At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead financial planning and reporting for a £85 million budget, advising on key decisions.
- Company: Join a purpose-driven organisation dedicated to beating cancer.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and a chance to make a real impact.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with strong stakeholder relationships and growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Be part of a mission to beat cancer while developing your finance career.
- Qualifications: Qualified Finance Manager with experience in budgeting and financial planning.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 € per year.
We're recruiting for a commercial Finance Manager to join the team, to business partner the Give function in the Fundraising Directorate, looking after a budget of approximately £85 million. The role involves leading the delivery of high‑quality, insightful reporting and financial planning for the specified business area, advising senior managers and leaders on important financial decisions across a range of initiatives and projects to deliver our ambitious strategy.
Responsibilities
- Owning and delivering timely and insightful reporting for Give.
- Taking accountability and ownership of the Financial Planning, Forecasting & Budgeting for your specified business areas, including creating in‑year forecasts, full‑year budgets and long‑term financial plans.
- Supporting and collaborating with stakeholders to enable the organisation to own and take responsibility for their plans and delivery.
- Collaborating with the wider finance team to guide them on financial planning activities.
- Acting as an advocate and role model for understanding cost drivers and cost control.
- Owning the financial reporting for your areas by collaborating with Management Accountants to ensure accurate and insightful monthly reporting.
- Providing commentary and understanding on monthly and year‑to‑date variances and expectations.
- Understanding what is needed to inform decision‑making.
- Providing financial analysis and supporting decision‑making: offering high‑quality analysis and decision support to shape strategy, initiatives, projects and business cases.
- Analysing trends and performance and feeding findings into forecasts and long‑term financial planning.
- Helping senior stakeholders (including Heads) to understand the impact of their initiatives and decisions on the charity's financial plan.
- Producing analysis that turns complex data into insight and questioning senior managers on next steps.
- Identifying opportunities to drive change and improve the financial acumen of decision‑makers.
- Building strong, credible, and constructive stakeholder relationships within the business areas, particularly with Senior Leadership and Management teams.
Qualifications
- Qualified Finance Manager or Finance Business Partner (CIMA, ACCA, ICAEW or equivalent experience) with proven leadership in financial planning and decision making in large, complex organisations.
- Qualified by experience: significant, demonstrable experience leading the full annual and monthly forecasting, budgeting, financial planning and reporting cycles required for this role.
- Commercial finance or FP&A background with post‑qualification experience leading annual budgeting, forecasting, financial planning and monthly reporting for medium to large business areas (c. £10m+ P&L).
- Successfully built credible and collaborative cross‑functional stakeholder relationships with strong interpersonal, influencing and negotiating skills, including senior leadership and auditors.
- Commercially minded with strong analytical and modelling skills, and the ability to interpret complex financial data into actionable insights and trends.
- Strong communication skills with the ability to present and explain complex financial information and advice to non‑technical audiences.
- A proactive problem‑solver with a continuous improvement mindset, encouraging innovation, promoting best practices and challenging conventional approaches.
- Demonstrates curiosity and a proactive approach to learning, quickly building stakeholder relationships and delivering impact from the outset.
Values
- Bold: Act with ambition, courage and determination.
- Credible: Act with rigour and professionalism.
- Human: Act to have a positive impact on people.
- Together: Act inclusively and collaboratively.
We exist to beat cancer. As professionals with purpose, we aim to beat cancer every day and work to reach our goals. Our finance team managed an income of £735m and expenditure of £715m in 2024/25.
Finance Manager employer: Cancer Research UK
As a Finance Manager at our organisation, you will be part of a dedicated team committed to making a meaningful impact in the fight against cancer. We offer a collaborative work culture that values boldness, credibility, and humanity, providing ample opportunities for professional growth and development. With a focus on insightful financial planning and reporting, you will play a crucial role in shaping our ambitious strategy while enjoying the benefits of working in a supportive environment that prioritises employee well-being and innovation.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Finance Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the finance world, especially those who work in fundraising or similar sectors. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings that aren't even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by diving deep into the organisation's financials and recent projects. Show us you understand their budget and how you can contribute to their ambitious strategy. Bring your A-game with insightful questions!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t just apply; engage! When you submit your application through our website, follow up with a quick email to express your enthusiasm. It shows initiative and keeps you on our radar.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your analytical skills! Be ready to discuss how you've turned complex data into actionable insights in past roles. We love candidates who can demonstrate their impact on financial planning and decision-making.
We think you need these skills to ace Finance Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the Finance Manager role. Highlight your experience in financial planning, budgeting, and reporting, especially in large organisations. We want to see how your skills align with our ambitious strategy!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about this role and how you can contribute to our mission of beating cancer. Be sure to mention specific examples from your past that demonstrate your financial acumen.
Showcase Your Stakeholder Skills:We value strong relationships! In your application, highlight your experience in building credible and collaborative relationships with senior leadership and management teams. Share examples of how you've influenced decision-making in your previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website:Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Cancer Research UK
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Finance Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your financial acumen. Brush up on key financial metrics and be ready to discuss how you've used data to drive decisions in previous roles. Prepare examples of how you've managed budgets and forecasts, especially in large organisations.
✨Understand the Organisation's Mission
Familiarise yourself with the charity's goals and how the finance function supports them. Be prepared to discuss how your financial strategies can align with their mission to beat cancer. Showing that you understand their purpose will set you apart from other candidates.
✨Build Rapport with Stakeholders
Since the role involves collaborating with senior leadership and management teams, think about how you can establish strong relationships. Prepare to share examples of how you've successfully influenced decision-making in the past and how you plan to engage with stakeholders in this new role.
✨Prepare Insightful Questions
Interviews are a two-way street! Prepare thoughtful questions that show your interest in the role and the organisation. Ask about their current financial challenges or how they measure success in the Give function. This not only demonstrates your curiosity but also your proactive approach to problem-solving.