Lead Finance Manager

Company Description

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. 

Job Description

Exciting Opportunity for a Lead Financial Manager! 
Are you ready to take charge of a dynamic financial portfolio and lead a dedicated team to success? Join us as and play a pivotal role in running and growing our financial operations!

NIHR is seeking a highly skilled and dynamic Finance Manager to join our dedicated team.

This pivotal role involves coordinating the financial management of NIHR’s extensive research funding portfolio.

In role, you will take the lead in running the financial aspects of a diverse portfolio of NIHR/DHSC awards, alongside key projects for our esteemed clients. Lead a diverse team of 10, including 3 direct reports, to ensure smooth daily operations. Be responsible for the GMG’s budget, providing critical support for business development initiatives. Drive success by developing and running key performance indicators.

We are seeking a qualified accountant with exceptional communication skills, capable of influencing senior decision-makers and offering strategic insights across GMG. As a tried leader, you will inspire and develop your team while leading the daily operations of the department.

Main Responsibilities

Financial Oversight for a Comprehensive Research Portfolio of NIHR/DH and NHS England Awards

• Accountability for the quality, accuracy and timely completion of quarterly outturns and forecasts of expenditure for the research budgets handled by the CCF
• Working closely with colleagues in DH SRED Directorate to understand DH’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
• Ensuring that there are appropriate systems for issuing contracts and variations to contracts (VTCs) and for supervising the performance of programme teams in managing these systems
• Implementation of systems and operational improvements to continually develop the finance function, in particular the process for managing and setting research budgets within programme teams
• Ensure robust systems are in place to review the cost information provided in research funding applications, in order to ensure the best value for money. for research funded by NIHR/DH and NHS England
• To build and support the financial awareness of members of the finance team, as well as staff in programme teams, developing their skills in monitoring and forecasting research budgets
• To lead on finance initiatives of strategic importance to customers and support efforts to ensure appropriate consistency of GMG processes with other research funders (including other NIHR Coordinating Centres)
• Supervise the finance and contracts team work to best practice, and that policies and standard operating procedures are in place for sound financial monitoring, reporting and forecasting, driving consistency and championing a culture of excellence and quality assurance
• Actively contributing to staff continuous professional development
• Ensuring that the CCF’s senior management team has access to relevant and accurate management information

Financial Management of the GMG Budget

In this position you will be supporting the Assistant Director in ensuring that the budget (£19m PA) is managed in line with the requirements of the LGC Divisional and Group Finance teams and customers:

• Working with the LGC Divisional Finance team to ensure that an accurate P&L for GMG is produced on a monthly basis, resolving accounting issues, as required
• Contributing to the Divisional reporting pack, including providing a monthly commentary on performance versus budget, and reporting performance.
• Ensuring that customers are invoiced in a timely and accurate manner
• Preparing an annual budget and quarterly forecasting for GMG in collaboration with the Divisional Finance team
• Monitoring and reporting on variances/trend and advising leadership on possible courses of action
• Providing financial support for winning new business, producing cost and pricing models to support required margins, constructing reasons for investment and assessing benefits realised
• Ensuring that the senior management team has access to relevant and accurate management information

Cost modelling

• Work with the business to identify cost drivers.
• Develop a cost model to estimate cost required for new and existing areas of the business
• Continuously evaluate the model and propose changes when necessary
• Support the business in the use of the model 

Qualifications

Qualifications & Experience

Essentail Criteria

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) with significant post qualification experience, ideally in both a public sector and a commercial environment
• Experience and understanding of management of research finances in an NHS and/or HEI setting
• Good technical application of financial accounting skills
• Previous experience and responsibility for divisional reporting requirements
• Validated experience of building strong working relationships with operational teams
• Experience of taking a significant role in systems implementation would be advantageous
• Experience of creating and leading robust and sophisticated processes, ideally in a research funding environment
• Experience of leading and developing others

Crucial Competencies and Behaviours

• Expertise in financial modelling and forecasting
• Ability to coach, develop and empower people
• Comfortable working in a demanding and evolving environment; able to adapt and be flexible to changing needs
• Capable communicator with ability to establish credibility with key customers
• Analytical approach and ability to challenge numbers and people
• Comfortable working as an organisational lead and subject matter expert

Other Skills and Abilities

• Strong communication skills
• Excellent planning and organisational skills
• Well-developed written and presentation skills 

Additional Information

Salary & Benefits 
£56,400 to £59,500 PA 
Bonus - subject to company performance
25 days annual leave, plus public holidays (UK)
Enhanced contributory pension scheme
Life Insurance
Benenden Healthcare
Season Ticket Loan
Laptop, IT equipment and remote IT support

This is a Twickenham, office based, hybrid role, with an expectation for all employees to attend our offices a minimum of two to three days a week. 

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 'Essentail Criteria' outlined in the job description. Additionally, share your enthusiasm for working with NIHR. 

NB: Closing date for applications is 27th August. Interviews to be held from 2nd September. 
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES 
LGC strongly believes that every job applicant and employee should be valued for their individual talents regardless of age, disability, race, colour, 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, colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, age, or trade union membership.