The Opportunity
We are recruiting for an experienced Interim Research Finance Lead to join a well-established, research-focused organisation on a 12-month contract.
This is an excellent opportunity for a hands-on finance professional with strong leadership capabilities and specialist experience in research grants and post-award finance.
The successful candidate will take responsibility for leading a specialist finance team, ensuring the effective management of research funding, maintaining robust financial controls and driving improvements across the function.
We are particularly interested in individuals who can bring stability, direction and a positive leadership approach to a busy, demanding environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide effective leadership, guidance and support to a specialist research finance team.
- Oversee post-award research accounting, financial monitoring, invoicing, grant claims and reporting.
- Ensure compliance with research funding agreements, financial regulations and audit requirements.
- Manage financial forecasting, income recovery, reconciliations and month-end and year-end activities.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with senior stakeholders, researchers, funders and internal finance teams.
- Identify opportunities to improve financial processes, reporting and operational efficiency.
- Manage competing priorities, support team development and ensure the continued delivery of a high-quality finance service.
About You: To be considered for this opportunity, you will ideally demonstrate:
- A recognised professional accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
- Significant experience within research finance, particularly post-award research grants management.
- Proven experience managing and developing finance teams.
- Strong knowledge of research funding requirements, grant claims, compliance and financial reporting.
- Excellent financial control, forecasting and project accounting experience.
- The ability to operate confidently in a complex, fast-paced environment.
- Strong stakeholder management, communication and problem-solving skills.
- A proactive, collaborative and solutions-focused approach to leadership.
Desirable Experience
- Previous experience within higher education, research institutions or similarly complex organisations.
- Knowledge of funding bodies such as UKRI, Research Councils, Innovate UK or European research funding programmes.
- Experience using complex finance systems, including Agresso/Unit4.
- Experience supporting finance transformation, process improvement or organisational change.
What You Can Expect
This is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact within a specialist finance function, providing strong leadership and technical expertise while supporting ongoing operational improvements.
We are looking for someone who can hit the ground running, build strong relationships and deliver results throughout the assignment.
Interested?
If you are an experienced interim finance professional with a background in research funding and team leadership, we would welcome a conversation.