Job summary
This is a fantastic opportunity to join our thriving NHS Trust, working in the Joint Research Management Office, partnered with Queen Mary University of London, as part of the recently restructured Barts Health R&D Finance team.
This is a new position within the department and although the job description is extensive, there will be the opportunity to shape and develop this role, providing leadership, support, and guidance, whilst continuously promoting the Trust’s values in the workplace.
The successful candidate will be responsible for the oversight and operational management in all aspects of research finance administration, Month End financial management, and provision of a first-class service to our customers and various clinical research teams/grant research budget holders in the Trust, Queen Mary University of London (Academic Partner) and other research organisations. They will have overall responsibility for 9 staff, with direct line management of 4 supervisors and one other specialist research grants manager post.
The applicant must have a recognised CCAB or equivalent qualification and be educated to degree level, having significant experience in senior roles within finance and be fully committed to continuous professional development.
They will have in depth experience in financial management and administration of research projects and extensive staff management experience, as they will be overseeing both the commercial research and financial management team.
Main duties of the job
- ensure that accurate and timely financial reports are sent to research managers, budget holders and research funders.
- Provide expert advice and guidance to finance and non-finance managers on matters relating to their own research areas, when required
- Meet senior research managers on a quarterly basis or as frequently as necessary in order to maintain excellent quality financial management of all Trust research accounts
- Lead the development and improvement in the effectiveness of JRMO research finance processes and research finance management systems including research related software packages
- Ensure the appropriate arrangements for financial control and safeguarding in relation to research activity are adhered to in the JRMO
- Be responsible for ensuring finance regulations relating to research are adhered to within the Trust clinical divisions
- Support resolution of any escalated finance disputes with customers or internal stakeholders in a timely manner
- Ensure financial closure timelines and procedures are adhered to in line with Trust Finance schedules
- Provide high quality and meaningful advice to Directors and Managers of research services, regarding all aspects of their service and managing complex financial issues
About us
Barts Health is one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, and one of Britain’s leading healthcare providers.
The Barts Health group of NHS hospitals is entering an exciting new era on our improvement journey to becoming an outstanding organisation with a world-class clinical reputation. Having lifted ourselves out of special measures, we now have the impetus and breathing space to chart a fresh course in which we are continually striving to improve all our services for patients.
Our vision is to be a high-performing group of NHS hospitals, renowned for excellence and innovation, and providing safe and compassionate care to our patients in east London and beyond. That means being a provider of excellent patient safety, known for delivering consistently high standards of harm-free care and always caring for patients in the right place at the right time. It also means being an outstanding place to work, in which our WeCare values and behaviours are visible to all and guide us in how we work together.
We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment..
We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are underrepresented within Barts Health at this band.
Job description
Job responsibilities
We are dedicated to being an outstanding place to work and will work with you to get the best experience. We know flexible working is not a one size fits all and will mean something different to everyone. We are inclusive, so if you are interested in flexible working, please speak to the recruiting manager.
Interview date: 19 April 2023
- Ensure that staff perform at required levels, facilitate relevant training and personal development activities as required.
- Involvement in the recruitment, induction, and training of JRMO Barts Health R&D finance staff
- Maintain strong and current working knowledge of NHS Financial Regulations relating to all aspects of research and development funding, financial and accounting procedures
- Provide excellent quality customer services to our customers and stakeholders
Research Financial Management Service
- Actively support the R&D Senior Finance Manager and other R&D finance team members in providing high quality leadership to the Barts Health R&D Financial Management operations of the JRMO. The post holder will need to develop a thorough understanding of the business units operations
- Be responsible for ensuring the R&D finance team is customer focussed and strives to deliver and achieve the highest level of customer support to the business units, including responsibility for continuous budget holder engagement
- Promote a modern and collaborative approach to engaging research active clinicians in financial management best practice, including the promotion of a culture of innovation and productivity, which will impact the research community in the Trust, Academic Partners and other research organisations
- Attend finance meetings with Trust research managers or external organisations, providing financial advice and support as required. There will be a requirement to deputise for the R&D Senior Finance Manager when they are absent
Financial Reporting, Planning and Budgeting
- Lead on the co-ordination and validation of the monthly R&D income and expenditure (I&E) position, including forecasts to year-end, analysis, and interpretation of significant variances to study budgets and where appropriate, to influence research managers/clinicians into taking corrective action
- Co-ordinate the provision of financial management information, financial analysis, and expert advice to the Trust R&D departments, in a timely manner and in accordance with agreed timetables
- Assist the research teams and budget holders in the production of robust financial forecasts relating to planning research activities
- Support the R&D Senior Finance Manager in developing and monitoring action plans as necessary to address any income, expenditure and research activity variances against research contracts, and to meet any relevant research financial targets
- Ensure non-finance staff receive adequate training to fulfil their duties as research budget-holders
- Support the R&D Senior Finance Manager and JRMO senior operational teams in the co-ordination of all aspects of financial planning including budget setting, research service developments and savings initiative programmes, in accordance with NHSI and internal timetables
- Help identify and quantify financial pressures in research programmes and service developments and where necessary, to assess the impact of changes in the delivery of clinical research services
- Support the R&D Senior Finance Manager in the financial input to strategic business cases, cost improvement and capital investment programmes
- Interpret highly complex information and consider all options available and determine the most appropriate course of action noting internal and external constraints in the management of all types of research studies and grants. The post holder will be responsible for identifying risks and recommending mitigating plans where appropriate
- With the R&D Senior Finance Manager, be responsible for the development of financial plans to achieve the objectives within Research and Development and the Trusts service areas annual plan and to take responsibility for specific projects business cases for benefits realisation and budget setting for the department
- Support the R&D Senior Finance Manager with the budget setting process for the Trust R&D Division/Directorate, ensuring accuracy and timeliness in its delivery
- Co-ordinate timely reconciliation of research budgets to agreed income and expenditure levels to ensure a balanced base budget
- Co-ordinate production of robust and timely financial returns for the NIHR /CLRN or other external bodies as and when required and in accordance with agreed deadlines
- Help develop and maintain professional standards within the JRMO Barts Health R&D finance department and to actively seek and encourage feedback from users of financial services to enable continuous improvement plans to be implemented
- To take a strategic view on budget proposals across the research business units, advising on the validity and affordability of plans, ensuring the organisation spends within agreed budget limits and that value for money is secured in the long term
Policies, Procedures & Systems
- Ensure research budget management processes and accountabilities are adhered to the budget virement policy and journal policies and limit the amount of unnecessary ledger transactions
- With the R&D Senior Finance Manager, research, and network effectively to ensure that R&D finance staff affect necessary change within the business unit in line with any changes to legislation, local or external policy, and opportunities and risks that may have an impact on the financial performance of the JRMO
- Act as the lead liaison JRMO Barts Health R&D finance officer for internal or external audits and special investigations and to co-ordinate implementation of relevant audit recommendations and ensure fraud is countered
- Ensure that the business units coding and reporting structures on the Trusts general ledger system are regularly reviewed, and to maintain the integrity of the R&D ledger by ensuring regular clearance of suspense codes
- Contribute to the further development of R&D budgeting systems and the application of appropriate budgeting and accounting techniques for the management of research accounts
- Be actively involved in the improvement and effectiveness of the Barts Health R&D accounting systems, working closely with the JRMO and Trust Central Finance team
- Ensure compliance and appropriate arrangements for financial control within research accounts are in place and that Standing Orders, SFIs, and other Trust wide financial policies and procedures are adhered to both within the R&D Division and related Clinical departments and report any concerns to the R&D Senior Finance Manager
- Ensure that all JRMO Barts Health R&D finance policies, procedures, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and best working practices are shared appropriately and available to view on the JRMO website, and to co-ordinate implementation of any departmental wide policy developments and improvements
Staff management, development and communication
- Be responsible for the day-to-day operational management of the JRMO Barts Health R&D finance department, including recruitment, on-boarding and continuous training programmes for the departments staff
- To set and monitor objectives, personal development plans, initiate performance monitoring, (including feedback from customers) staff appraisals, and motivation of all staff
- Ensure that R&D finance staff operate efficiently and effectively and adhere to both internally and externally set deadlines
- Undertake regular audits / surveys of own work and work of the team, to improve the research financial management service provided to our customers
- Ensure that agreed work priorities are delivered by the R&D finance team in accordance with agreed schedules
- Communicate complex and multifaceted information to teams with varying degrees of understanding so that they should be able to adapt their communication style to match their audience. There may also be times when the information and way forward are internally and externally sensitive and/or contentious, so the post holder should demonstrate tact, diplomacy, and the ability to defend their argument succinctly and confidently
- Provide high quality expert advice and education on complex research business management issues, to improve financial awareness
- Actively contribute to any JRMO research financial management training programmes for non-finance staff, including the design of training material and facilitation and presentation at training events
- Ensure appropriate training for R&D finance staff is consistent with the departments training policy and annual training plan
- Demonstrate a commitment to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) as required by the professional accountancy bodies and ensure that staff are kept aware of national, regional, and local developments
General Requirements
- Participate proactively in Trust research projects as required by the R&D Senior Finance Manager and JRMO Senior Management
- Be responsible for ensuring the provision of ad-hoc reports when required
- Act as JRMO Barts Health R&D finance representative on Trust wide committees and working parties as required
- Provide high quality advice and support to the R&D Senior Finance Manager, JRMO senior management and research departments across the Trust as necessary
Other
- Carry out responsibilities with due regard to BH Equal Opportunities & Health & Safety Policies
- Undertake any other duties as may be reasonably expected by the line manager or Head of Department
Job description
Job responsibilities
We are dedicated to being an outstanding place to work and will work with you to get the best experience. We know flexible working is not a one size fits all and will mean something different to everyone. We are inclusive, so if you are interested in flexible working, please speak to the recruiting manager.
Interview date: 19 April 2023
- Ensure that staff perform at required levels, facilitate relevant training and personal development activities as required.
- Involvement in the recruitment, induction, and training of JRMO Barts Health R&D finance staff
- Maintain strong and current working knowledge of NHS Financial Regulations relating to all aspects of research and development funding, financial and accounting procedures
- Provide excellent quality customer services to our customers and stakeholders
Research Financial Management Service
- Actively support the R&D Senior Finance Manager and other R&D finance team members in providing high quality leadership to the Barts Health R&D Financial Management operations of the JRMO. The post holder will need to develop a thorough understanding of the business units operations
- Be responsible for ensuring the R&D finance team is customer focussed and strives to deliver and achieve the highest level of customer support to the business units, including responsibility for continuous budget holder engagement
- Promote a modern and collaborative approach to engaging research active clinicians in financial management best practice, including the promotion of a culture of innovation and productivity, which will impact the research community in the Trust, Academic Partners and other research organisations
- Attend finance meetings with Trust research managers or external organisations, providing financial advice and support as required. There will be a requirement to deputise for the R&D Senior Finance Manager when they are absent
Financial Reporting, Planning and Budgeting
- Lead on the co-ordination and validation of the monthly R&D income and expenditure (I&E) position, including forecasts to year-end, analysis, and interpretation of significant variances to study budgets and where appropriate, to influence research managers/clinicians into taking corrective action
- Co-ordinate the provision of financial management information, financial analysis, and expert advice to the Trust R&D departments, in a timely manner and in accordance with agreed timetables
- Assist the research teams and budget holders in the production of robust financial forecasts relating to planning research activities
- Support the R&D Senior Finance Manager in developing and monitoring action plans as necessary to address any income, expenditure and research activity variances against research contracts, and to meet any relevant research financial targets
- Ensure non-finance staff receive adequate training to fulfil their duties as research budget-holders
- Support the R&D Senior Finance Manager and JRMO senior operational teams in the co-ordination of all aspects of financial planning including budget setting, research service developments and savings initiative programmes, in accordance with NHSI and internal timetables
- Help identify and quantify financial pressures in research programmes and service developments and where necessary, to assess the impact of changes in the delivery of clinical research services
- Support the R&D Senior Finance Manager in the financial input to strategic business cases, cost improvement and capital investment programmes
- Interpret highly complex information and consider all options available and determine the most appropriate course of action noting internal and external constraints in the management of all types of research studies and grants. The post holder will be responsible for identifying risks and recommending mitigating plans where appropriate
- With the R&D Senior Finance Manager, be responsible for the development of financial plans to achieve the objectives within Research and Development and the Trusts service areas annual plan and to take responsibility for specific projects business cases for benefits realisation and budget setting for the department
- Support the R&D Senior Finance Manager with the budget setting process for the Trust R&D Division/Directorate, ensuring accuracy and timeliness in its delivery
- Co-ordinate timely reconciliation of research budgets to agreed income and expenditure levels to ensure a balanced base budget
- Co-ordinate production of robust and timely financial returns for the NIHR /CLRN or other external bodies as and when required and in accordance with agreed deadlines
- Help develop and maintain professional standards within the JRMO Barts Health R&D finance department and to actively seek and encourage feedback from users of financial services to enable continuous improvement plans to be implemented
- To take a strategic view on budget proposals across the research business units, advising on the validity and affordability of plans, ensuring the organisation spends within agreed budget limits and that value for money is secured in the long term
Policies, Procedures & Systems
- Ensure research budget management processes and accountabilities are adhered to the budget virement policy and journal policies and limit the amount of unnecessary ledger transactions
- With the R&D Senior Finance Manager, research, and network effectively to ensure that R&D finance staff affect necessary change within the business unit in line with any changes to legislation, local or external policy, and opportunities and risks that may have an impact on the financial performance of the JRMO
- Act as the lead liaison JRMO Barts Health R&D finance officer for internal or external audits and special investigations and to co-ordinate implementation of relevant audit recommendations and ensure fraud is countered
- Ensure that the business units coding and reporting structures on the Trusts general ledger system are regularly reviewed, and to maintain the integrity of the R&D ledger by ensuring regular clearance of suspense codes
- Contribute to the further development of R&D budgeting systems and the application of appropriate budgeting and accounting techniques for the management of research accounts
- Be actively involved in the improvement and effectiveness of the Barts Health R&D accounting systems, working closely with the JRMO and Trust Central Finance team
- Ensure compliance and appropriate arrangements for financial control within research accounts are in place and that Standing Orders, SFIs, and other Trust wide financial policies and procedures are adhered to both within the R&D Division and related Clinical departments and report any concerns to the R&D Senior Finance Manager
- Ensure that all JRMO Barts Health R&D finance policies, procedures, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and best working practices are shared appropriately and available to view on the JRMO website, and to co-ordinate implementation of any departmental wide policy developments and improvements
Staff management, development and communication
- Be responsible for the day-to-day operational management of the JRMO Barts Health R&D finance department, including recruitment, on-boarding and continuous training programmes for the departments staff
- To set and monitor objectives, personal development plans, initiate performance monitoring, (including feedback from customers) staff appraisals, and motivation of all staff
- Ensure that R&D finance staff operate efficiently and effectively and adhere to both internally and externally set deadlines
- Undertake regular audits / surveys of own work and work of the team, to improve the research financial management service provided to our customers
- Ensure that agreed work priorities are delivered by the R&D finance team in accordance with agreed schedules
- Communicate complex and multifaceted information to teams with varying degrees of understanding so that they should be able to adapt their communication style to match their audience. There may also be times when the information and way forward are internally and externally sensitive and/or contentious, so the post holder should demonstrate tact, diplomacy, and the ability to defend their argument succinctly and confidently
- Provide high quality expert advice and education on complex research business management issues, to improve financial awareness
- Actively contribute to any JRMO research financial management training programmes for non-finance staff, including the design of training material and facilitation and presentation at training events
- Ensure appropriate training for R&D finance staff is consistent with the departments training policy and annual training plan
- Demonstrate a commitment to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) as required by the professional accountancy bodies and ensure that staff are kept aware of national, regional, and local developments
General Requirements
- Participate proactively in Trust research projects as required by the R&D Senior Finance Manager and JRMO Senior Management
- Be responsible for ensuring the provision of ad-hoc reports when required
- Act as JRMO Barts Health R&D finance representative on Trust wide committees and working parties as required
- Provide high quality advice and support to the R&D Senior Finance Manager, JRMO senior management and research departments across the Trust as necessary
Other
- Carry out responsibilities with due regard to BH Equal Opportunities & Health & Safety Policies
- Undertake any other duties as may be reasonably expected by the line manager or Head of Department
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- oOver 5 years Financial Management experience
- oExperience in a management position
- oExperience of managing staff
- oPrevious NHS Finance experience
- oPresenting financial information to non-financial managers
- oExcellent experience of commercial and grants research administration
- oAbility to advise both finance and non-finance colleagues such as clinicians and academics on all aspects of post-award administration
- oExperience in providing financial services and/or advices to non-finance managers and PIs (such as clinicians)
- oAbility to suggesting and/or implementing changes within commercial research team
Skills
Essential
- oExcellent technical accounting skills
- oAbility to deputise for the Senior Manager
- oAbility to manage a team of staff
- oAbility to motivate, develop, recruit, supervise and train staff
- oAbility to manage the control of budgets
- oAble to work with non-finance managers and PIs (such as clinicians)
- oAble to plans and manage projects across the department and organisation
- oAble to provide detailed advice and guidance on all aspect of post awards research activities
- oExcellent numerical, written and verbal skills
- oAbility to analyse, interpret and utilise complex information for reporting, forecasting, costing and planning purposes
- oComputer and financial modelling skills together with good analytical and problem solving skills
- oAble to develops and monitors agreed all research budget
- oAbility to work on own initiative in a challenging environment to ensure deadlines are met
- oAttention to detail
- oCommitment to manage diversity in needs of internal and external customers
Knowledge
Essential
- oKnowledge of business planning
- oUp to date knowledge of NHS/HEI working practices
- oExcellent working knowledge of financial systems and accounting methodologies particularly those relating to project accounting
- oExcellent IT skills with the ability to accurately create input and manipulate data plus develop reports and documents, using a range of software
- oExcellent written and oral communication skills
Qualifications
Essential
- oCCAB recognised accountancy qualification
- oEducated to degree level or equivalent
Other
Essential
- oHonesty and integrity
- oExcellent interpersonal skills.
- oExcellent analytical skills
- oSelf-motivated
- oTeam player
- oProfessional approach
- oProactive
- oFlexible and adaptable
- oEvidence of a commitment to personal development
- oCreative and innovative
- oExperience of conducting staff appraisals
- oEffective Staff Motivator
- oGood interpersonal and team player skills
- oAbility to work effectively with and influence all levels of sponsors and management
- oGood networking skills, particularly in a large corporate environment
- oAble to attend work regularly and conduct work at main and subsidiary sites
- oPrepared to travel to project meetings
- oSufficient to perform the duties of the post with any aids and adaptations
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- oOver 5 years Financial Management experience
- oExperience in a management position
- oExperience of managing staff
- oPrevious NHS Finance experience
- oPresenting financial information to non-financial managers
- oExcellent experience of commercial and grants research administration
- oAbility to advise both finance and non-finance colleagues such as clinicians and academics on all aspects of post-award administration
- oExperience in providing financial services and/or advices to non-finance managers and PIs (such as clinicians)
- oAbility to suggesting and/or implementing changes within commercial research team
Skills
Essential
- oExcellent technical accounting skills
- oAbility to deputise for the Senior Manager
- oAbility to manage a team of staff
- oAbility to motivate, develop, recruit, supervise and train staff
- oAbility to manage the control of budgets
- oAble to work with non-finance managers and PIs (such as clinicians)
- oAble to plans and manage projects across the department and organisation
- oAble to provide detailed advice and guidance on all aspect of post awards research activities
- oExcellent numerical, written and verbal skills
- oAbility to analyse, interpret and utilise complex information for reporting, forecasting, costing and planning purposes
- oComputer and financial modelling skills together with good analytical and problem solving skills
- oAble to develops and monitors agreed all research budget
- oAbility to work on own initiative in a challenging environment to ensure deadlines are met
- oAttention to detail
- oCommitment to manage diversity in needs of internal and external customers
Knowledge
Essential
- oKnowledge of business planning
- oUp to date knowledge of NHS/HEI working practices
- oExcellent working knowledge of financial systems and accounting methodologies particularly those relating to project accounting
- oExcellent IT skills with the ability to accurately create input and manipulate data plus develop reports and documents, using a range of software
- oExcellent written and oral communication skills
Qualifications
Essential
- oCCAB recognised accountancy qualification
- oEducated to degree level or equivalent
Other
Essential
- oHonesty and integrity
- oExcellent interpersonal skills.
- oExcellent analytical skills
- oSelf-motivated
- oTeam player
- oProfessional approach
- oProactive
- oFlexible and adaptable
- oEvidence of a commitment to personal development
- oCreative and innovative
- oExperience of conducting staff appraisals
- oEffective Staff Motivator
- oGood interpersonal and team player skills
- oAbility to work effectively with and influence all levels of sponsors and management
- oGood networking skills, particularly in a large corporate environment
- oAble to attend work regularly and conduct work at main and subsidiary sites
- oPrepared to travel to project meetings
- oSufficient to perform the duties of the post with any aids and adaptations
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab) .
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab) .
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab) .
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab) .
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
