Job summary
Are
you passionate about health and care research? The National Institute for
Health and Care Research (NIHR) is looking for a Finance Manager with
experience of finance management in the public sector and / or working in a
research environment to join our teams providing financial management
(monitoring budgets, business planning processes) for NIHR programme funding.
The
successful applicant will be flexible, proactive, responsible, have great
communication skills, and be able to work as part of a team to ensure
delivery of the relevant portfolio of work.
We
encourage individuals who are considering applying to contact the office and
have a conversation with the hiring manager.
Please
note that a hybrid-working arrangement is in place where successful
candidates can work a large percentage of their time from home. There are
also other flexible working arrangements available on request.
Expected Shortlisting
Date
26/11/2025
Planned Interview
Date
08/12/2025
Main duties of the job
The
successful candidate will be responsible for the provision of financial
management and high-quality analytical review across all NIHR Academy
Programmes (Domestic and Global).
They
will support the Senior Finance and Contract Managers and Assistant Director
Finance, Governance and People in delivering financial management for the
NIHR Academy Service Level Agreement and the NIHR Academy research
programmes; identifying key issues from financial and other business
information to ensure effective financial management in line with general
finance best practice and the requirements of DHSC/NHSE; and be involved in
other diverse areas of work as required to deliver the NIHR Academy organisational
business requirements.
About us
The
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has a mission to
improve the health and wealth of the nation through research. The NIHR plays
a pivotal role in attracting, training and supporting the best researchers
and complements the additional NIHR investment in world-class research
facilities and a skilled research workforce.
This
role is hosted by the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust (LTHT) and delivers the
work of the NIHR, leading on policy, strategy and delivery in respect of
academic training in England and working closely with other NIHR centres and
the Science Research and Evidence (SRE) Directorate at the Department of
Health and Social Care (DHSC).
Leeds
Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk'
members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts
are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove
adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the
shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this
process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any
questions.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The
post holder will be line managed by the Senior Finance and Contracts Manager
however, there is a requirement to work flexibly across the organisation as
the portfolio of programmes and schemes are likely to vary over time. The
balance of duties undertaken by the post holder will vary according to annual
cycles, but will include the following:
- Deputise
for the Senior Finance and Contract Managers to design, manage and implement
a portfolio of works to meet NIHR Academy business needs
- Producing timely accurate financial
monitoring information to keep a track of the financial impact of NIHR
Academy awards ensuring targets are met
- Analysing,
investigating and resolving financial queries and discrepancies, making
recommendations and liaising with internal and external stakeholders as
necessary
- Lead
with the production of reporting year on year trend analysis
- Producing
comprehensive robust accurate and timely monthly management financial reports
for the NIHR Academy Service Level Agreement
- Supporting
programme managers responsible for analysing funding recommendations for new
competitions including identifying and developing procedural changes
- Working
with managers in setting up new award contracts; advising, suggesting
resolutions, supporting implementation and the review of finance requests
within new contracts
- Contributing
to the complexities of long term financial planning including supporting with
the costing of business cases and adjusting when assumptions change to meet
business needs
- Supporting
with due diligence of audit and assurance activities for all NIHR Academy
Global Health Research contracts in partnership with managers e.g. desk top audits and risk assessments
- Design
reporting structures and maintain detailed financial reports to ensure the
underlying trend analysis and year on year comparisons can be clearly
reported in a complex environment
- Ensuring
the integrity of the relevant finance systems and reporting issues
- Providing
accurate guidance on finance related matters for awards to managers
- Implementing
policies and procedures to support the effective financial management within
NIHR in line with DHSC policies Communication
- Effectively
communicating the outcomes of complex and contentious annual finance reviews
to award holders and hosts organisations, negotiating and providing
reassurance to reach an agreement as appropriate
- Communicating
and working with a range of people nationally and internationally at all
levels of seniority both internal and external to the NIHR Academy Executive,
in line with DHSC policies
- Developing
and maintaining strong and positive working relationships within Higher
Education Institutions (HEIs), NHS Trusts and other health-related
organisations
- Contributing
to briefings requested from Ministers offices and other government
departments. This involves researching and reporting on research outputs.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The
post holder will be line managed by the Senior Finance and Contracts Manager
however, there is a requirement to work flexibly across the organisation as
the portfolio of programmes and schemes are likely to vary over time. The
balance of duties undertaken by the post holder will vary according to annual
cycles, but will include the following:
- Deputise
for the Senior Finance and Contract Managers to design, manage and implement
a portfolio of works to meet NIHR Academy business needs
- Producing timely accurate financial
monitoring information to keep a track of the financial impact of NIHR
Academy awards ensuring targets are met
- Analysing,
investigating and resolving financial queries and discrepancies, making
recommendations and liaising with internal and external stakeholders as
necessary
- Lead
with the production of reporting year on year trend analysis
- Producing
comprehensive robust accurate and timely monthly management financial reports
for the NIHR Academy Service Level Agreement
- Supporting
programme managers responsible for analysing funding recommendations for new
competitions including identifying and developing procedural changes
- Working
with managers in setting up new award contracts; advising, suggesting
resolutions, supporting implementation and the review of finance requests
within new contracts
- Contributing
to the complexities of long term financial planning including supporting with
the costing of business cases and adjusting when assumptions change to meet
business needs
- Supporting
with due diligence of audit and assurance activities for all NIHR Academy
Global Health Research contracts in partnership with managers e.g. desk top audits and risk assessments
- Design
reporting structures and maintain detailed financial reports to ensure the
underlying trend analysis and year on year comparisons can be clearly
reported in a complex environment
- Ensuring
the integrity of the relevant finance systems and reporting issues
- Providing
accurate guidance on finance related matters for awards to managers
- Implementing
policies and procedures to support the effective financial management within
NIHR in line with DHSC policies Communication
- Effectively
communicating the outcomes of complex and contentious annual finance reviews
to award holders and hosts organisations, negotiating and providing
reassurance to reach an agreement as appropriate
- Communicating
and working with a range of people nationally and internationally at all
levels of seniority both internal and external to the NIHR Academy Executive,
in line with DHSC policies
- Developing
and maintaining strong and positive working relationships within Higher
Education Institutions (HEIs), NHS Trusts and other health-related
organisations
- Contributing
to briefings requested from Ministers offices and other government
departments. This involves researching and reporting on research outputs.
Person Specification
Skills & behaviours
Essential
- Ability to work flexibly as part of a team, building and maintaining good working relationships
- Ability to tackle complex problems, identify solutions and implement them
- Manage a complex scheme of activities and priorities and able to work to tight and conflicting deadlines
- Effective liaison skills with the ability to deal tactfully with colleagues, senior academics, NHS managers, DHSC managers and various stake holders
- Confident and comfortable when communicating to others and dealing with complex, sensitive and contentious issues
- Identifying opportunities and approaches to achieve goals and improve results
- A willingness to work across discipline boundaries
Desirable
- Experience of contributing to reports/papers
Experience
Essential
- Directly relevant experience of working in a financial management environment
- Experience of general ledger and financial reporting software packages
- Experience of financial and management accounting; monitoring budgets, business planning processes and forecasting
- Understanding of NHS finance and accounting principles
- Experience of managing staff
Desirable
- Experience of drafting contracts
- An interest in health research
- An understanding of ODA funding
- Understanding of health and care research delivery
- Knowledge of the NIHR
Qualifications
Essential
- First Degree or equivalent experience
- AAT/ CAT Technician Level (or equivalent experience)
Desirable
- Studying for professional CCAB qualification (or equivalent experience)
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Advanced working knowledge of word processing, databases, spreadsheets
- Advanced level oral and written communication skills and presenting financial information to non-finance managers
- Good interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate effectively as an advocate for health services research and development
- Ability to negotiate
- Ability to work accurately with attention to detailand the ability to analyse, interpret and present complex information
- Accounting skills including being able to identify, articulate and evaluate key risks and assumptions in reaching conclusions
- Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to communicate to all levels of non-finance staff across the organisation
- Values diversity and operates with integrity and openness
- Ability to maintain confidentiality
- Willingness to travel in UK, including occasional overnight absence
Person Specification
Skills & behaviours
Essential
- Ability to work flexibly as part of a team, building and maintaining good working relationships
- Ability to tackle complex problems, identify solutions and implement them
- Manage a complex scheme of activities and priorities and able to work to tight and conflicting deadlines
- Effective liaison skills with the ability to deal tactfully with colleagues, senior academics, NHS managers, DHSC managers and various stake holders
- Confident and comfortable when communicating to others and dealing with complex, sensitive and contentious issues
- Identifying opportunities and approaches to achieve goals and improve results
- A willingness to work across discipline boundaries
Desirable
- Experience of contributing to reports/papers
Experience
Essential
- Directly relevant experience of working in a financial management environment
- Experience of general ledger and financial reporting software packages
- Experience of financial and management accounting; monitoring budgets, business planning processes and forecasting
- Understanding of NHS finance and accounting principles
- Experience of managing staff
Desirable
- Experience of drafting contracts
- An interest in health research
- An understanding of ODA funding
- Understanding of health and care research delivery
- Knowledge of the NIHR
Qualifications
Essential
- First Degree or equivalent experience
- AAT/ CAT Technician Level (or equivalent experience)
Desirable
- Studying for professional CCAB qualification (or equivalent experience)
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Advanced working knowledge of word processing, databases, spreadsheets
- Advanced level oral and written communication skills and presenting financial information to non-finance managers
- Good interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate effectively as an advocate for health services research and development
- Ability to negotiate
- Ability to work accurately with attention to detailand the ability to analyse, interpret and present complex information
- Accounting skills including being able to identify, articulate and evaluate key risks and assumptions in reaching conclusions
- Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to communicate to all levels of non-finance staff across the organisation
- Values diversity and operates with integrity and openness
- Ability to maintain confidentiality
- Willingness to travel in UK, including occasional overnight absence
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
