Finance Manager (10324)

Rosalind Franklin Institute

The Rosalind Franklin Institute is a national Research Centre, funded by the UK government through UK Research and Innovation, dedicated to bringing about transformative changes in life science through interdisciplinary research and technology. We are a not-for-profit organisation based around a number of key scientific themes with a core operational support function. Based on the Harwell campus near Didcot in a purpose-built research facility with approx. 150 staff, including scientists, PhD students and operations.

Our finance function consists of a Financial Controller, Assistant Finance Manager, Finance Business Partner, Senior Finance Assistant and Finance Assistant.  The Finance Manager role is to support the team on a day-to-day basis and ensure that finance tasks are delegated appropriately and delivered in an accurate and timely manner.  Whilst also working at an Accountant level to support the Financial Controller across a wide range of Finance activities to ensure good financial management and controls.   

We are looking for an experienced finance professional, ideally from a charity background with either a keen interest in or experience of managing a small finance team. 

Responsibilities

• Role model good financial management practise, ensuring that procedures are followed, accurate records kept, and strong financial reporting is delivered on a timely basis. 
• Preparing month end journals, Payment run and Bank Reconciliations
• Advising on estimates for grant applications
• Creating KPI reports
• Providing a finance business partnering service
• Assisting with Tax reporting and submission of VAT returns
• Assisting with budget management and preparation
• Preparing weekly cash flow statements and controlling expenditure
• Assisting with preparation of month and year-end accounts and statutory reporting
• Responding to financial inquiries by gathering and interpreting data
• Conducing internal audits (i.e. payroll)
• Reviewing financial records for accuracy
• Assist in the design and implementation of new processes and systems.
• Ensuring the maintenance of the FA register
• Day to day management of the finance team
• Supervision for Apprenticeship and team development/mentoring

Selection Criteria

Essential

• Professional accountancy qualification and/or qualified by experience.
• Experience of all round accounting practices
• Excellent Excel skills
• Ability to produce robust management, project, and statutory accounts to the appropriate standards.
• Proven experience of financial management at a senior level in small to medium-sized organisation
• Thorough and up to date knowledge of accounting principles and procedures
• Analytical mind, able to gather and analyse situations in a thorough and accurate manner and solve complex problems.
• Keen eye for detail
• Ability to build strong working relationships.
• Proven ability to operate as a value-added partner.
• Is motivated and enthusiastic and identifies and confronts obstacles to personal and team performance.
• Commercial and business acumen
• Excellent organisational skills
• Excellent at managing own time and that of others.
• Commitment to personal development and developing others.
• A hands-on operator who enjoys working as part of a small team
• Comfortable taking on new challenges and learning new skills.

Desirable

• Understanding of organisations with charitable status
• Experience of working with small accounts packages and comfortable in maintaining them
• Strong communication skills – ability to translate complex financial information into accessible formats for non-experts
• Team management skills, day to day supervision, performance management and development activities
• Experience of research funding/grant management
• BSc or MSc degree
• CA, ACCA or CIMA AAT qualification
• Previous experience of working in a science-led organisation, and/or a growing company 

In return we offer:

• 25 days holidays plus bank holidays and Christmas holiday shutdown
• Generous pension scheme (employer’s contribution currently up to 18%)
• Group Life Assurance (also known as Group Life Insurance or Death in Service)
• Hub building with state-of-the-art laboratories
• Training and development opportunities for staff at all levels
• Bus pass discount scheme and good transport links to Oxford and surrounding areas
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Access to employee discount platform (Perkbox)
• Occupational Health and wellbeing support including Employee Assistance (24/7 support and counselling)
• Health Cash Plan
• Subsidised canteen and food outlets on campus
• Free on-site parking
• Campus location in beautiful countryside with social and sports clubs open to staff. 

About us: The Rosalind Franklin Institute is a national Research Centre, funded by the UK government through UK Research and Innovation, dedicated to bringing about transformative changes in life science through interdisciplinary research and technology.

Location: The Franklin is based in Harwell Campus, UK’s innovation hub and well-established as one of the leading science and innovation campuses in Europe. 

The Franklin’s underlying aim is to produce the best science for research today, and this means resolutely embracing a diverse team, who have a wide range of experiences, skills, and knowledge to push forward on the innovative work our institution delivers. Both our work and our institution are better for it. For further information, view our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy. 

Applications for flexible working arrangements are welcomed and will be considered in line with business needs.

To be considered for this role, please send a CV and cover letter (via the ‘Apply Now’ button) explaining why you think you are the right person for this job. Please including information about your education and work experience.

Closing date for applications is 23:59 on Sunday 21st April 2024; however, we reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier if we find the right candidate, therefore early applications are advised.

Applicants should refer to our Candidate Privacy Policy