Finance Officer

About Us      

The Department of Politics and International Relations (DPIR) is one of Oxford’s largest and most internationally recognised departments, home to around 90 academic staff and a thriving community of researchers and visitors. Ranked the Number One University in the UK for Politics by The Guardian in 2024, the department delivers world‑class teaching and research supported by experienced Professional Services teams working across Courses, Research, Finance, HR and Communications. We are strongly committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, including work towards an Athena Swan Bronze Award, and are based in the Social Sciences Building on Manor Road alongside Economics, Criminology, Socio‑Legal Studies and the Social Science Library.

About the Role

As Finance Officer - Programme for Global Leadership (GLP), you will be a key member of the GLP team, providing financial and administrative support across a diverse portfolio of programmes, projects, and funding streams. The newly established Oxford Leadership and Character Programme (OLCP) is the principal focus of the role, alongside support for the wider GLP portfolio.

The role is responsible for supporting the financial management of GLP activities throughout their lifecycle, from the establishment of new projects and budgets through to ongoing financial monitoring, reporting, compliance, and project closure. Working closely with the Director of OLCP and the DPIR Finance Team, you will provide the day-to-day financial administration that underpins OLCP's new portfolio of residential executive education at Oxford. Across the wider GLP portfolio, you will be responsible for the financial set-up of new initiatives, maintaining project budgets and financial records, supporting programme planning through costing and budgeting activities, and ensuring compliance with University regulations and funder requirements. You will also act as a key point of contact for financial matters relating to GLP projects and programmes, providing advice, reporting, and regular financial updates to stakeholders.

The post will be line managed by the Director of OLCP, with a dotted-line reporting relationship to the DPIR Finance Manager. You will work closely with the Department's Professional Services teams and undertake all activities in accordance with University and departmental policies and procedures, and additionally work closely with university central services, University Development, Departmental Projects, Research Services and/or Research Accounts teams and external funders to ensure the effective financial management and delivery of GLP activities.

About You

The successful candidate will be a well organised finance professional with experience of finance or similar administrative work in a busy team environment. You will be confident working with budgets, maintaining accurate financial records and processing transactions, with excellent attention to detail, an aptitude for solving problems, and the ability to manage a varied workload and meet deadlines.

You will communicate financial information clearly to colleagues without a finance background and build effective working relationships across the Department and the wider University. Able to work independently using your own initiative as well as part of a team, you will bring a flexible and proactive approach to supporting colleagues, and an interest in contributing to the development of a new programme.

This is a full-time, fixed term position for 2 years and is available from 1 November 2026.  

If you have any questions about the role, please contact the DPIR HR Team at vacancies@politics.ox.ac.uk.

All enquiries will be treated in strict confidence and will not form part of the selection decision.

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