Project Finance & Assurance Manager (Net Zero Domain and Managed Programmes)
Innovate UK has the following secondment opportunity available for employees of Innovate UK Business Connect:
Applications must be submitted by 22-04-2025.
Project Finance & Assurance Manager (Net Zero Domain and Managed Programmes)
The role holder will operate within the Innovate UK Project Finance & Assurance Team, part of Operations Governance, Operations Directorate, working with the team Managers and Senior Manager.
Title: Project Finance & Assurance Manager (Net Zero Domain and Managed Programmes)
Band: UKRI Band E (UKRI Ts & Cs)
Salary: £45,272 gross per annum
Reports to: Project Finance Senior Manager
Location: Swindon (Hybrid Working)
Contract: Permanent
Innovate UK recognises the importance of work-life balance and we will be happy to discuss any requests for flexible working arrangements.
Context: The role holder will operate within the Innovate UK Project Finance & Assurance Team, which is part of Operations Governance, Operations Directorate, working with the team Managers and Senior Manager. Project Finance & Assurance is a team of management accountants who are individually responsible for checking and approving the financial viability and eligibility of successful grant applicants in adherence to the business's risk appetite.
Each member has a strong background in management accounting and can scrutinise applicants' businesses. Liaising with applicants and stakeholders to ensure that they are legitimate and eligible to receive public funding is their main goal. This is a key part of the application process and must be conducted in a timely manner so that participants can start their innovation projects on the required date.
Frequently working to deadlines, management accountants must understand State Aid rules and Subsidy Control and use these to check eligibility of project participants. This may involve discussions and options with those organisations that do not meet the financial viability necessary to legally accept the grant award. Experience in commercial accounting good practice is essential, as is a strong investigative and inquisitive nature. The team must balance the need to adhere to policy and accounting standards, transparency requirements in accordance with managing the public purse, along with the need to provide a high level of customer service to project participants.
Job Purpose: Reporting to the Project Finance & Assurance Senior Manager, you will be responsible for managing and delivering project financial reviews, approvals, and reporting on high profile and challenging Innovate UK competitions, where discussions with Senior Internal Stakeholders will be key to the design of the Competition. Ability to support team members and resolve complex issues promptly.
The financial reviews consist of several parts for each project participant:
* State Aid and Subsidy Control eligibility checks including meeting the relevant requirements of the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER) and TCA ensuring Innovate UK meets the general responsibility of public authorities awarding grants.
* The financial viability of the organisation must be checked and validated to ensure that the grant request is legitimate and that the organisation has the necessary financial resources to support the delivery of the project while maintaining business as usual activities.
* The project cost eligibility review ensures that the organisation's project costs, provided as part of the application, are eligible for State Aid or Subsidy Control.
Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:
* Experience in team management and workload oversight.
* Strong stakeholder management to liaise with high-level positions within applicant's organisations.
* Deliver the financial review of project information in a fast-paced change environment.
* Comprehensive review and analysis of participant Management Accounts and financial statements.
* Lead and manage highly sensitive/high profile competitions.
* Liaison with applicants to resolve issues identified by financial review.
* Ability to educate other Operational Teams on accounting policies regarding projects.
* Work with other team members and wider Operational team to integrate results of participant project financial reviews.
* Provide ongoing guidance and mentoring to new team members.
This is not an exhaustive list and you might be encouraged to undertake any other duties across the wider directorate.
Shortlisting criteria:
(S) - Assessed at shortlisting
(I) - Assessed at interview
(S&I) - Assessed at both shortlisting and interview
Person Specification:
Experience & Qualifications:
Essential:
* Educated to degree-level or equivalent experience.
* Hold a professional Accounting qualification e.g. AAT, CIMA or CIPFA or equivalent experience.
* Proven Management Accountant experience in a commercial environment.
* Experience and understanding of working with business accounts, Management accounting processes and policies.
* Ability to liaise with stakeholders at a Director and/or CFO level.
* Financial management and analytical review experience.
* Proven experience of managing workloads to meet tight deadlines.
* Excellent interpersonal skills in dealing with a range of stakeholders.
Desirable:
* Interest/background/experience in innovation or research.
* Understanding of structure of government and key Innovate UK partner organisations.
* An understanding of Subsidy Regime Control, State Aid Rules and relevant legislation.
Competencies: All team members demonstrate compatibility with and capability against our Core Competencies such as:
Thinking and Problem Solving - Stakeholder management - Communication skills - Influencing - Self-awareness/self-management - Strategic awareness - Working with others- Project management
Travel Requirements: Swindon based: There may be the occasional requirement for national travel.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: Innovate UK is a diverse workforce of people. We believe that encouraging these differences and drawing the best from them will build a productive environment in which everyone feels valued.
Equal Opportunities: We are an equal opportunities employer, committed to employing any person who meets the criteria for our roles.
UK Research and Innovation: Innovate UK is a partner organisation within UK Research and Innovation.
Employee Benefits: We offer a benefits package crafted to provide an excellent work/life balance.
Flexible Working: We understand the importance of work-life balance, and are happy to discuss the possibility of flexible working with applicants.
Pre-employment Screening: To enable us to hire the very best people we will conduct a comprehensive pre-employment check on successful applicants.
Applications must be submitted by 22-04-2025.
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