UK Research and Innovation
Salary: £45,272 per annum (dependent on skills and experience).
Hours: Full time or Part time (minimum 0.8 FTE)
Contract Type: Open Ended.
Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire.
Purpose
This exciting new role is within UKRI’s Central Finance Planning and Reporting Team and part of the ongoing development of the team’s strategic financial planning, analysis, financial management and reporting. The team’s work spans all the Research Councils, Innovate UK, Research England, Corporate Hub, and International.
The successful candidate will report to the OpEx Planning Lead to ensure there is effective multi-year planning of OpEx financial activity; compliance with the specified caps, and work in partnership with other finance and non-finance teams across UKRI to improve the transparency and reporting of operational efficiency.
You will need to understand the linkages and dependencies between the various UKRI finance teams and foster a culture of teamwork. This will involve developing effective collaboration between financial planning and UKRI’s finance business partners ensuring that information, policies, and processes are communicated efficiently. Most importantly you will ensure that the financial planning function receives the necessary information from the business to enable effective strategic decision-making.
Background
Within UKRI’s £8.6bn core allocation there is a business-as-usual OpEx budget cap of £255m for financial year 2024/25, designated for the organisation's running costs. Since the 2021 spending review UKRI has implemented a programme of change aligned to targets set by DSIT and the Treasury to reduce both OpEx expenditure and Full-Time Equivalents (FTE) to levels closer to those when UKRI was established in 2018/19. Over the past few years, efforts have been made to reduce expenditure and FTE through several measures including staff reductions and reclassifications out of OpEx to programme. Consequently, the OpEx budget has decreased from £295m in 2021/22 to £255m in 2024/25, and OpEx FTEs have been reduced from 3,195 in 2021/22, with a target to reach 2,650 by the end of 2024/25.
In addition to the BAU OpEx budget cap there are separate OpEx caps for Managed Programmes, HEU and UKRI Change programmes. The planning, reporting, and management of these budgets has increased in profile significantly in recent years with great interest from HM Treasury, DSIT and the UKRI Board on progress against target – particularly in relation to benefits and savings.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Manage the annual OpEx budget setting process within UKRI, including designing and distributing the budget setting commission and reviewing returns.
2. Review and challenge OpEx reporting for BAU, Change, HEU, and Managed Programs. Understand and critically assess commentaries from Operating Units, providing challenges where necessary. Highlight risks within these programmes that could lead to overspending or delays in completion. Suggest areas for improvement as requirements evolve.
3. Have a strong understanding of the financial risks, pressures, and opportunities both in year and in future years to ensure effective financial decision-making in these areas.
4. Present and summarise information clearly, adapting the style and method of reporting used for different stakeholders.
5. Become an OpEx subject matter expert. Develop and maintain an OpEx policies guide for use by UKRI’s finance business partners and the wider business. Review policies with the implementation of SHARP to ensure continuity of OpEx planning procedures.
6. Maintain and develop the UKRI pay model to calculate expected staff costs for all UKRI employees. Project these costs forwards into future years, incorporating expected uplifts for pay remit and capability pay progression for planning and budgeting purposes.
7. Work with key stakeholders to develop OpEx scenarios that support UKRI’s overall planning scenarios and Operating Model framework. Help develop the OpEx Minimum Viable Product Model for incorporation into OpEx budget setting and fiscal events including but not limited to spending review scenario planning. Maintain and enhance the model over time to meet evolving requirements.
8. Work with the finance business partner community to enhance the current managed programme OpEx reporting model to maintain a comprehensive list of managed programme budgets, forecasts, actuals, and run rates. Collaborate with internal partners to track new managed programmes and their OpEx requirements, ensuring they are affordable within UKRI’s overall OpEx cap.
9. Develop and maintain strong working relationships with key stakeholders in the finance business areas.
10. Maintain effective collaboration with finance business partners to ensure smooth communication of information and processes. Ensure that all parties are aware of their responsibilities.
11. Build a strong understanding of all Operating Units to provide effective challenge and support when reviewing FTE, forecasting, planning, and commentaries received from them.
12. As OpEx continues to evolve, the duties associated with this role are expected to shift in response to varying requests and requirements.
Other Responsibilities:
1. Build and maintain good working relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Developing and influencing a strong network to facilitate effective working relationships.
2. Act as a key liaison point between DSIT and UKRI finance.
3. Help establish a multiyear OpEx budget setting process to provide Operating Units with greater certainty for future planning.
4. Management and co-ordination of regular and ad hoc OpEx-related Commissions. Review submissions with the OpEx Planning Lead to understand underlying assumptions, and challenge Operating Units where necessary for clarity.
5. Gain a comprehensive understanding of HR FTE limits and the monthly FTE reporting processes for Operating Units. Evaluate FTE data and offer recommendations to finance business partners as needed. Ensure that there is adequate cover in the team, providing support to other areas of Financial Planning and Reporting when required.
6. Deputise for the OpEx Planning lead as and when required.
Essential Skills/Qualifications/Experience
(S) – Assessed at shortlisting
(I) – Assessed at interview
(S&I) – Assessed at both shortlisting and interview
Essential:
1. Part Qualified Accountant (ACA/CIMA/ACCA/CIPFA) or QBE (S)
2. Previous experience in accounting, budgeting & forecasting experience and a particularly strong knowledge of MS Excel including modelling and controls. (S & I)
3. Strong numeracy and analytical skills with the ability to interpret and present financial information. (I)
4. Effective collaboration with various internal partners within a complex organisational structure, able to inspire confidence among stakeholders. (S & I)
5. Clear, demonstrable relationship management and influencing skills, with the ability to instil confidence within stakeholders. (S & I)
6. Strong written and oral communication skills. (S & I)
7. Approach problems with personal resilience, adept at resolving issues within short timeframes. (I)
8. The ability to maintain composure and deliver effectively under pressure. (I)
9. Demonstrated aptitude for continuous improvement, with the ability to innovate, challenge the status quo, and offer practical insights and ideas. (I)
10. Strong organisational skills, capable of managing multiple projects and stakeholders efficiently, delivering promptly, adapting to changing priorities, and maintaining accuracy. (I)
Desirable:
1. Qualified Accountant (ACA/CIMA/ACCA/CIPFA)
2. Previous experience in financial planning and analysis or finance business partnering.
3. Previous experience in producing easy-to-understand presentations for senior stakeholders, to help ensure informed and effective decision-making.
About UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
UKRI launched in April 2018, UKRI is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
Our organisation brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England, which is responsible for supporting research and knowledge exchange at higher education institutions in England, and the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK. Together we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision to ensure the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and 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 UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
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.
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, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. 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.
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