Senior Finance Manager in Saffron Walden

With 29 member states, laboratories at six sites across Europe and thousands of scientists and engineers working together, the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) is a powerhouse of biological expertise.

Based at EMBL\’s European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) in Hinxton, we are excited to launch an opportunity for a Senior Finance Manager for a period of 2 years.

Your role

As Senior Finance Manager you will lead a team of 6 across Finance and Procurement, with a dual reporting line to the Head of Finance and the Head of Administration & Operations / Deputy COO.

Partnering with EMBL-EBI\’s senior leadership team, you will manage and agree the EBI budget, forecasts and provide valuable analytical insights to support decision making.

Your responsibilities will include:

Annual budgets, forecasts, reporting and longer term planning:

• Lead on the local budget setting process for EMBL-EBI, including establishing and maintaining timeframes, assumptions and responsibilities.

• Manage the local budget carry over and overspend processes

• Conduct periodic budget v actual analysis and reporting and periodic full year forecasting and reporting.

• Maintain a medium and long term plan or model for EMBL-EBI.

• Maintain good engagement with local budget holders to inform the annual and longer term plan and models.

• Budgetary management of third party funding from collaborators and EMBLs Technology Transfer company EMBLEM. (This excludes research and services grant funding).

Financial control:

• Accountable for alignment with Central Finance processes and policies to ensure effective financial controls and appropriate policies and practices are followed. For example, the compilation and review of the Purchasing Segregation of Duties quarterly audit report.

• Accountable for EMBL-EBI approvals requiring financial input as stipulated in the Financial Rules and Regulations, Staff Rules and Regulations and Financial Policies, for example the opening of new posts, sales of fixed assets and sales of attractive items to staff.

Systems and financial reporting hierarchy maintenance:

• Working closely with Central ERP and Finance teams, this role is responsible for the maintenance of the ERP financial reporting hierarchy for EMBL-EBI, ensuring they are aligned with the outcomes of the Financial Management Information project and the needs of stakeholders.

Local accounting, expenses, travel and Insurance:

• Accountable for the smooth functioning of the local accounting team and ensuring their activity is conducted in an efficient and diligent manner. This currently includes period end journals, payment requests, banking, expense processing and capital project invoicing.

• This role is accountable for the local application of EMBLs Travel Management Company, Travel Insurance and Travel Expenses

Local procurement and purchasing:

• This role is accountable for the smooth functioning of the local Procurement and Purchasing team and ensuring their activity is conducted in an efficient and diligent manner.

• This role will play an active part in monitoring and ensuring operational progress on tenders, procurement and purchasing activity for the following key areas:

  • IT related hardware, software, subscriptions and maintenance tenders.

  • EMBL events and conference tenders and contracting.

  • Consultancy and external service delivery contracts.

  • Operational purchasing.

Interface with EMBL-EBI external funders:

• Accountable for Capital Project financial monitoring and reporting, financial risk management and other activities as required of finance on all project and programme boards.

• Participate in and manage negotiations with external stakeholders, partners and funders on financial matters as required e.g. shared costs, service and facility costs, audits, income and expenditure, influencing their approach and securing agreement.

• Maintain the overhead methodology, process and calculation of overheads for EMBL-EBI for external funders, aligned with the outcomes of the Financial Management Information Project.

EMBL and EMBL-EBI Projects, Operations, Governance and Risk:

• Contribute to EMBL-EBI and EMBL wide projects as these relate to administration in general and finance in particular.

• Represent Finance on EMBL and EMBL EBI governance, leadership, co-ordination and networking groups and meetings as required. This will include EMBL-EBI Incident Management, Business Continuity and Risk Management groups.

You have

• A professional accounting qualification (ACCA, ACA, CIMA or equivalent)

• At least 5 years of experience in a comparable senior role

• Experience of leading a medium sized team

• Procurement and purchasing experience

• Ability and willingness to communicate with a broad range of diverse stakeholders.

• Proven record of writing and presenting financial information to a senior audience

• Inclusive leadership experience and ability actively seek to identify your own biases and consider a range of perspectives to inform decision-making and the way you lead and collaborate with others

• Demonstrable key leadership qualities self awareness, empathy, growth mindset, active listening, empowerment of others and superior communication skills

You may also have

• SAP or Workday ERP experience

• Experience of working in a scientific, educational or intergovernmental organisation