Head of Research Finance in London

Location: Leeds, London

About the job

In the Department of Health and Social Care, we are proud of our purpose – to enable everyone to live more independent, healthier lives for longer. To achieve this, and create a great place to work, we have four values: we are inclusive, we constantly improve, we challenge, and we are agile. If this sounds like an environment you would like to work in, we would love to hear from you.

The Science, Research and Evidence (SRE) Directorate provides research expertise to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and is responsible for the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), led by the DHSC Chief Scientific Adviser as CEO. SRE oversees more than £1.8bn of annual health research expenditure through NIHR to support research that improves health, social care and public health outcomes in England and globally. This funding is delivered through a complex portfolio of research programmes, infrastructure and systems, working with NHS organisations, universities and a wide range of national and international partners. At any one time DHSC/SRE via NHIR is holding +2,000 research contracts with a range of providers in the UK and overseas, processing hundreds of financial payments monthly.

This role is a key leadership role within the Research Systems Branch. The Branch is responsible for overseeing the operation of a number of functions which enable the NIHR to operate. As such, the Branch is responsible for NIHR finances, procurement and contracting, digital system, communications and impact, open access and publications policy, and patient and public engagement in research.

This role leads a team of 10 officials, with expertise in finance and policy. The postholder will be responsible for strategic oversight of financial management for SRE and NIHR; oversight of NIHR and SRE approach to risk and assurance; and lead on research financing policy.

The Head of Research Finance provides strategic financial leadership for SRE and NIHR across the £1.8bn per annum budget, ensuring strong financial control, assurance and value for money while enabling delivery of ministerial and system priorities. The role works closely with the SRE Director and Chief Scientific Adviser (Deputy CEO and CEO of the NIHR), and is central to senior decision‑making on investment, affordability and risk.

This role provides leadership to a technical accounting team and finance policy professionals, and liaises with DHSC financial reporting teams and the NAO. It also provides technical advice and support to the SRE Director as budget holder, reporting to the DHSC Permanent Secretary.

Given the level of financial professional qualification required for this role (CCAB, CIMA or equivalent qualification) the post holder will be eligible for an annual Market Pay Supplement of £5,000. This payment is in addition to the advertised baseline salary.

This position manages a large team across London and Leeds, which requires significant support and engagement including time working face to face. The post holder must be able to travel to either London or Leeds regularly, depending on their location.

The position is open to part-time, job-share and flexible working. As a business critical leadership position in SRE, work patterns under 0.8 FTE will not be viable for the breadth of responsibilities.

Person specification

Key Skills and Experience required for the role:

• Strong team leadership and line management, including being able to mentor and develop a technical team.
• Financial management and budget oversight, including experience of leadership, strategic direction setting, and ensuring effective service delivery.
• Financial assurance and risk management, including experience of establishing robust risk management frameworks and managing them effectively.
• Strategic finance and financial planning, including the impact of external pressures and inflation.
• Strong and effective communication skills, in particular presenting to seniors within your organisation, but also engaging broadly with the external health research sector and funding partners.
• An ability to manage a broad and dynamic portfolio of work.

Essential

• A formal finance qualification is required (CCAB, CIMA or equivalent).

Desirable

• An understanding of portfolio contract/grant management and accounting.
• An understanding of research delivery and funding.

Qualifications

A formal finance qualification is required (CCAB, CIMA or equivalent).

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Delivering at Pace
• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form: Leadership

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Can you describe a time when you applied your technical knowledge of leading the effective delivery of financial operations?
• Can you describe a time when you applied your technical knowledge of developing risk management strategies and policies, and leading their implementation?
• Can you describe a time when you applied your technical knowledge of analysing and reporting on an organisation’s strategic financial position, and providing insight to senior budget holders and leaders?