Head of Finance in Cambridge

Key responsibilities:

• Continuously develop and implement a vision for the financial management of the LMB.
• Lead, develop, manage and motivate staff members across a range of activities including expenditure, income, VAT, contracts, grants and invoicing third party service users.
• Effectively communicate the vision and strategy for finance to senior management and all levels of the LMB and MRC, persuading key decision-makers to adopt the strategy.
• Lead the LMB budget setting, financial planning and forecasting to enable informed decision-making through the provision of insightful information, analysis and risk management advice.
• Prepare and analyse monthly expenditure, budgets and financial forecasts over future years.
• Drive ongoing changes in the finance system and processes to ensure the management information meets stakeholder needs in a timely manner.
• Produce and present timely Management Information, liaising closely with budget holders and information providers, preparing reports and providing supplementary analysis for any arising key issues.
• Explain financial concepts to a non-financial audience.
• Evaluate the overall effective and efficient use of funding received, identifying and developing approaches for optimising value for money.
• Ensure effective financial controls and appropriate policies and practices are followed.
• Lead change to develop internal systems and controls to be “best in class”, acting as a change agent for performance improvements.
• Develop and maintain strong and open relationships internally and externally.
• Play a leading role in MRC- and UKRI-wide development and implementation of new corporate financial systems or upgrades and optimising the current system (Oracle Fusion).
• Act as project management lead in key areas as required.
• Contribute, push forward and lead ideas to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Operations Group and the way in which the LMB operates.
• Lead negotiations with external stakeholders such as the University of Cambridge, Cambridge University Hospital Partners and the Cambridge Biomedical Campus on financial matters.
• Represent the LMB, MRC Head Office, other MRC establishments, UKRI, the University of Cambridge, external service users and other bodies with whom the LMB interacts.
• Act as Company Secretary to the Max Perutz Fund, preparing the annual financial statements and Charity Commission return, liaising with the auditors, managing the Fund’s investments and preparing and presenting at the Fund’s twice-yearly Board meetings.

Working relationships:

• Report to the LMB Chief Operating Officer.
• Liaise with the LMB Director and Heads of Divisions as required.
• Line-manage the Finance Team and Management Information Analyst.
• Work closely with other Operations Group Heads and Facility Managers.
• Liaise with MRC Head Office’s Finance Director and colleagues and UKRI colleagues.
• Have working relationships at multiple levels and across many different professional disciplines.

Person Specification:

• Education / qualifications / training required:

• Essential: Degree level education or equivalent relevant experience. Fully qualified with relevant finance qualifications (ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• Desirable: Degree in a related field.

• Essential: Significant relevant experience of leadership roles and managing teams and services. Significant experience of developing new ideas for financial planning.
• Desirable: Experience of leading organisational change projects. Experience of working in a research laboratory environment. Experience of contract reviewing.

• Essential: Sound knowledge of corporate policy, accounting practices and procedures ideally in the public and charitable sector. Experience of several financial systems. Excellent IT skills with the ability to develop models to meet business needs, and ability to interrogate data and write reports and presentations for senior management.
• Desirable: Understand tax law and related risks related to research operations. Project management facilitation and coordination skills to provide deliverables to tight time frames with various information providers.

• Essential: Demonstrable ability to lead, motivate and manage services and staff. Proven ability to listen, understand business needs and provide solutions in a proactive and principled manner. Highly developed interpersonal skills, elicit confidence and able to command respect as a trusted advisor to senior management within the LMB and in discussions with MRC Head Office. A strong and pro-active communicator able to liaise with both finance and non-finance senior managers and budget holders. Demonstrable ability to work collaboratively as part of a team and to lead a team/projects as required to achieve outcomes for the LMB. Flexible and adaptable approach, capable of planning, prioritising and delivering on a multitude of tasks in a fast-paced environment. Refined analytical skills with the ability to make and communicate recommendations rather than simply provide reports. Appreciative of the culture of the LMB and the MRC.