UK Research & Innovation

Salary: £70,752 per annum

Band: UKRI Band G

Contract Type: Fixed Term (Until April 2027)

Hours: Full-time (Secondment/Job Share Considered) (flexible working available)

Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire - Hybrid working available

Closing Date: 4th February 2026

About the role

Providing a comprehensive financial business partnering service to assigned business area; providing high level insight, challenge and support to a comprehensive range of stakeholders, to deliver outcomes in line with UKRI priorities.   

Interim role to April 2027; we are undertaking significant work on our operating model over 26-27.

Your responsibilities:

Leadership / teamwork:

•         Take a collegiate approach to leading across the UKRI Finance function 

•         Develop exceptional collaborative relationships with senior managers and key internal and external stakeholders including the Executive Chair, COO, and Directors.

•         Lead in providing strategic finance advice, driving value for money, and offering challenges to relevant internal and external senior stakeholders, based on strong business awareness and understanding, to ensure robust financial processes.

•         As a recognised expert, work closely with senior stakeholders to bring insight and influence on financial matters to aid in establishing strategic priorities, particularly in more complex or high-risk matters

•         Represent the Finance function and/or UKRI at relevant Executive meetings, Boards and Committees.

Delivery / programmes / projects / process:

•         Responsibility for a range of complex reporting and control functions, positioning Finance to work with the business and link budgets to delivery plans and business cases.

•         Present insightful information and analysis to support effective strategic decision-making, using strong business awareness to present insightful information and analysis and to support effective longer-term decision-making and deliver outcomes in line with UKRI priorities.

•         Ownership and accountability for annual and multi-year budget setting cycles including close work with central strategic finance team and DSIT on dual support issues

•         Accountability and direction in the development of the finance case within business cases, and input and shape the direction of the other cases.

•         Accountable for ensuring compliance with internal financial, DSIT and HMG controls within assigned business areas. 

•         Accountability and responsibility for the production of high-quality reports for Executive meetings, Boards and Committees

Other:

•         Lead finance support to new strategic investment programme boards within your assigned business area; these are standing up as part of our move to a more programmatic and impact-focussed approach to our investments

Active contribution to finance transformation work which will be taking place over the course of 26-27

Personal Specification 

The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).

Essential

Qualifications:

•         Qualified Accountant (ACA/CIMA/ACCA/CIPFA) (S).

Experience and knowledge:

•         High level understanding of accounting and finance, and demonstrable experience of working in senior finance roles and delivering effective financial management (S, I).

•         Highly numerate with the ability to provide insightful analysis on complex issues, communicating the key elements to effectively deliver projects and influence decision making at a strategic level. (I).

•         Strategic understanding of the role of governance, risk management and assurance in operational and project delivery and ability to reflect that understanding in advice to the business. (S, I).

Skills and abilities:

•         Proven ability to build exceptional collaborative relationships with senior stakeholders and influence and challenge them with impact and professional credibility (S, I).

•         Personal resilience and a confident approach, willing to apply good judgement to solve issues and find solutions. (I).

•         Strong organisational skills, able to manage and prioritise own and others’ workload and meet deadlines in a very timely manner. (S).

Benefits

We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package. We are committed to supporting employees' development and promote a culture of continuous learning!

A list of benefits below:

•         An outstanding defined benefit pension scheme.

•         30 days' annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and privilege days (full time equivalent).

•         Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities.

•         Employee assistance programme, providing confidential help and advice.

•         Flexible working options.

Plus, many more benefits and wellbeing initiatives that enable our employees to have a great work life balance!

For further information on our benefits please see:

Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) 

Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact [email protected].

Please note, if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you and any dependants travelling with you, will be required to pay costs directly to The Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some, or all of these fees after you have become an employee and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager. For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact [email protected].

UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.

Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.

More information can be found at www.ukri.org.

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme.  For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI.

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, any candidate who opts into the scheme and best meets the essential criteria, will be shortlisted for interview. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.

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.