The British Academy – the UK’s national body for the humanities and social sciences - is seeking a Finance Business Partner - Research Funding, to join our small and busy Finance Team, providing key financial support to our Research Funding team across a broad range of their programmes and activities.

You can find out more about the British Academy here, including our Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Statement.

ROLE PURPOSE / OVERVIEW

The Finance Business Partner - Research Funding works closely with other members of the Finance Team (currently five people) and in particular business partnering with colleagues from the Research Funding team who work on many of The Academy’s flagship award programmes, including postdoctoral fellowships and small research grants. The Finance Team is a friendly team, part of the Academy’s Resources Directorate comprising HR, Finance, IT, Facilities and Venue Sales & Marketing services. We take great pride in supporting our colleagues in the Academy, providing an accurate and prompt service to all customers to the department.

A core duty of the Finance Business Partner - Research Funding role is taking the lead in financial management and reporting of the Research Funding team, providing analysis and advice plus supporting key milestone tasks such as budgeting and forecasting. This is a key opportunity to establish relationships and make an early positive impact. You will highly numerate with demonstratable financial experience, have a keen attention to detail as well as a proactive approach to problem solving in terms of planning, prioritisation and demonstrating resilience when faced with adversity. You will also be an effective communicator, being able to collaborate with both external and internal stakeholders.

OFFICE LOCATION - 10-11 Carlton House Terrace, St James Park, London, SW1Y 5AH

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Award programmes

• Provide financial analysis, advice and support to Research Directorate staff, working with them collaboratively to monitor financial performance and achieve financial targets.

• Liaison with Research Directorate staff to ensure award payments are made in line with grant profiles, ensuring accuracy and completeness with particular attention to cost centres and questioning potential discrepancies.

• Lead on the preparation and reconciliation of monthly core grant position and subsequent grant claims.

• Lead on the development of financial reporting within Research Directorate.

• Support the preparation and maintenance of Research award programme future commitment workbooks.

• Improve the understanding of financial performance and awareness of the Research Directorate, providing training where necessary.

• Support the preparation of the Academy’s financial management reports through the preparation and submission of journal entries in regard to items such as accrued costs and prepayments.

Budgeting, forecasting and year end accounts

• Support the annual budget setting process, and work with budget holders to establish forthcoming needs and plans.

• Support the production of quarterly financial forecasts in collaboration with budget holders, identify projected budget variances and any mitigating actions required.

• Support the preparation of the Academy’s annual year end accounts and audit process, provide audit evidence, liaise with external auditors, and resolve queries.

Other Financial

• Ownership of balance sheet reconciliations ensuring all assets and liabilities of the Academy are complete and accurately recorded.

• Ensure staff compliance with financial policies and procedures

• Support the development and implementation of best financial practices, ensuring key processes are documented and control weaknesses identified and rectified. Including acting upon any recommendations made by the Academy’s Internal Auditors.

• Support the general maintenance and upkeep of the Finance system and connected management information reports including the creation and amendment of new account codes and cost centres.

• To respond to general day-to-day financial queries received by the department from both internal and external sources

KEY STAKEHOLDERS

Internal

Budget holders, including managers and those with delegated responsibility, members of the finance team and the staff of the Academy.

External

Customers, suppliers, auditors, professional advisers, grant recipients, and University research offices.

ROLE REQUIREMENTS

QUALIFICATIONS

AAT or equivalent desired

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Works and communicates effectively.

• Is proactive in developing and maintaining effective working relationships with others internally and externally

• Demonstrates a positive attitude towards helping others by providing appropriate support, using initiative, and not waiting to be asked

• Adopts a communication style appropriate to the situation and the audience, understanding that communication is two-way

• Is sensitive to different working styles and views, adapting where appropriate

• Is willing and able to compromise and negotiate, including to resolve possible conflicts

• Handles difficult situations with sensitivity & respect

• Communicates effectively with staff across departments

• Promotes a positive impression of the Academy both internally and externally

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

Demonstrates and develops appropriate knowledge and skills.

• Demonstrates credible finance experience

• Is receptive to new ideas and change, adapting own ways of working as appropriate

• Makes suggestions for improving the way things are done

• Is aware of own strengths and weaknesses, and prepared to admit own mistakes

• Seeks and uses opportunities to learn and develop, and is quick in picking up new tasks

• Shares knowledge and skills with others

PROACTIVITY AND PLANNING

Manages time and resources effectively in order to achieve own and organisational objectives.

• Prioritises tasks to meet deadlines

• Displays resilience in coping with workload

• Keeps relevant colleagues informed and seeks input

• Evaluates and manages risks effectively

• Takes ownership of tasks, including delegating effectively where appropriate

• Monitors progress effectively and adapts plans where possible

PROBLEM SOLVING AND DECISION MAKING

Ensures good decisions are made through a rational and methodical approach.

• Identifies problems and opportunities and acts on them

• Has a pro-active, can do, attitude, taking personal responsibility for correcting problems or resolving issues

• Focuses on solutions and manages pressure

• Anticipates obstacles and thinks ahead

• Copes with the unexpected

• Sets the right balance between referring decisions to the appropriate level and taking things forward without referral

• Takes a flexible approach to their work, happy to take on different responsibilities in the interests of the Academy

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Must have the right to work in the UK.

BRITISH ACADEMY WORKPLACE VALUES

The Academy’s workplace values and supporting text are set out below. We share these core values with each other. They guide how we work together and with others. We demonstrate them through our behaviours.

COLLABORATION- We consistently work together to a common purpose, supporting each other, communicating openly and sharing knowledge. We are flexible and adaptable, receiving feedback constructively

CREATIVITY - We bring imagination and curiosity to our work, valuing learning, diverse thinking, and innovation. We are open-minded, receptive, and responsive, taking account of alternative perspectives

EMPATHY-We are understanding, sensitive, compassionate, and considerate, mindful of our own wellbeing alongside that of others

EXCELLENCE - We always do our best, without striving to be perfect, applying our expertise and experience to develop and grow

INTEGRITY - We are open and honest with each other, accepting personal responsibility and demonstrating loyalty. We are reliable and dependable, having belief that we will be transparent and clear

RESILIENCE - We are confident, bold, and tenacious, knowing when to listen as well as when to speak up. We respond positively to challenges and overcome problems

RESPECT - We are inclusive in our regard for each other, showing courtesy and appreciation. We treat people fairly and equally, welcoming everyone’s contribution and difference

APPLICATION PROCESS

We have a two-step approach to hiring, beginning with submitting an application through the Applied platform. This will be followed by a panel interview, which could incorporate a task or presentation component.

Please note that you may be asked to reference any literature that you may refer to, as applications that are highly plagiarised and not your own work. e.g. ChatGPT, will be declined.