View Vacancy -- Finance Manager/Business Partner LMS 1918

Open Date
03/08/2022, 11:00
Close Date
22/08/2022, 23:55
MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences
The London Institute of Medical Sciences (LMS) is a Medical Research Council funded research institute at the Hammersmith Hospital campus (London W12) of Imperial College London, with around 400 biomedical researchers undertaking multidisciplinary and internationally-competitive science. For more information, visit www.lms.mrc.ac.uk.
UK Research and Innovation is a new entity that brings together nine partners to create an independent organisation with a strong voice for research and innovation, more information can be found at www.ukri.org

MRC - 4
London
£32,302 - £35,143 plus London Allowances (£3,727 - £1,402) per annum
Permanent
Administration & Management
Full Time

Purpose of the Post

Reporting to the Head of Finance in the Institute, you will provide a comprehensive financial business partnering service to the LMS, working closely with stakeholders to add financial awareness to decision making, and deliver outcomes that are in line with the Institute and UKRI priorities, thus ensuring that budgets are used effectively. You will also perform a range of reporting and control functions, but fundamentally will be responsible for positioning finance to work with the researchers and link all activity to the delivery plan, communicating the importance of Finance to staff at all levels – presenting insightful information to stimulate longer-term planning. You will work with other Finance Business Partners and colleagues across MRC and UKRI to seek opportunities for improvement, change and efficiency within finance, strengthening internal controls, financial analysis, and effective management of programmes.

The Finance Manager is responsible for the management of the provision of financial information, analysis reconciliation and advice to support the operational management of the LMS. The role is a complex one requiring an understanding of UKRI funding (including a wide range of grant funded projects with different terms and conditions) and university funding in line with IAS 20 accounting standards.

The post holder will be responsible for the day to day financial management of the LMS Building Project ring-fenced budgets and production of monthly management reports and variance analysis for these, and assist in managing the financial position of legacy UKRI Business Units. This will include the financial management of the grants codes by reviewing expenditure against budget, produce rolling forecasts and assist in responding to audit queries from internal and external auditors to a tight deadline.

Key Responsibilities

 To maintain, operate and develop appropriate systems of financial management and control, which can provide the Head of Finance with information to:

  • Plan for and meet the resource needs of the Institute’s short, medium and long term objectives and goals
  • Update annual budget information, monitor actual expenditure and projected outturn against budgets and take corrective action in good time
  • Manage the finance and accounting function in accordance with relevant financial legislation, good accounting and auditing practice and UKRI financial policies
  • Ensure the financial position of the Institute (expenditure against budget) is known at all times
  • Provide financial information for the Institute, MRC and UKRI Head Office and UKSBS as required
  • Production of monthly Management accounts
  • Maintenance and updating of budget movements on the financial systems
  • Co-ordinate and manage any intramural finance projects as required
  • Review and control of the annual budget, including monitoring and reporting on performance against budget
  • Provision of professional financial support to the LMS including non-finance managers
  • Provide robust financial management and reporting for all financial matters
  • Review of accruals and prepayments and reconciliation for month end process
  • Involvement in the on-going improvement of management information systems and internal controls
  • Support and deputise for the Head of Finance as required
  • Provision of ad-hoc financial information, support to department-wide projects, and advice as necessary
  • Manage the outstanding transactions of the Intramural legacy units with an objective of following up the novation of contracts, agreeing final positions and culminating in the calculation and payment of working capital adjustment. The post-holder will be the point of contact for any audits that are undertaken
  • To undertake the financial management of actuals, forecasts and budget of the legacy business units’ transition and ring-fenced budgets and the project budgets for all site refurbishment projects
  • The day to day financial management of the LMS Building Project, including monitoring spend against budget and forecast with relevant reporting monthly



Education / Qualifications / Training required (will be assessed from application form):

Essential:

  • Educated to degree level or equivalent
  •  Part qualified CCAB and progressing towards completion of ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CPA or other relevant CCAB qualification

Previous work experience (will be assessed from application form and at interview):

Essential:

  • Experience of developing, analysing, interpreting, and reporting financial information including complex accrual and prepayment calculations
  • Experience of leading comprehensive financial planning exercises, forecasting and 5 year rolling financial plans
  • Experience of developing and using creative solutions for complex problems
  • Experience of setting and meeting targets and deadlines
  • Experience of utilising information technology, particularly database management systems, such as Oracle financial systems and Hyperion Essbase or Oracle OBIE to produce management information reports

Desirable:

  • Prior experience of working in a research environment

Knowledge and experience (will be assessed from application form and at interview):

Essential:

  • Knowledge of the practical application of accounting concepts
  • Knowledge of University sector funding in line with IAS 20 accounting standards

Desirable:

Knowledge and understanding of the scientific research environment and current pressures on research science


Personal skills/behaviours/qualities (will be assessed and at interview):

Essential:

  • Competent with financial software and systems
  • Strong ICT skills including Excel to an advanced level (macro work), PowerPoint and Word
  • Strong presentation skills with the ability to communicate complex concepts to staff with a range of knowledge
  • Strong communication skills with the ability to build relationships with, and influence, staff at all levels and across varied organisations
  • Ability to prioritise and manage personal workload to meet deadlines
  • Ability to work independently and unsupervised
  • Ability to show leadership in a changing environment and adapt working practices as necessary

Additional information:

Please upload your CV, names and contacts of two references along with a covering letter stating why you are applying for this role (providing evidence against the requirements of the job as per the job description and person specification). Please quote reference number: LMS 1918

The MRC is a great place to work and progress your career, be it in scientific research or the support functions.The MRC is a unique working environment where our researchers are rewarded by world class innovation and collaboration opportunities that the MRC name brings. The MRC is an excellent place to develop yourself further and a range of training & development opportunities will be available to you, including professional registration with the Science Council.

Choosing to come to work at the MRC (part of UKRI) means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme and excellent holiday entitlement to access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme, as well as the chance to put the MRC and UKRI on your CV in the future.

Our success is dependent upon our ability to embrace diversity and draw on the skills, understanding and experience of all our people. We welcome applications from all sections of the community irrespective of gender, race, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, disability or age. As "Disability Confident" employers, we guarantee to interview all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy.

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 whether this conflicts with your personal values or beliefs.

We will conduct a full and comprehensive pre-employment check as an essential 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.  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.

This opportunity is closed to applications.