets, constructively challenging plans to test robustness and value for money and ensuring compliance with UKRI policy and processes. 

In this role, a key challenge will lie in working within available budgets to maximise impact, managing variances, risks and opportunities in an intelligent, sensitive and realistic manner.  These departments have significant portfolios of externally funded activities which require judgement in terms of costing and pricing and commercial acumen to support effective relationships with external customers, key suppliers and joint venture partners. In addition, you will be expected to:

• Provide strategic Finance support to the directors and management teams of RAL Space, BID and SPC in developing and delivering directorate/departmental objectives and driving performance and continuous improvement
• Ensure the delivery of financial outturns consistent with approved budget allocations
• Support STFC’s commercial and quasi-commercial activities (e.g. campuses, spinouts and contract activities) through strategic financial analysis, advice and effective communication with key contacts in partner organisations
• Support the creation and subsequent delivery of robust, achievable project and programme business cases for projects involving your designated departments, including financial sign off of cases requiring UKRI/BEIS investment committee approval
• Actively manage direct reports and business partner teams supporting your designated departments, ensuring clear setting and monitoring of objectives, effective communication and teamwork and a strong focus on professional development.  You will be responsible for a team of approximately 9 staff.
   

You need to be an experienced accountant, skilled at evaluating complex financial issues, who can work confidently at a senior level.  You will also be an effective communicator, capable of working with a range of staff from other disciplines in a highly collaborative manner.

UKRI can offer the successful candidate 30 days annual leave, access to a defined-benefit Civil Service Pension and access to schemes such as Cycle to Work and Season Ticket Loans.